Many midcentury aficionados love the appearance of a hairpin leg, but not everybody knows about its history. Originally designed in the early 1940s, hairpin legs gained popularity because of the small amount of steel they required — a legitimate wartime invention. Today’s midcentury resurgence and love of fresh, pared-down types has brought them back into the limelight.
You can scoop up an authentic classic set online to add to an obsolete coffee table or find new furniture using hairpin legs out of your favorite retailer. Curious if this retro leg will operate in your home? Have a look at a number of my favorite examples below.
WORKSTEAD
This classic dining table, located on eBay, has a simple wooden top with cast iron hairpin legs. The clean lines of this Wegner Wishbone dining seats match the curves of the legs.
A Good Chick To Know
Most authentic classic hairpin legs are made from raw steel. But today’s furniture tends to have more options — many bits have hairpin legs with brushed stainless steel, vibrant powder-coated or chrome-plated finishes.
Platform
Hairpin legs come in a variety of heights, typically about 4 to 28 inches, which makes them appropriate for all from a daybed into a beverage table.
Louise Lakier
Three-rod hairpin legs tend to be sturdier than the conventional two-rod hairpin leg, which makes them better suited to bits like desks and dining tables.
Sets of classic hairpin legs like these make it simple to design DIY furniture. It is possible to find classic and new hairpin legs on websites like Etsy or eBay, or by providers like Modern Legs or Table Legs.
A good slab of timber along with four legs can easily become…
Emily McCall
… an end-of-bed seat, a coffee table or a table.
UrbanWood Goods
If you’re feeling especially hands free, look at using hairpin legs for a DIY toilet vanity, like in this picture. This set of vessel sinks looks especially crushing on the hairpin-legged console.