Waterfall furniture: The cascade of style

I recently stopped by the Abba House to see if there were any good bargains there and came across a beautiful three-piece bedroom suite that really brought back memories. As a young married lady in 1983, the one thing we really wanted for our apartment at base housing was a bedroom set. Everything we owned fit in the back of a pickup truck and was used. 

We found the prettiest Art Deco bed with a dresser and vanity with a huge round mirror. It was a whole $300 and we made payments on it. This was probably the first antique furniture I ever owned and I loved it.

I thought you would enjoy reading about the history of “waterfall” furniture from the Art Deco period. Enjoy and Happy Collecting!

The distinctive “waterfall” furniture style, a true icon of American design from 1930 to 1950, defined the aesthetics of Depression-era homes with its unique blend of glamour and accessibility. 

Named for its signature curved edges that cascade dramatically like falling water, this streamlined design brought Art Deco elegance to the mass market.

Emerging during the economic hardship of the Great Depression, the waterfall style revolutionized furnishings by combining luxury aesthetics with affordable production methods. Rounded corners and cascading wood grain patterns created a visual flow that graced countless bedroom sets, vanities, and living room pieces across America. 

Mass production techniques transformed furniture manufacturing in the 1930s. Factories adopted streamlined, cost-reducing processes, utilizing assembly lines and specialized machinery to produce consistent curved edges. This accessibility was crucial; middle-class households could finally afford fashionable Art Deco alternatives.

The style’s visual language was heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement and the streamlined Streamline Moderne aesthetic. Clean lines replaced ornate Victorian excess, with curves suggesting motion, progress, and a bright, modern future. Machine Age design principles shaped every aspect, from construction to materials.

Walnut dominated early production, its rich color offering sophistication. Manufacturers frequently used walnut veneer combined with cheaper core woods. As tastes evolved, maple gained popularity to meet the demand for “blonde wood” furniture, which provided brightness in smaller suburban homes.

The key to the style’s look were innovative materials like Bakelite, an early, durable plastic used for handles, and chrome hardware that added metallic accents.

Major manufacturers included the United Furniture Company and Kroehler Manufacturing, whose pieces defined middle-market standards. Heywood-Wakefield Company elevated the style with premium materials and signature blonde finishes. 

These companies democratized good design, creating pieces like the ever-popular waterfall vanity tables, often featuring triple mirrors and bench seats, which remain highly collectible today.

This period bridged the gap between traditional craftsmanship and the industrial future, leaving an indelible mark on American furniture history. Collectors still prize original Bakelite handles and authentic pieces, which continue to enhance contemporary interiors with their timeless, cascading appeal.