Straight lines and sharp edges are so last year. The curved furniture trend is a new look for 2023 with a nod to 1970s design. More than just curvy furniture, this interior design trend is about sculptural forms and selecting furniture that is as much a decorative item as it is a functional piece.
Let’s explore the origins of the curved furniture trend, why it’s popular now, and ways to get the look.
What era does curved furniture come from?
This trend has roots in the 1970s, an era when designers embraced a softer, more feminine interior design aesthetic, including curved furniture. This was a departure from the Danish and mid-century modern furniture movements, which dominated the 50s and 60s and were all about straight, clean lines.
Why is curved furniture a popular trend today?
Interior design trends, much like fashion, work in cycles. New decades become popular again every few years as contemporary designers look to the past for inspiration. Currently, the 70s aesthetic is in the spotlight. You can see this in the popularity of earth tones, materials like corduroy and velvet, rattan and wicker furniture and even in fashion and pop culture (we finally have a disco ball emoji). The 70s groovy vibe is trending!
Curved furniture also has stock in another growing trend—biophilic design. The biophilic design trend is more of a design philosophy that’s about integrating elements of nature into our homes and workspaces. Curves in furniture mimic the organic forms that we see in nature and by doing so, bring a soothing quality and easy flow to the spaces they occupy.
How to Bring the Curved Furniture 2023 Decor Trend to Life in Your Home
Ready to bring curved furniture into your home? Here are ten easy ways to get the look!
1. Luxuriate on a sprawling, curvy sofa.
Go bold and choose a sofa that abandons straight lines. A curvaceous sofa works beautifully with the idea of floating your sofa off the wall, as the curved lines make it easy to move around the furniture. Crescent-shaped or serpentine sofas are an elegant version of a sectional and are incredibly conversation-friendly. Some are even modular, offering greater design flexibility.
2. Sculptural Coffee Tables Add Visual Intrigue
Introduce the idea of curved furniture to your space with a coffee table that resembles a modernist sculpture. Look for pieces with circular tops or that are perched on curved, spherical legs for an extra funky oomph.
3. Shroom Lighting Is Oh So 70s Chic
Lighting can be inspired by the curved furniture trend too! Domed shades echo the vintage mushroom lamp trend and pair well with other 70s-inspired pieces. Lamps with spherical shades that arch and curve will act as both a light source and a sculpture.
4. Sloped Side Chairs Are Decidedly 70s
Sloped designs like this chair bring curves in a different way. We love how the sinuous channeled tufted cushion adds to the vintage vibe of the room yet has a casual elegance that keeps it from feeling too Hollywood glam.
5. Camel back pieces anyone?
Want a more traditional take on this trend that brings curvy elements but doesn’t go all out? Camel back sofas—where the back sofa cushion arches into one or even two humps—is the way to go. Accent with round, puffy decorative pillows for an added punch of style. This is a great way to dabble in the curved furniture trend.
6. Elevate Entryways with Curvaceous Console Tables.
Add organic intrigue to your entryway or hallway. Pill-shaped console tables or credenzas bring subtle curves and are a small detail that your guests will admire.
7. Decorate with Organic Ornamentation
A bold, circular side table like this is a small but mighty addition to any space, especially when it features a striking, geometric design. Double down on the curves by topping it with a curved sculpture. This look takes its cues from Art Deco design, which is another style that was all about curved forms.
8. Arched Accents Add Detail
Even something as simple as a drawer handle can introduce curves into a space. This nightstand’s circular pull, for example, offers an element of curvy style for the bedroom. Versatile side tables with this kind of detail can be used to expand the trend into other rooms in your home, like the bathroom. It’s a small but impactful way to get the look without fully committing to the trend!
9. Gush Over Waterfall Tables
Tables with arched designs and seamless materials are another gateway to this trend. Waterfall tables feature rounded drops at the edges. The top material curves down the sides of the table. You’ll see this design in coffee, side, and console tables and even in outdoor patio furniture.
10. Create Intrigue with Curvaceous Cutouts
Dabble in the curved furniture trend with pieces that sport curved cutouts. Keep an eye out for these curved designs, which will be prominent in many 2023 decor collections and beyond!
Whether you choose to go all in with the curved furniture trend or just add elements that will freshen up your style, you’re going to love the look and the welcoming feel it brings to your home. Get inspired by exploring even more design trends.
Love the curved furniture trend? We’re sharing some of our favorite ways you can introduce this 2023 decor trend into your space.
