Danish Modern Style: Sleek, Organic and Timeless

scandinavian modern dining room — The caning and wood combo on these dining room chairs is a classic Scandinavian Modern motif. Courtesy of Alexander White.

What happens when you cross exquisite Scandinavian craftsmanship with function-over-form Modern design? You get back-to-basics Danish Modern style. It’s filled with beautifully simple housewares and furniture, all designed in Nordic countries from the 1920s to 1960s. Time to dive in and learn more about the style that inspired a generation of Scandinavian designers.

Origins of Danish Modern Style

Danish Modernism (also called Scandinavian Modernism) found its beginnings in the roots of the Bauhaus and Functionalist movements. Bauhaus design emphasized clean, pure lines, while Functionalism sought to prioritize an object’s function over an object’s form. These two principles, along with the rich Danish tradition of careful craftsmanship, shaped Danish Modern design.

danish modern living room dining room — This room uses Danish Modern design to make the space feel open, airy and organic. Courtesy of Atomic Ranch.

The style originated in the late 1920s, thanks to collaborations between Danish architects and cabinet-makers. In 1924, Kaare Klint founded an influential furniture school within the Royal Academy in Copenhagen. Danish Modernism continued to morph throughout the 1930s, as young designers and architects were trained in it. In the ’40s the scarcity of materials in a postwar world led designers to turn new materials such as bent plywood.

Eventually, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City purchased some Scandinavian Modern furniture for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house. Soon after, American interest in Danish Modern style skyrocketed, and Danish Modern designs found their way into American homes.

Icons of Scandinavian Modern Style

Danish Modern style would be nothing without the talented designers who helped create it. Their work spans decades and continents, and is filled with innovative, minimal and organic designs made with the utmost care.

danish modern klint safari chair — Kaare Klint’s Safari Chair (1933). Courtesy of Incollect.

Kaare Klint

Klint is considered one of the forefathers of Scandinavian Modern design, thanks to his work in starting the Furniture School at the Royal Danish Academy of the Fine Arts in 1924. He was inspired by functionalist ideas like function over form, and brought them into his own designs and teachings. One of his most well-known creations is the Safari Chair.

danish modern mogensen spokeback sofa — Borge Mogensen’s Spokeback Sofa (1945). Courtesy of Incollect.

Børge Mogensen

Mogensen studied at the Royal Academy under Klint, and adopted many of his ideas into his own works. Mogensen placed a high value on functionality in his designs, and sought to make his furniture easily mass-produced. With his strong, simple lines and his focus on what design can do for you, Mogensen’s furniture is beautifully minimal and practical. A popular design of his is the Spokeback Sofa.

danish modern juhl 45 chair — Finn Juhl’s 45 Chair (1945). Courtesy of The Krenov School.

Finn Juhl

Although he also attended the Royal Academy, Juhl broke from the traditions of Klint and instead focused on emphasizing the form of his designs. Juhl’s furniture was sculptural, colorful and organic. An example of this is Juhl’s 45 Chair. Juhl also helped pave the way for Scandinavian Modern design in the US, as he helped furnish the interiors of the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

danish modern jacobsen three legged ant chair — Arne Jacobsen’s Three-Legged Ant Chair (1952). Courtesy of 1st Dibs.

Arne Jacobsen

Interestingly enough, Jacobsen considered himself first and foremost an architect. Jacobsen attended the Royal Academy, then started designing homes and hotels and started designing his famous furniture to furnish them. Jacobsen is known for his masterful use of bent plywood and the organic shapes of his designs. One of his most well-known pieces is his Three Legged Ant Chair.

danish modern wegner wishbone chair — Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair (1949). Courtesy of Incollect.

Hans Wegner

Next in the Danish Modern lineage comes Wegner. Wegner apprenticed under Jacobsen, then started his own furniture studio. In doing so, he created hundreds of designs, many of them inventive and innovative chairs. His designs were simple and inspired by organic shapes, like Jacobsen. One of his more popular ones is the Wishbone Chair.

Danish Modern Style Today

Scandinavian Modern furniture is still incredibly popular today–in fact, it’s become quite the collector’s item. As, Julian Goldklang of Mid Century Møbler, says: “You can’t really wander across an estate sale anymore and find a cache of [Danish Modern] pieces that someone purchased back in the day, because everybody knows what everything is.”

Thankfully, you can find Danish Modern inspired designs at plenty of furniture stores: Target, AllModern, and (of course) IKEA. Danish Modern furniture fits in perfectly with other Mid Century Modern pieces, or it can work well mixed in with some Eclectic or Bohemian style items. It’s timeless, beautiful and versatile. Check out some of our favorite ways to use it in your home:

danish modern living room — This Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair really stands out! The use of color in the space is perfect too–it keeps it from feeling too much like a museum. Photo by Jim Brown.

danish modern dining room — The table and chairs in this stunning dining room were crafted by Hans Wegner. Courtesy of Architectural Digest.

scandinavian modern living room — The contrasting color palette in this living makes the gorgeous wood hues really stand out. Courtesy of Alexander White.

arne jacobsen danish modern dining room — Unique Arne Jacobsen chairs surround this dining table, giving this dining room a little bit of fun. Photo by Jim Brown.

Looking for ways to score some Danish Modern furniture? Check out this post. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Mid Century Modern inspiration!