1960s Sofas

Hippy Ethnic Style

• The hippy movement of the 60s was reflected in the home fashions of the day. Low slung, middle-eastern sofa styles were popular, inspired by travel to Morocco and India. This meant divan-style sofas with plenty of throw cushions for comfort. Colors were also inspired by the hippy culture with burnt oranges, browns and yellow ochres all reflective of earth tones.

Space Age Influence

• Technological innovation in the 1960s meant that people were looking toward plastic and PVC as possible sofa materials.Inflatable furniture was trendy and items were not designed to last, with disposability being considered the height of modernity (this was also the time of paper dresses). Inspired by the space race and films such as 2001 Space Odyssey, sofas would often be upholstered in vinyl or PVC and created in modern, curved shapes - look out for pod or egg-shaped sofas.

Fabric Designs

• Taking inspiration from the curved lines and floral patterns of art noveau, 60's textile designers created brightly colored kaleidoscopic fabrics that were applied to sofa upholstery. Psychedelia meant clashing colors were popular, such as tangerine and turquoise with purple applied in swirling or paisley patterns.

Famous Sofa Designers of the 1960s

• Many furniture designers made their names in the 60s designing fun, modern furniture in simple shapes. Vernor Panton famously used plastic in vibrant colors to create innovative designs. Charles and Ray Eames designed simple, elegant sofas and daybeds, while George Nelson created the Marshmallow sofa. Although designed in 1956, it typifies pop-art style, which was popular in the 1960s. Many of these designs are still in production today or can be found in vintage shops.