30 Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
I think a chair is one of the hardest elements to pick. There are so many great designs, and I often see people choosing a nice-looking chair that doesn’t feel like it belongs in the space — because each chair design carries its own history, the styles it fits into, and the vibe it brings with it. Here I’ve listed some of the Most Iconic Chairs of All Time, all still selling well today: what year they were born, and what style they suit best.
Use this as a guide for your next chair shopping, so you don’t end up buying something that won’t fit in your space.
No design element is more universal than the chair. While its basic body-supporting functionality has hardly changed, the chair has seen countless interpretations that encompass ever-evolving tastes, materials, technologies, and ideologies. All of which have made this practical domestic necessity, at its best, an emblem of status, style, and artistry.
I’ve always thought the chair is one of the trickiest elements to choose in interior design. There are just so many great designs out there—and yet, I often see people fall into the trap of picking a chair that looks beautiful on its own but feels totally out of place in the room. That’s because every chair carries more than just its shape. Each one has a history, a design philosophy, and a certain vibe it brings into a space — the form, line and texture side of things. And honestly? Half the time the chair isn’t the problem at all. It looks wrong because of where it has to sit, how much room it has around it, and what it faces. If you’ve swapped the chair twice and the corner still feels off, that’s a plan problem, and a single-room layout fix will sort it faster than a third chair will.
That’s why understanding the Most Iconic Chairs of All Time is more than just a design history lesson—it’s a practical guide for styling your home. These are the pieces that not only transformed how we sit but also defined eras of design. And the best part? Many of them are still in production and selling strong today.
So, in this blog, we’ll look at:
- When these iconic chairs were “born”
- What style each fits into best — and if you’re not sure what your own style is, start there first
- How their presence changes the mood of a space
Think of it as your shortcut to smarter chair shopping—so you don’t end up with something that clashes with your home, no matter how tempting it looks in the showroom.
Because while the chair’s fundamental purpose (holding up our weary bodies) hasn’t changed in centuries, its countless interpretations reflect evolving tastes, new materials, and fresh ways of living. At its best, a chair is more than furniture—it’s status, style, and artistry, all rolled into one.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
1. Barcelona Chair
- Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe & Lilly Reich, 1929
- Style: Bauhaus / Modernist Luxury
- Story: Designed as a modern throne for the Spanish royals during the 1929 International Exposition.
- Legacy: Still screams sophistication — you’ll see it in chic apartments, galleries, and offices.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
2. Eames Lounge Chair
- Designer: Charles & Ray Eames, 1956
- Style: Mid-Century Modern
- Story: Inspired by a baseball glove — stylish, soft, and perfectly reclined.
- Legacy: The ultimate “architect’s chair,” timeless and endlessly comfortable.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
3. Wishbone Chair
- Designer: Hans J. Wegner, 1949
- Style: Scandinavian Modern
- Story: Influenced by Chinese Ming chairs, simplified with Danish craft.
- Legacy: A favourite dining chair worldwide, light yet elegant.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
4. Thonet No. 14 (Bentwood Chair)
- Designer: Michael Thonet, 1859
- Style: Industrial Revolution Design
- Story: First mass-produced chair using steam-bent wood.
- Legacy: Café culture everywhere owes this chair a nod.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
5. Panton Chair
- Designer: Verner Panton, 1960
- Style: Space Age / Pop Art
- Story: The world’s first single-mould plastic chair — futuristic curves galore.
- Legacy: A 60s design icon still used in playful, modern spaces.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
6. Louis Ghost Chair
- Designer: Philippe Starck, 2002
- Style: Postmodern / Neo-Baroque
- Story: A transparent polycarbonate twist on the Louis XVI armchair.
- Legacy: Weddings, cafes, and chic interiors love this chair.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
7. Egg Chair
- Designer: Arne Jacobsen, 1958
- Style: Scandinavian Modern / Mid-Century
- Story: Designed for Copenhagen’s SAS Royal Hotel lobby.
- Legacy: Its cocoon shape is still the perfect statement lounge chair.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
8. Swan Chair
- Designer: Arne Jacobsen, 1958
- Style: Scandinavian Modern
- Story: A curvy, playful hotel companion to the Egg Chair.
- Legacy: Still adored for its sculptural silhouette.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
9. Red and Blue Chair
- Designer: Gerrit Rietveld, 1917
- Style: De Stijl / Modernism
- Story: Inspired by Mondrian’s paintings. More art than furniture.
- Legacy: A museum piece that introduced geometry into design.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
10. LC4 Chaise Longue
- Designer: Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, 1928
- Style: Modernist Functionalism
- Story: Nicknamed the “relaxing machine,” created for ultimate comfort.
- Legacy: Still a favourite among collectors who love sleek, industrial design.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
11. Cesca Chair
- Designer: Marcel Breuer, 1928
- Style: Bauhaus Modernism
- Story: Tubular steel meets handwoven cane.
- Legacy: One of the most copied dining chairs of the 20th century.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
12. Wassily Chair
- Designer: Marcel Breuer, 1925
- Style: Bauhaus
- Story: Inspired by bicycle handlebars and designed for Kandinsky.
- Legacy: Lightweight, modern, and revolutionary.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
13. Peacock Chair
- Designer: Southeast Asian origin, revived 1960s–70s
- Style: Bohemian / Wicker
- Story: Rattan throne that became a boho icon in the 70s.
- Legacy: Making a comeback in today’s eco-homes.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
14. Poäng Chair
- Designer: Noboru Nakamura for IKEA, 1976
- Style: Scandinavian Modern / Affordable Design
- Story: Made for comfort and affordability, with a springy bentwood frame.
