The Best Places to Shop for Mid-Century Modern Sofas, on Any Budget

updated Mar 31, 2022
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It’s not hard to understand the evergreen popularity of mid-century modern sofas. Characterized by clean lines, sleek silhouettes, and no-frills designs, a classic mid-century modern sofa never feels dated and complements every style of decor, from minimalist to maximalist and anywhere in between.

For those reasons, if you’re in the market to buy a new couch, the decision to go with an MCM-style option is often an easy one. What isn’t such an easy decision? Figuring out exactly where to buy your new sofa — with countless retailers to choose from, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by too many options. To help narrow things down, we’ve rounded up 16 of the very best places to shop for mid-century modern sofas online, ranging from affordable to high end. Happy shopping!  

Wayfair has one of the widest selections of affordable furniture on the internet. Luckily, their site allows you to filter for mid-century modern sofas, so you won’t have to spend as much time scrolling past options that aren’t your style. The deceptively expensive-looking sofa above is a great example of what they have to offer — from the stylish upholstery to the channel-tufted back, everything about it exudes classic mid-century modern charm. 

Wayfair’s sister site AllModern specializes in, well, modern furniture, so it’s basically a treasure trove for fans of MCM style. While their prices generally walk the line between affordable and mid-range, their frequent, generous sales mean their selection of mid-century modern sofas is definitely worth checking out if you’re on a tight budget. Case in point: This investment-worthy leather sofa is currently less than $1000, and this square-arm beauty is similarly priced.

It’s hard to think of anything you can’t buy on Amazon, so it’s not necessarily shocking that the online retailer offers mid-century modern furniture. What may be new to you, though, is Amazon’s in-house brand, Rivet — it’s dedicated entirely to affordable MCM-inspired pieces, many of which feel anything but cookie-cutter or cliché. For example, the sleek silhouette and tufted back place this sofa squarely in the mid-century category, while the gold legs and button-tufted upholstery add a modern-glam update. 

West Elm is practically synonymous with impeccable mid-century style; the trickiest part about shopping for a sofa there will be narrowing down your favorite options. That said, the Zander Sofa should definitely be in the running. Not only does it boast all the most coveted hallmarks of MCM style — clean lines, flared wood legs, top-grain leather upholstery that’ll only look better with wear — but it’s also ridiculously comfy, thanks to overstuffed down-blend cushions on both the seat and arms.

Just like Wayfair, Overstock’s selection of sofas is huge. Also like Wayfair, though, the site lets you filter for just the mid-century modern ones, which helps narrow things down so it’s not too overwhelming. You’ll still have enough options to find the specific features you’re looking for at just about any price range — like this classic MCM stunner that looks like a retro find but has durable performance fabric upholstery and power ports to conveniently charge your devices when you’re cozied up. 

Industry West has a knack for creating timeless MCM-style pieces that feel totally fresh, as this buttery leather sofa makes abundantly clear. From the clean, curved edges to the way the smoked oak legs blend into the leather upholstery, everything about it invites you to look twice. For an investment piece that’ll anchor the whole room, you can’t do better than this one — that said, you can get this sleek loveseat for less than half the price, so don’t rule out Industry West if your budget is a bit smaller.

It’s no secret that we are big fans of Burrow’s modular sofas. If you’re ready to buy your first “grown-up” sofa, Burrow’s Nomad collection could hardly be more perfect. Beyond the fact that each piece is comfy, built to last, and absolutely dripping with timeless mid-century style, the award-winning modular design guarantees your investment will pay off in the long term. As your needs evolve, it’ll be easy to upgrade your sofa rather than replace it. 

Walmart has a surprisingly impressive selection of mid-century modern sofas — and, less surprisingly, they usually come at equally impressive prices. The sofa bed above is a perfect example: Priced at under $300, it’s about as budget-friendly as it gets, but the unique diagonal stitching, linen upholstery, and solid wood legs ensure it looks anything but cheap. Like many of Walmart’s MCM offerings, it’s an ideal option for a first apartment, especially since the multifunctional design doubles as an extra bed for guests. 

If designing the MCM sofa of your dreams seems out of reach, check out Inside Weather ASAP. The millennial-friendly retailer makes buying a custom piece not only attainable but also surprisingly convenient and affordable. For example, if you’re ordering their Jett Sofa, you’ll make it your own by choosing everything from the upholstery to the armrests to the shape and style of the cushions. Inside Weather will custom-build it in San Francisco and ship it to your doorstep for free. If it’s not what you expected, you have a year to return it for a partial refund.

Target is another big-box retailer with an impressive selection of affordable mid-century modern sofas. With over 100 options in the category, there’s something for every budget and lifestyle. Target has a particularly great selection of MCM loveseats and compact sofas for smaller spaces, like this petite two-seater with flared legs and button-tufted upholstery. 

Apt2B has an incredible range of classic mid-century modern sofas, and just about every one of them is available in upwards of 40 different upholstery styles. Take their gorgeous Walton Sofa, for example — the 46 options range from luxe velvet in hot pink Flamingo to woven fabric in pumpkin pie-spiced Clementine, and you can also choose the wood finish on the legs. If you’re feeling indecisive, you can order free fabric swatches of your top picks to see them IRL before making a final decision. 

The section of World Market’s site that’s dedicated to mid-century modern furniture is full of hidden gems. The pieces nail the timeless practicality that makes MCM-style design eternally popular, and they also tend to deliver excellent value for the price. Take this 76-inch classic beauty, for example — with its sturdy frame and flared legs both crafted of solid hardwood, it has the quality construction and high-end look of a far more expensive piece. 

Another member of the Wayfair family, Joss & Main is one of our go-to sources for affordable furniture of all types, including mid-century modern sofas. Their wide selection has something for everyone, and you can often find deep discounts on their already-reasonable prices. Such is the case with this gorgeous square-armed sofa, which is upholstered in a blend of linen and polyester, has slightly tapered block legs, and features a classic Chesterfield silhouette.

Allform is another editor-favorite source for modular sofas that’ll stand the test of time. All of their pieces come in the same basic style, which is a timeless, minimalist take on the classic MCM look. This comfy three-seater will make an excellent addition to any home, and should you choose to add more pieces down the road, the durable, stain-resistant upholstery and quality construction mean it’ll keep looking new. 

Yet another member of the Wayfair family, Perigold is definitely the most grown-up, successful sister of the bunch. The luxury retailer gives you online access to the type of high-end furniture that would otherwise be available exclusively in trade-only showrooms — and while the prices aren’t cheap, they’re pieces you can hand down to your grandkids. Consider the Embassy Sofa by Gus* Modern: Featuring a kiln-dried wood frame and comfy feather-blend-filled cushions, this quintessential MCM design will literally always be cool, and the leather upholstery was carefully selected because its grain develops a beautiful patina over time. 

Before Design Within Reach was founded in 1999, you’d have to be someone fancy to access high-end designer pieces like Ted Boerner’s sleek Theatre Sofa. Engineered with an angled back and elevated armrests, it’s far, far comfier than you’d ever guess by looking at it. Obviously, it’s also a major splurge, but if you’re confident you’ll never get tired of looking at a minimalist MCM sofa, the investment may be more than worthwhile.

Sarah M. Vazquez also contributed to reporting.