Where to find the best of Swedish interior design

Gothenburg and West Sweden

Artilleriet 

High-end multi-brand store Artilleriet offers interior design and lifestyle products from a carefully curated mix of international brands – including Apparatus Studio, Aesop, Comme des Garçons, No Early Birds and Ligne Roset. The eclectic mix encompasses everything from furniture and lighting to candleholders and cushions. Artilleriet operates two stores on Magasinsgatan in the centre of Gothenburg. The newer Artilleriet Kitchen opened in 2015, specialising in cookware and other kitchen accessories. Much of the stock is also available via the web shop. If you’d like professional guidance, Artilleriet offers a personal interior design service.

Rum21

Established in 2006, Rum21 is one of the Nordic region’s largest interior design web shops, with a physical store in central Gothenburg. Browse furniture, lighting and homeware by prestigious brands, both established and new. Look out for Swedish interior design brands such as Skultuna and Karlskrona Lampfabrik. You’ll also find plenty of furniture and accessories by Artek – founded in 1935 by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.

Östlinghs

A highly regarded design agency with its own shop – which opened its doors in 2012 – you’re in good hands when shopping at Östlinghs. Located in the small town of Lindome, 20 km south of Gothenburg, the products you’ll find are mostly vintage, carefully cherry-picked to reflect their expert knowledge about design. There’s a fair share of mid-century furniture, as well as a good selection of newly produced items. A popular retail destination, the store recently expanded to allow space for even more design gems.

Svenssons i Lammhult and its top designers 

Established in 1960 (with a history stretching back to 1898), Svenssons i Lammhult serves up the best of Swedish design, alongside a wide range of products sourced internationally. As for the contemporary Swedish designers represented, you’ll find pieces by one of Gothenburg’s most sought after designers, Staffan Holm, including his signature stools, chairs and beautifully distinctive Newton table. 

Also keep an eye out for the creations of Sami Kallio, another revered local designer. Kallio’s aesthetic is contemporary with an industrial edge, and he designs everything from chairs and barstools to lamps.

Malmö

String Furniture

Swedish design is known for its perfect balance between function and form, and this is why the clever furniture and shelving system String has become a modern classic. String can be combined endlessly and was created in 1949 by architect spouses Kajsa and Nisse Strinning.

Peter Erlandsson and Pär Josefsson revived the cult company in 2005, taking String Furniture to new heights. You’ll find a wide range of String Furniture products at the eminent Malmö store Olsson & Gerthel. String Furniture pieces can also be bought at select other outlets around the country and on web shops such as the above-mentioned Rum 21.

Småland

Glasriket (The Kingdom of Crystal)

Sweden has a long tradition of producing glass art. In the southern region of Småland, you’ll find Glasriket – the Kingdom of Crystal – a glass-making hub since 1742. The area hosts several well-known glassworks and shops, such as Orrefors Kosta Boda and Målerås. There is also a glassworks museum – the Glass Factory – which offers various exhibitions and a glass hut that functions as a creative meeting place for artists and designers.

In recent years, Skruf Glassworks has risen in rank among interior design influencers. Its timeless and artistic glass pieces are also used by the Swedish Parliament as well as Sweden’s ambassadors across the world.

The Kingdom of Crystal is open year-round and easily accessible by car, or by train or bus from Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Stockholm

Brandstationen

Established in 2009, Brandstationen serves up a well-curated mix of quality design – from antique furniture and vintage watches to stylish homeware by contemporary brands. Named after its first venue – a fire station – today the store is housed close by sister shop ‘Herr Judit’, focused on gent’s vintage clothing and designer gems, on Hornsgatan in the hip district of Södermalm. Brandstationen’s diverse offering is also available via its web shop.

Svenska Armaturer

Located in the historic “stone city” neighbourhood of Midsommarkransen, Svenska Armaturer specialises in vintage lighting from Sweden and Italy. The oldest items are from the 1920s, while the most recent date back to the 1970s. Regardless of your taste, you’re bound to find a light that suits your style – be it subtle art deco glamour or stark 1960s cool.

Svenskt Tenn

Svenskt Tenn is a Swedish design institution. Founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, it has one store (and web shop) to which fans of its refined design classics flock. This homely yet ultra-elegant store offers all you could wish for when on the hunt for Swedish interior design – from tea towels and matchboxes to furniture pieces. You can also buy colourful, ornate wallpaper and fabric, much of which is designed by late Austrian architect Josef Frank – one of the country’s most prominent design icons. Prolong your visit by taking a seat at the delightful first-floor tearoom. 

As these shopping destinations illustrate, Swedish interior design caters to everyone looking to combine functionality and innovation, helping to build a home that is practical yet aesthetically pleasing.