Whether it's quality Venetian glassware designed by a pair of Danes to vases inspired by the Scandinavian coastline – these are Nordic names soon to be defining your decor
There’s nothing quite like a refresh. And nowhere can that be more exciting than your home. Cold January nights can be perfect for sprucing up the interiors you find yourself spending more and more time in and, thankfully, there’s a host of exciting Scandi brands vying for our attention.
Here’s our pick of the best names to have on your radar.
NJRD
Pronounced ‘Njord’, this contemporary interior design brand is a winning collaboration between Swedish design duo Bernadotte & Kylberg and Nordic Nest. Founded in 2020, NJRD's USP is simple: a streamlined and modern aesthetic, inspired by Nordic light and nature. Think sharp, geometric patterned wool rugs in deep blues and warm ochres and smooth porcelain vases in creams and chocolate browns. Their commitment to Scandinavian principles extends, of course, to sustainability — all products are made of natural, long-lasting materials.
Thorup Copenhagen
This Danish design brand has been steadily building a fan base since its launch in 2017. Sustainability is at its core, in that it only creates pieces which are durable, long lasting and useful. Yet practicality aside, Thorup’s furniture and lighting are also magnificent to look at, with a timeless and contemporary feel. Their Noel chairs, tactile and minimalistic, are a particular highlight.
Gustaf Westman
Think Scandi design is all earthy tones and minimalism? Think again. Gustaf Westman’s bold and eccentric pieces are a throwback to the heyday of Scandinavian design, which favoured an injection of playfulness and primary colours. Established in 2020, the Stockholm-based brand is all pop art hues and wacky creations, like its Barbie pink curly lamp, acid green lacquered wood chair and bubble design crockery which has been lighting up Instagram. Meanwhile, Westman's mirrors have won a plethora of high profile fans, including Olivia Rodrigo. Plus, everything is made with local Swedish woodworkers to ensure as environmentally-friendly a production process as possible.
&Drape
Founded by Danish designers Nadia Al Zagir Balling and Julie Vendal, &Drape has been quietly revolutionising Scandi textiles for the last few years. They create bespoke curtains with a tailored, signature style. Their standout pieces are stunning sheer looks with dip-dye colourings and rustic drapes made from all-natural fibres, guaranteed to wake up your windows.
All Matters Studio
This ambitious studio was founded in 2020 by a Danish architect and a Swedish marketer, determined to make a global brand with Scandinavian design principles at its core. The result is a broad mix of modernist, yet classic, furniture, all made with local craftspeople and, often, from recycled materials. All Matters' stackable wooden chairs feel like an instant design classic, and their clean, muted palette is woken up by their zany rug designs, in bright yellow and raspberry colours.
Arne Aksel
This Copenhagen-based textile brand is all about bold shades and extreme tactility. Their drapes and fabrics come in gorgeous hues of plum purple, emerald green and Millennial Pink, making it as insta-friendly as they come. Yet although Arne Aksel foreground splashy designs and rich colours, their true brand identity is high-quality materials and a deeply personal customer experience, with everything created bespoke so as to reduce waste.
Helle Mardahl
Tableware that looks like candy? Sign us up, please.Helle Mardahl is a feast for the senses. Sculptured glass objects in vibrant, appetising shades of lilac, peach and pink, all of them varying plays on ‘bon bons’ and cakes. It's no wonder the eponymous designer says she was inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland; these are brilliantly-made, natural products, fashioned for an other-wordly, magical appeal.
Akua Objects
Founded last year by two young Danish women Annika Agerled and Josefine Arthur, Akua Objects is a classic concept — quality Venetian glassware — made with a cool, contemporary flavour. It celebrates bold, coloured glass in unapologetic hues, from bowls and plates to vases and carafes, and celebrates traditional Murano craftsmanship, made in sustainably-conscious small quantities.
ClaybyBond
ClaybyBond makes products that will transport you to the sea, and have you daydreaming about the wild, rugged, Scandinavian coastline. That’s probably because the brand’s gorgeous ceramic sculptures are created in the Danish coastal town of Rødvig and inspired by the unique shapes and natural formations of the ocean. Founded in 2020, this homeware brand forges sustainably-made creations that feel utterly unique, made as though they have simply been plucked from the waves themselves.
Dum Keramik
This cult ceramics brand has been subtly growing its fan base for the last few years, and you may have seen their rave smiley, purposely misshapen pieces on some of the most stylish tables in town. Swedish-based Dum Keramik is truly leading the recent trend for irreverent homeware, with blurry flower and cat motifs, wonky vases and even a ceramic condom tray.