- Legacy: IKEA bestseller still going strong.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
15. Adirondack Chair
- Designer: Thomas Lee, 1903
- Style: American Rustic
- Story: Created for outdoor lounging in the Adirondack mountains.
- Legacy: A classic garden and beach chair worldwide.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
16. LC2 Petit Modele Armchair
- Designer: Le Corbusier, 1928
- Style: International Style
- Story: “A machine for sitting” — structured, simple, boxy.
- Legacy: Minimalist luxury, still used in modern offices.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
17. Diamond Chair
- Designer: Harry Bertoia, 1952
- Style: Mid-Century Modern
- Story: A chair made of steel wire, surprisingly comfortable.
- Legacy: Proof that industrial materials can be graceful.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
18. Tulip Chair
- Designer: Eero Saarinen, 1955
- Style: Mid-Century Modern / Futurism
- Story: Designed to get rid of “the ugly clutter of legs.”
- Legacy: Pairs perfectly with the Tulip Table — sculptural, sleek.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
19. Butterfly Chair
- Designer: Bonet, Kurchan & Ferrari-Hardoy, 1938
- Style: Modernist / Functional
- Story: Canvas sling on a collapsible metal frame.
- Legacy: Became a 50s outdoor favourite.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
20. MR Chair
- Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1927
- Style: Bauhaus / International Style
- Story: Among the first cantilevered chairs.
- Legacy: A symbol of modern architectural furniture.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
21. LC7 Swivel Chair
- Designer: Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, 1927
- Style: Modernist / Functionalist
- Story: Designed for the 1929 Paris Salon d’Automne.
- Legacy: Still chic as a desk or dining chair.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
22. Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair
- Designer: Arne Jacobsen, 1955
- Style: Danish Modern
- Story: Made with pressed plywood for flexibility.
- Legacy: One of the most sold chairs in history.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
23. Superleggera Chair
- Designer: Gio Ponti, 1957
- Style: Italian Modernism
- Story: “Super light” but incredibly strong.
- Legacy: A triumph of craft and engineering.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
24. Ball Chair
- Designer: Eero Aarnio, 1963
- Style: Space Age / Pop
- Story: A hollow sphere that you sit inside.
- Legacy: A favourite of 60s futurism, still looks playful today.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
25. Bibendum Chair
- Designer: Eileen Gray, 1926
- Style: Art Deco / Modernism
- Story: Inspired by the Michelin Man’s curves.
- Legacy: Comfortable and sculptural, still a design gem.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
26. Ox Chair
- Designer: Hans J. Wegner, 1960
- Style: Scandinavian Modern
- Story: Wegner wanted a bold, masculine lounge chair.
- Legacy: Striking and powerful, not your average Scandi minimalism.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
27. Shell Chair (CH07)
- Designer: Hans J. Wegner, 1963
- Style: Scandinavian Modern
- Story: Nicknamed “The Smiling Chair” for its shape.
- Legacy: Initially unpopular, now a design classic.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
28. Zig-Zag Chair
- Designer: Gerrit Rietveld, 1934
- Style: De Stijl Modernism
- Story: Four wooden planes, no legs.
- Legacy: A radical take on what a chair could be.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
29. Stacking Side Chair (Model 40/4)
- Designer: David Rowland, 1964
- Style: Functional Modern
- Story: Could stack 40 chairs in just 4 feet of space.
- Legacy: Revolutionised seating in schools, halls, and offices.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
30. Plastic Side Chair (DSW)
- Designer: Charles & Ray Eames, 1950
- Style: Mid-Century Modern
- Story: First mass-produced plastic chair, affordable and adaptable.
- Legacy: Still everywhere — dining rooms, cafes, studios.
Most Iconic Chairs of All Time
From the ornate Peacock Chair to the futuristic Panton, these really are the most iconic chairs of all time. Each design tells a story — of innovation, culture, and the way people live. And the best part? Many of these classics are still being made today.
If you’re ready to level up your interior design game, adding one of these chairs to your home is like owning a piece of history — but one you can actually sit on.
One honest caveat before you go shopping. A great chair still has to sit inside a room, and no icon on this list will rescue a space that isn’t working. Most of the time a chair looks wrong because it is the wrong size for the spot, or it faces nothing in particular — which is a scale and proportion problem rather than a taste one. If your living room has been through three arrangements and still feels awkward, sort the plan before you sort the furniture: a Fix My Floor Plan review is $297 a room and tells you where things should sit before you spend anything on the things themselves. If it’s the whole house rather than one room, a design consultation is the better place to start. Then buy the chair.
Where I Shop
I’m often asked where I source the products I use and recommend. Here’s a little peek into some of my favourite suppliers!
- The Blue Space – beautiful bathware & tapware, delivered Australia-wide
- Interior Secrets – Modern furniture at direct-to-consumer prices
- Lounge Lovers – Designer-look sofas and homewares without the designer price tag
- Ruggable – Machine-washable rugs that make spills stress-free
Worth knowing: my Blue Space link is an affiliate link, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — and you get a discount for using it. The amount varies depending on the product, and there’s no code to type in, it comes through the link itself. Worth saving the link for whenever you’re ready to buy.
Still not sure what’s right for your own place?
That’s the part I do — and there are two ways in, depending on how much you need sorted.
Fix My Floor Plan — $297 a room. Send me your floor plan and a few photos. I’ll tell you what I’d change: where the furniture goes, what’s making the room feel awkward, and the practical next steps to fix it. Back with you in 5–7 business days, and there’s not a single meeting involved.
Or a Design Consultation — $550. Ninety minutes on your whole space: layout, colours, materials, joinery, storage, or just a second opinion before you commit to something expensive. Online, wherever you are in the world.
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