What makes an icon an icon? It’s a word that gives many the shivers, feeling it’s thrown around too easily, yet it exists for good reason. A movie star ascends to iconic status when they capture the essence of an era while staying relevant across generations. Think of Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, or Meryl Streep—their charisma, influence, and body of work have left an indelible mark on popular culture.

The same goes for furniture icons. A design icon achieves lasting significance through aesthetic appeal, material innovation, and sheer desirability, becoming forever sought after. And when that design is immortalised on film, viewed by generations past, present, and future, its allure only deepens.

We’re thrilled to team up with Chaplins, the furniture company dedicated to connecting lovers of beautiful design with everything they need to create a timeless and authentic home, for this article. Let’s explore eight iconic furniture designs, the films they’ve graced, and imagine which famous actor each piece would embody if it took human form.

The Barcelona Chair

Sexy as hell and an icon of the modern movement, the Barcelona Chair by Knoll is one of the most recognised pieces of design from the last century. It’s simple elegance and graceful profile have made it a widely celebrated modern lounge chair, epitomising designer Mies van der Rohe’s famous axiom, “less is more.”

From the hand-buffed steel frame to the individual leather squares carefully welted together, the Barcelona Chair pays tribute to the marriage of modern design and exceptional craftsmanship.

Although an exemplar of the machine style, much of the chair is handmade: the cushions are made from 148 separate pieces of leather, and the chromed stainless steel frame is hand-buffed to a mirror finish.

The Barcelona chair has made star appearances in films like Batman v Superman (in Bruce Wayne’s modernist lake house), House of Gucci, Amercian Psycho and Casino Royale. A series of dark green Barcelona chairs also feature in the Bramford apartment in Apartment 7A.

If the Barcelona Chair were an actor, who would it be?
Sophisticated, minimalist, elegant, yet edgy—it’s easy to imagine Daniel Craig as the perfect human embodiment.

Buy your own Barcelona Chair >

Eames’ Plastic Group Chairs

Buy your own Eames Plastic Chair >

Eames Lounge Chair

Talking of Eames, we have to include the Eames’ Lounge Chair and Ottoman in this investigation into furniture icons. This outstanding design of the 1950s was originally created by the duo as a gift for Billy Wilder, the director of the classic film Some Like It Hot. It has since become one of the most iconic creations of the furniture world.

Charles and Ray Eames’ pieces frequently appear in movies. When film set decorators need to convey a character’s impeccable taste or simply add a strikingly handsome piece to a domestic or office setting, an Eames creation is often the go-to choice—particularly the classic Lounge Chair.

This, the most famous and desirable of all Eames designs, has been featured in film and TV shows as diverse as House of Gucci, Tony Stark’s mansion in Iron Man, Click, Sunday in New York, The Ghost Writer, Frasier, Gossip Girl (where it was upholstered in a stunning Missoni fabric), Hope Springs, the Korean film The Housemaid, a white version in Tron Legacy, Closer and even the animated spy comedy Archer. 

With its elegant shape, crafted from a range of wood veneers and available in two sizes, the Eames Lounge Chair becomes the centerpiece of any room. It is still produced today using nearly the same methods as in its original creation.

If the Eames Lounge Chair were an actor, who would it be?
Timeless, refined, and legendary—we’re thinking Sean Connery.

Buy your own Eames Lounge Chair >

De Sede DS600 Non Stop sofa

The DS600 sofa by De Sede is one of the most striking pieces of 1970s design, often called the “Non Stop” sofa due to its endless modular combinations.

This modular sofa exhibits exceptional design and limitless configuration possibilities. With maximum functionality and distinctive comfort, the DS-600 system, created originally in 1972, remains an icon–a unique, versatile addition to any lounge, office or film set, such as The Hunger Games, Scarface, Robocop, American Horror Story: Hotel, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Wonder Woman 1984.

Inspired by an ancient snakelike mythical Alpine creature named the Tatzelwurm, the DS600 is formed of modular elements that can be combined in infinite ways to create a flowing, serpentine seating arrangement.

Each upholstered segment can be zipped together, allowing for free-flowing, mobile concepts as well as more conventional configurations. It even holds a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest sofa.

Newly made versions of this sofa are crated in a small town in rural Switzerland using luxury leathers.

Panthella Table lamp

Designed by Verner Panton in 1971, the Panthella Table Lamp remains one of his most iconic creations.

The lamp’s organic shapes are characteristic of Panton’s style. He aimed to design a fixture where both the base and the shade would serve as reflectors, achieving a soft, diffused light.

This playful and glamorous lamp has been featured in Me Without You and The Playlist.

If the Panthella Table Lamp were an actor, who would it be?
Playful, vibrant, and glamorous—it gives off strong Margot Robbie vibes.

Buy your own Panthella Table Lamp >

Florence Knoll sofa

Designed by Florence Knoll in 1954, the eponymous Florence Knoll Sofa is distinctive and versatile.

This iconic sofa appears in various styles and colours throughout Mad Men and is also available in brown, green, grey, ivory, natural and sand hues—making it a truly adaptable addition to any space.

Inspired by the rhythm and proportions of mid-century modern architecture, the Florence Knoll Sofa exhibits a geometric profile. It’s constructed with a solid wood structure, an exposed metal frame, and elevated on tubular steel legs. Introduced in 1961, the Cato fabric—crafted from a wool-mix composition—features an exaggerated texture that adds an elegant accent to any setting.

Florence Knoll’s contributions to the world of design are immeasurable. Her visionary approach to furniture and interior design earned her numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts, awarded by the U.S. president, the American Institute of Architects’ Industrial Design Gold Medal, and the Red Dot Design Award.

Today, the Florence Knoll Sofa is available in a 2- or 3-seat version, including the original or “Relax” variant (which has been updated for added comfort), and offered in leather or Cato fabric.

If the Florence Knoll sofa were an actor, who would it be?
With its refined presence, sophisticated simplicity, and exemplary craftsmanship, it would undoubtedly be Julianne Moore.

Buy your own Florence Knoll sofa >

Noguchi Coffee Table

The iconic Noguchi black ash table represents designer Isamu Noguchi’s belief that “everything is sculpture”—a true design classic.

Two wooden leg elements, available in rich black ash, warm maple, or timeless walnut, make a bold statement. These legs form a right-angle configuration that not only adds stability but also enhances the table’s unique aesthetic.

This eye-catching table makes notable appearances in The Moon is Blue, Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In, and Hollywood (dir. Ryan Murphy), among others.

If the Noguchi Coffee Table were an actor, who would it be?
Sculptural, masterfully crafted, and exuding gravitas—it perfectly embodies Daniel Day-Lewis.

Buy your own Noguchi Coffee Table >

LC4 Chaise Longue

Designed in 1928 by Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, the LC4 Chaise Longue—dubbed the “relaxing machine”—is renowned for its ability to mirror the body’s natural curves, while appearing to float above its supports. The adjustable frame allows for an infinite number of reclining positions, from upright to full recline.

As unlikely as it may seem, Modernist design frequently intersects with the world of adult films. The famous LC4 has appeared in countless adult movies (so we’ve heard!) and also in films like Chloe and 9½ Weeks.

The LC4 is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York—surely the ultimate stamp of approval for design excellence.

If the LC4 Chaise Longue were an actor, who would it be?
With its sleek, understated cool, relaxed yet strong vibe, and iconic status, it has to be Keanu Reeves.

Buy your own LC4 Chaise Longue > Each piece is signed and numbered.

Which other furniture icons would you include in this filmic list?

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