The Best Modern Versions of the Iconic Mario Bellini Sofa

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Ask anyone to name a popular sofa right now, and chances are a majority of people will include a Mario Bellini sofa in their answers. For those who may not know the name off the tip of their tongue, you might've heard phrases like that popular "bubble-like sofa" or "cloud-like shape sofa." This silhouette has dominated magazine covers and your IG feed alike. The furniture piece is a way to bring maximalism to your space without feeling too over-the-top, and you have an Italian designer's inspiration from over 50 years ago to thank for that.

What Is the Mario Bellini Sofa?

Mario Bellini is an Italian architect and designer born in 1935. Bellini's designs are original, playful, and designed for every day life, from his marble coffee tables to his dining room chairs. He first debuted the Camaleonda modular sofa at a 1972 Museum of Modern Art exhibition in New York City. The popularity of the furniture led him to partner with furniture company B&B Italia to produce the sofa until 1979.

One feature that made it such a cult favorite is its modularity. You can decide how many you'd like to seat, whether you'd prefer a full three-seater sofa, a corner piece as an armchair, or a center piece as an ottoman. Several of the sofa sections are still being sold individually on platforms like 1stDibs and Chairish, so if you don't have the space or budget for a full sectional yet, you can just as easily add a pouf to spice up your living room.

Is the Mario Bellini Sofa Comfortable?

The original Camaleonda is incredibly customizable, so it comes in a range of different upholsteries for your comfort level. Whether you prefer the crispness of a canvas exterior, the smoothness of full-grain leather or the softness of velvet, it’s the kind of sofa you’ll want to sink into. Its whimsical design almost mimics the top of dinner buns, and the comfort of the cushy, responsive polyurethane foam fill is equally pillowy. It's also tufted at every turn, from the seat cushions to the backs to the armrests. Combine that with rounded corners and low-profile legs, and you might as well have just put a couch on the ground to lounge in.

Why Is the Mario Bellini Sofa Still So Popular?

"While the sofa has long been around since the early '70s, its popularity never quite went away," Kristin Lewis, digital marketing representative at Eternity Modern, says. "We would even argue in the last few years, there has been a resurgence. Its timeless, eye-catching cloud-like aesthetics and voluptuous curves have exploded on social media."

The rarity of the sofa has absolutely turned it into a status symbol, which explains why it's showing up in the homes of people like supermodel Elsa Hosk. The enduring appeal of the sofas has been spotted in celebrity homes in recent years, from cooking guru Chrissy Teigen to designer Athena Calderone.

Additionally, with the greater desire for midcentury design influences, and a dopamine decor-fueled love for all things fun-shaped, the bubble shape of the Camaleonda sofa continues to draw people in 52 years later. Though originally designed for a luxury Italian furniture house, the appeal of the Camaleonda's silhouette found its way to mainstream culture and is now everywhere, from house flipping renovations to bachelorette-ready Airbnbs.

Where to Buy the Mario Bellini Sofa

The scarcity of the sofa, but greater desire from consumers to have those curated, vintage touches in their homes led brands to want to emulate the design in their sofa offerings. Eternity Modern opted for a near-identical reproduction of the Camaleonda sofa in early 2020, "when more consumers were realizing their home was their sanctuary and were more into interior design than ever," Lewis says of Eternity Modern's offering.

When it comes to the Camaleonda, it can be hard to get your hands on the real deal. They're not mass produced at big box retailers, so you'll have to hunt down a reputable retailer who has some of the vintage pieces in stock. And when you do, they'll likely cost you a pretty penny, upwards of $20,000 for the original modular three-seater. Luckily, that decades-long appeal has manifested in dozens of inspired-alternative sofas to shop, so you can bring a look-alike of that iconic profile to your home without a trek to Europe.

Cylan Upholstered Sofa

Mario Bellini Sofa | Combination 008

Modular Sofa Sectional Couch

Sigma Upholstered Sofa

Belia Open End Sofa

Catania Outdoor Tufted Sectional

You Might Also Like

• 15 Home Bar Gifts Every Cocktail Enthusiast Will Appreciate

• 32 Low Light Indoor Plants That Can Survive in the Darkest Corners of Your Home

• These Are the 50 Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room