Antiques of the future: the furniture you should be investing in now

While we love the thrill of finding a vintage Ercol piece at an antiques fair or auction, for those seeking an instant fix of retro charm, contemporary versions of Ercol’s original designs are available to buy from stockists across the UK. This classic Originals Studio Couch can be upholstered in a range of stylish fabrics, and this geometric blue-grey print enchanted us. We picture it alongside whitewash floorboards, a rug in an uplifting shade and vases filled with seasonal greenery.

If you're interested in buying antique furniture that might need a little bit of a makeover, check out our round-up of the best furniture upcycling and restoration courses available online and in person.

Scandinavian design brand Vita Copenhagen is highly regarded for its sculptural lighting and minimalist home accessories. Now branching into the world of furniture, one of its most recent collections is called Furniture Feelings and includes multifunctional pieces designed for space and style-conscious homes. We love the Audacious cabinet, which features sliding tambour doors for tucking away books and keepsakes.

When master carpenter Michael Thonet began making furniture in the mid 19^thcentury, he introduced the idea of reducing a chair to the fewest elements possible. Years later, Thonet’s company still has this concept at its core, and this new 118 chair by Sebastian Herkner, nods to one of Thonet’s original seat designs. Curved and elegant, this minimal perch is a real investment piece.

A timeless balance of aesthetics and comfort, the new Onsa chair from heritage brand Walter Knoll is a design classic of the future. Created by leading Italian designer Mauro Lipparini, the chair is based on the idea of a flower opening in the sunshine, and has soft and supple leather that cradles the body as you sit. But, if leather isn’t your style, it’s also available in a range of other fabrics.

Zesty shades and exotic birds are always on trend, and these trays add a touch of lively tropical to any home. Based in Amsteram, designer Mariska Meijers hand-draws her distinctive prints, and we’re sure they’ll be at the top of collectors’ wish-list in years to come. The Singapore birch round wood tray is available in black, brown, lilac and green.

Hans Wegner’s classic CH24 Wishbone Chair gets an update in sultry indigo, thanks to an exclusive collaboration between Carl Hansen & Son and The Conran Shop. Finished in a rich, dark blue lacquer, with an optional denim seat pad, this updated icon would make an eye-catching addition to any hallway or bedroom… we’ll take six, please!

These striking tumblers are inspired by American fashion and interiors icon Iris Apfel and her wonderfully quirky New York apartment. Available through contemporary glassware brand Nude, they’re classy, thoroughly modern and alluringly stylish – very much like the indomitable lady herself, in fact.

Lucy Tiffney is the designer of the moment. Her hand-painted botanical murals and wallpapers are intricate, uplifting and everywhere in the interiors world. And now she has collaborated with Sofa.com, for the latest instalment in its Design Lab series, to create a range of upholstery and cushion fabrics. We love the Fingal armchair in London Lagoon Stripe Dusk, and the scatter cushion on Frond Dawn.

Crafted from canaletta walnut, with brushed brass feet and a soft, upholstered headboard, this bed from Porada is the epitome of luxury and would be a true investment piece. With classic curves that transcend trends and seasons, the Killian 150 is available from the Porada UK Chelsea Harbour Design Centre Showroom.

Founded in Helsinki in 1935, illustrious furniture company Artek continues to make waves. Its Atelier chair, made in collaboration with Swedish design practice TAF Studio, is typically elegant, functional and sturdy. Designed for the new restaurant at Stockholm’s National Museum (Sweden’s museum for art and design) and made from lacquered oak, ash and beech, they’d look perfect around your dining table.

Often seen on antique furniture from the art deco period, straw marquetry is a striking effect created by ironing together glorious multi-toned shades of wood. This bespoke Straw Marquetry Cabinet from Simon Orrell Designs features the same effect, and is a striking investment piece.

We all know Lorfords for its array of unique furniture and accessories, but you may not be aware that it also offers bespoke, contemporary pieces. Based on a classic design, The Lambeth sofa features a deep seat and shapely arms perfect for an antiqes-filled home. Made to last, each piece is customisable and comes finished in Lorfords’ blue and white ticking, ready for upholstering.

Vitra has always championed the works of seminal craftspeople, including American post-war designer Alexander Girard. These motif ornaments were created by Girard for Vitra in 1965, and don’t have to be just for Christmas - scatter them around your home at any time of year to add a touch of charming detail.