Even if you consider yourself an interior design novice, there is a good chance you are familiar with the design classics of the 20th century. You may not know the names, but there is a good chance you will recognise Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair, or Charles and Ray Eames’s lounge chair, or the Arco floor lamp. Big names mean big prices, of course. An Eames original lounge chair is likely to set you back many thousands of pounds, putting it out of the reach of most people. How practical is it to have a chair worth so much in your house anyway, especially if you have a family or pets, and do you want to spend your life saying: “Please get off the chair”? How can you obtain a design classic without breaking the bank? Welcome to the world of designer reproduction furniture.

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Do your research

Your first stop in your shopping experience may well be online − what did we do before the internet? Check out the auction houses, but don’t be tempted to rush to online auctions for these pieces. For a start you don’t know what you are buying. If a ‘genuine’ Arne Jacobsen egg chair is for sale at a bargain price, it probably isn’t even close to being genuine.

Consider looking at one of the quality retailers that specialise in designer reproductions. These companies have made their name selling pieces of furniture, lighting and accessories inspired by the likes of Eames and Jacobsen.

What you get is a new, well-made piece at an accessible price − certainly nowhere near the cost of an original. Look for well-established retailers such as pash-living.co.uk, which sell a good range at good prices and the pieces will look stylish for years to come.

Design-led style

Perhaps you have been inspired by the Modernist movement of the mid-20th century. These design classics are referred to as such because they don’t go out of fashion. Whether a lampshade, a coffee table or a sofa, their clean lines, simple shapes, and − most importantly − practicality mean these pieces have timeless appeal. Whether you have a house full of these pieces or just a chair or table, design classics − whether originals or beautiful reproductions − will never look out of place or out of date.