Furniture trends come and go – but the truly great pieces always find their way back. Lately, designers and homeowners alike are embracing decades-old styles that once defined living rooms, dining spaces, and cozy corners.
Think sculptural chairs, bold patterns, and elegant silhouettes that add depth and personality to any room.
Curious which old favorites are making a modern splash? Here are 10 once-trendy furniture styles staging a major comeback—plus 6 stunning pieces worth bringing home right now.
1. Rattan Peacock Chairs
Remember those dramatic, fan-shaped thrones that graced 1970s living rooms? These statement pieces are once again taking center stage in bohemian-inspired spaces.
What makes today’s peacock chair revival special is the versatility. No longer confined to sunrooms, these woven wonders work as accent pieces in bedrooms, living areas, and even as unexpected office seating.
2. Mid-Century Credenzas
Long, low, and impossibly sleek, these storage workhorses from the 1950s and 60s have triumphantly returned to our living rooms and dining areas. Their clean lines and minimal ornamentation make them perfect for contemporary spaces.
Hunting for an original teak or walnut piece has become something of a sport among design enthusiasts. The warm wood tones and tapered legs offer a refreshing alternative to mass-produced furniture.
3. Conversation Pits
Sunken living rooms were all the rage in the 1960s and 70s, creating intimate gathering spaces where friends could lounge for hours. Today’s architects are reinterpreting this concept for modern homes.
The appeal lies in their inherent coziness and the way they naturally encourage face-to-face interaction in our increasingly screen-dominated world.
4. Cane Furniture
If you’ve scrolled through design Instagram lately, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the resurgence of cane webbing on everything from headboards to cabinets. This woven material adds instant texture and visual interest to any piece.
Originally popular during the Victorian era and again in the 1970s, cane furniture marries durability with delicate patterning. The natural material brings warmth to minimalist spaces while the geometric weaving adds structure to more eclectic rooms.
5. Bouclé Upholstery
Curly, nubby, and irresistibly touchable, bouclé fabric has made a massive comeback from its mid-century heyday. The texture-rich upholstery adds instant coziness to any seating arrangement.
While vintage pieces featured bouclé in earthy browns and oranges, today’s revival embraces creamy whites, soft grays, and occasional bold jewel tones. Designers are applying this tactile fabric to everything from curved sofas to statement chairs.
6. Tambour Cabinets
Those roll-top desks and slatted cabinets from decades past are experiencing a thoroughly modern renaissance. The signature sliding wooden slats create a satisfying sense of movement in otherwise static furniture pieces.
Contemporary tambour appears on media consoles, bathroom vanities, and kitchen islands – proving its versatility beyond traditional office furniture.
7. Tulip Tables
Eero Saarinen’s iconic pedestal design from the 1950s never completely disappeared, but it’s currently enjoying unprecedented popularity in dining rooms worldwide. The space-saving single stem base makes these tables particularly appealing for smaller spaces.
The curvilinear form creates a pleasing contrast in rooms with more angular furniture.
8. Curved Sofas
Straight lines are taking a backseat as the sinuous, curved sofas of the 1940s and 70s make their triumphant return. These sculptural seating options create natural conversation areas while adding visual interest to rectangular rooms.
Vladimir Kagan’s iconic designs have inspired countless contemporary interpretations, from tight-backed crescents to sprawling sectionals. The organic shapes feel fresh amid the boxy furniture that dominated recent decades.
9. Fringe and Tassels
Swinging their way back from Victorian parlors and 1970s lounges, decorative fringe and tassels are once again adorning our furniture. These playful textile embellishments add movement and tactile interest to static pieces.
You’ll find them dangling from lamp shades, edging throw pillows, and even adorning the bottoms of upholstered chairs and sofas. Unlike the heavy, formal tassels of yesteryear, today’s versions tend toward the lighthearted and casual.
10. Mushroom Lamps
With their dome-shaped shades and compact proportions, these fungus-inspired fixtures from the 1970s are illuminating contemporary spaces once again. Their soft, diffused glow creates instant ambiance.
Their whimsical shape adds personality without overwhelming more serious design elements in the room.
1. Bar Carts
Wheeling their way back from the Mad Men era, bar carts have become essential pieces for home entertainers. Far from stuffy, today’s versions balance vintage charm with practical storage for your mixology essentials.
Gold-toned metal frames supporting glass shelves remain popular, but newer interpretations incorporate rattan, wood, and even lucite elements. The best part? These mobile marvels can be repurposed as plant stands, bedside tables, or bathroom storage.
2. Terrazzo Surfaces
Walk through any mid-century public building and you’ll likely find terrazzo floors beneath your feet. This composite material—made from chips of marble, quartz, or glass set in concrete—is experiencing a major revival.
Moving beyond flooring, today’s terrazzo appears on countertops, table surfaces, and even as patterns on textiles and wallpaper. The confetti-like appearance adds playful visual texture without overwhelming a space.
3. Canopy Beds
From medieval necessity to modern luxury, four-poster beds with overhead canopies are making a dramatic comeback in bedrooms. Unlike their heavy, draped ancestors, today’s versions feature sleek lines and minimal ornamentation.
Some contemporary designs even incorporate integrated lighting or storage.
4. Thonet Bentwood Chairs
Those gracefully curved café chairs you’ve spotted in Parisian bistros have found their way into today’s dining rooms and office spaces. Michael Thonet’s revolutionary 1859 design remains remarkably relevant more than 160 years later.
The steam-bent wooden frames create organic curves without sacrificing durability, while the iconic woven cane seats add textural interest. Their lightweight construction makes them practical for small spaces where furniture often needs to be rearranged.
5. Sunburst Mirrors
Radiating from walls since the time of Louis XIV and again during the mid-century, sunburst mirrors combine practical reflection with sculptural impact. Their starburst forms add instant energy to any space.
While golden versions remain popular, contemporary interpretations feature mixed materials like wood, rattan, and even recycled elements. The radial design draws the eye and can make small spaces feel larger through reflection.
6. Chesterfield Sofas
From Victorian gentlemen’s clubs to today’s eclectic living rooms, the deeply tufted Chesterfield sofa continues its reign as furniture royalty. The signature quilted upholstery and rolled arms create instant traditional gravitas.
Designers are playing with scale, creating oversized versions for dramatic impact or compact loveseats for smaller spaces.