These Are the 13 Pieces of Furniture Everyone's Obsessed With in 2020
Sometimes you come across a piece of furniture—at a friend's house, in a magazine, or (more likely) on the internet—and it burrows into your subconscious. It pops into your head at random times and even starts to infiltrate your dreams at night. We're not talking about the wants or the nice-to-haves, we're talking about the needs.
Velvet couches, travertine tables, pleated lamps, these are the pieces that are elevating homes all over the world. From cult classics that have endured over decades to contemporary designs made to carry us into the future, here are 13 pieces of furniture everyone's obsessed with.
Chubby chairs
There's a sense of humour at play in 2020's chubby furniture trend. With soft lines and gentle shapes, chubby chairs and sofas seem to offer a moment of lightness and respite. Nobody does it better than Byron Bay-based designer Sarah Ellison: her cylindrical-legged tables and modular sofas are the archetype for chubby chic. Case in point: the bronze velvet Muse couch seen in the home of artist Hannah Carrick. Meanwhile, Sarah's Huggy armchair continues to be one of the most-wanted pieces on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDi6Ek_HGxf/
Caprani lamps
Linen, teak and cast iron are all in perfect balance in the iconic Caprani lamp. The Mid-Century Modern design from Danish manufacturer Mads Caprani is what dreams are made of, as seen in Olive Cooke's immaculate '70s-inspired living space.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA6CQjGlIzX/
Bouclé seating
Highly touchable and super cosy, bouclé is highly on brand for our current times. Bouclé sofas, armchairs and dining chairs are lusted after by many, especially in chubbier shapes with soft lines.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qv2eSFQ6c/
Sophie Davies lamps and tables
Interior designer and furniture designer Sophie Davies has her finger on the pulse: we love a good antique, but when it comes to newly manufactured home décor additions we want high quality, unique, heirloom-worthy pieces designed and made with creativity and care. Her twister lamps and tables are inspired by early mid-century designers such as Alberto Giacometti and Jean Michel Frank, and fit the brief perfectly.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDLiVjwgVZ_/
Velvet couches
When you're looking for furniture that marries vintage aesthetics with cosy comfort, velvet is the answer. If you're quick enough, you can find yourself a pre-loved velvet couch on Instagram via one of our favourite vintage sellers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDe1JXjl0vY/
En Gold Plinths
It's no secret that we are obsessed with the covetable creations made by En Gold's Steffanie Ball. Her travertine tables are just perfect, and her stone and marble plinths are endlessly versatile (and on our wish list).
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDiQzFdFB2f/
Moda Piera Arancini Lamps
Who doesn't love the minimal design of Melbourne atelier Moda Piera's Arancini lamps? Made with Italian travertine and brass in two sizes, one for tabletop one for floor, they're like functional sculpture that you'll keep forever.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOTtnLgoZQ/
Togo chairs
Michel Ducaroy designed the now iconic Togo chair in 1973 for French atelier Ligne Roset: armless with all-foam seating covered in quilted polyester, it's peak style-meets-comfort. Forty years later the ergonomic design is a staple in the stylish homes that go viral online and inspire us all to up our interiors game.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDjJZktlfyy/
Vintage rattan
The organic, unique qualities of vintage rattan furniture make it a great way to add personality and specificity to any home. Poppy Lissiman's vintage headboard is exemplary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDawNA_gBKs/
Wassily Chairs
When it debuted in the 1920, the Wassily Chair was revolutionary in its use of materials, a frame of bent tubular steel paired with a light-reflecting waxed cotton fabric called Eisengarn. It's another iconic creation from modernist architect Marcel Breuer, who also designed the much lusted after Cesca Chair, and was originally known as the Model B3 chair during its first run by Thonet (the manufacturer most famous for its bentwood dining chairs). Italian manufacturer Gavina later learnt about the designer's connection with Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky—they served on the Bauhaus faculty together—and renamed it for its re-release.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBrIAT6gjXS/
Travertine tables
This year has seen a resurgence in popularity for travertine tables after years of marble-centric design dominating our mood boards. The mid-century design became popular in the '80s and again recently. We love the luxe, earthy mood travertine adds—it's a true neutral that comes with plenty of character.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CD8cQKsglSO/
Burl wood tables
Burl wood furniture is in revival mode. The unique, perfectly imperfect graining of burl wood happens when a tree has experienced illness, fungus, or infestations of insects or mold—an excellent example of how to turn lemons into lemonade. Poppy Lissiman's bedside tables demonstrate the special quality burl brings to an ecclectic interior. (Related: bricolage.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDYjdY0ANib/
Cesca Chairs
Another cult classic from Marcel Breuer, the Cesca Chair has continued to influence furniture trends in its nearly 100-year existence. Made with chrome-plated tubular steel, bentwood and cane, there are plenty of replicas out there (Breuer never patented the design) but there's nothing like the original.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDYZI-TgeTo/
In the market for a piece of vintage furniture? Here are our favourite vintage sellers on Instagram.
