When you think of Denmark, you might associate it with Shakespeare’s Hamlet or its world-famous capital city of Copenhagen. Denmark may be the smallest of the Scandinavian countries, but it has established a larger-than-life reputation in the design world. Some of the most highly sought-after has Danish roots, and incorporating these pieces into your living areas is a surefire way to compose a polished, artistic look that wows all guests who step foot in your home. Keep reading to learn more about three furniture design companies from Denmark—or worked extensively with Danish artists—that have made their mark on modern design and undoubtedly influenced generations to come.
Vitra
Design buffs may be thinking that Vitra is a Swiss company, and they’d be right. But their first independent product was a result of a fruitful collaboration with Verner Panton, a Danish designer with a flair for color, geometry, and textiles. The S-shaped Panton Chair debuted in 1967, and still holds instant recognition today to the design-savvy eye. This unique seat has gone through four different production periods involving varying materials, per the official Verner Panton website, with Vitra currently releasing re-editions using polypropylene.
Fritz Hansen
Fritz Hansen’s long legacy traces all the way back to 1872. The first word that jumps to mind is iconic, and even design newbies will know a piece from this Danish company when they see it. Famous seating from include variations of the Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen, which encapsulates counter stools, swivel chairs, and armchairs, all with the recognizable and sleek curvature of a timeless piece of furniture.
In the company’s own words, their work upholds the philosophy that “a single piece of furniture can beautify an entire room or building—and heighten the well-being of the people who inhabit these spaces.” Choosing artful pieces certainly asks everyone who enters the room to pause and think about the interaction between all the different inanimate and human components in the space. Fritz Hansen designs go above and beyond to accomplish that goal and help curate thoughtful spaces that don’t clutter the mind or get in anyone’s way.
Jens Risom Designs
Americans are no strangers to incorporating Scandinavian designs into their dwellings, and we can thank Copenhagen-born Jens Risom for his role in introducing the Danish-inspired fusion of function and design to an audience in the United States. Looking through Risom’s , it’s easy to see how his background in architecture influenced the clean lines and sturdiness of the furniture he produced. From small bookcases to extension tables, armless side chairs, and low coffee tables, Jens Risom brought a Danish eye for ergonomic midcentury modern furniture with him when he arrived in America at the young age of 23.
Why are we still so captivated with midcentury modern designs, like many of the Danish innovations mentioned above, even as other movements have risen and receded in the time since the mid-twentieth century? Curbed shines some light on this phenomenon by Sotheby’s head of 20th-century design, Joshua Holdeman: “”[Midcentury modern designs] sit very well in contemporary homes and interiors—they still feel fresh today, they still feel modern. A lot of those pieces haven’t been bettered. They still stand the test of time.”
This general idea may help explain why Danish design philosophies have tended to not only hold steady, but become more desirable over time. It’s hard to argue with furniture that’s pleasing to the eye, pays extra attention to texture, and has proven to hold up well as an investment for years to come. Incorporating Danish designs from these aesthetic trailblazers is an attainable way to elevate your living space without sacrificing its functionality in the slightest.
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