If you're a fan of minimalist, modern design, you’ve probably spent some time browsing Dowel Furniture. It's easy to love their sleek aesthetic, which blends the best of Scandinavian-inspired simplicity with quality solid wood craftsmanship. Their pieces feel both contemporary and timeless - the kind of furniture that elevates a space without shouting for attention.
For anyone who appreciates Dowel's commitment to clean lines and durable materials, the good news is there are plenty of other brands that share a similar vision. Here are 18 brands like Dowel to check out for your next home upgrade.
1. Article
Article delivers stylish, modern furniture directly to you, cutting out the middleman to keep prices down. Their catalog is filled with sleek sofas, dining sets, and beds that share Dowel's love for Scandinavian and mid-century modern design. While Article often uses engineered wood and metal accents to achieve its affordable price point, the aesthetic is a perfect match for Dowel fans seeking functional, minimalist pieces.
Expect a similar approach to clean silhouettes and useful design, but often at a more accessible price. It’s a go-to for anyone wanting to furnish a space with a modern vibe without a massive investment.
Shop now at article.com
2. Blu Dot
Blu Dot injects a dose of personality and playfulness into modern design. While their roots are firmly in mid-century modern aesthetics, their sofas, shelving, and desks often feature clever details and innovative uses of color and manufactured materials. If you find Dowel's minimalism a bit too quiet, Blu Dot is where you'll find modern pieces with a bit more spark.
Their designs are refined yet creative, perfect for making a subtle statement. Think versatile, well-made furniture designed by three friends who just wanted to make pieces they'd want in their own homes.
Shop now at bludot.com
3. West Elm
A household name for a reason, West Elm champions modern design with a strong focus on sustainability and ethical production. You'll find everything from sofas and beds to rugs and decor, all designed in-house. Like Dowel, West Elm values craftsmanship and natural materials, especially woods with beautiful grains.
The key difference is West Elm's commitment to Fair Trade Certified factories and eco-friendly materials, which adds an extra layer of feel-good to your purchase. Their style ranges from mid-century to a more industrial or glam modern, offering a slightly broader aesthetic than Dowel's focused minimalism.
Shop now at westelm.com
4. Floyd
Floyd is all about creating furniture for modern life - meaning pieces are designed to be intuitive, adaptable, and long-lasting. Specializing in modular sofas, bed frames, and shelving, their aesthetic is unapologetically minimalist and functional. The brand stands out for its easy, tool-free assembly and flat-pack shipping, making it ideal for renters or anyone who moves frequently.
Both Floyd and Dowel share a love for simple, honest design and quality materials, but Floyd's modular and adaptable nature sets it apart. It’s furniture designed to grow and move with you.
Shop now at floydhome.com
5. Burrow
Burrow built its reputation on clever, modular sofas designed for real life. Think spill-proof fabrics, built-in USB chargers, and easy, no-tools assembly. Their furniture sports the same clean lines and functional vibe as Dowel's, but with an added focus on convenience and modern living solutions. Their sectionals, armchairs, and storage pieces are made to be durable and practical.
If you love Dowel's modern look but need furniture that can stand up to pets, kids, and movie night spills, Burrow is fantastic. It's stylish design that doesn't demand you be overly precious with it.
Shop now at burrow.com
6. Joybird
If you're drawn to Dowel's timeless forms but crave a pop of color, Joybird is your brand. They specialize in handcrafted furniture with a distinct mid-century modern influence, offering sofas, chairs, and bedroom sets that you can customize in a huge array of fabrics and finishes. Want a plush velvet sofa in emerald green or a sideboard in a warm walnut? Joybird has you covered.
While Dowel perfected understated simplicity, Joybird masters personal expression. It’s perfect for those who want to put their own unique stamp on a classically modern silhouette.
Shop now at joybird.com
7. Maiden Home
Maiden Home delivers heirloom-quality, handcrafted furniture without the luxury showroom markup. Their sofas, sectionals, and beds are made-to-order in North Carolina by skilled artisans, focusing on premium materials and refined design. The brand's aesthetic is a sophisticated blend of classic comfort and modern lines.
Compared to Dowel, Maiden Home leans more into the high-end, luxury space, emphasizing custom upholstery and a commitment to longevity. It’s an investment piece brand for those looking for lifelong quality with a timeless, elegant style.
Shop now at maidenhome.com
8. Soffa
Soffa creates contemporary, modular sofas and lounge chairs built for urban living. Their designs are sleek, minimal, and highly functional, perfectly aligning with Dowel's less-is-more approach. They focus on comfort without sacrificing style, using durable steel frames and high-quality upholstery to create pieces that last.
Their specialty in modular seating makes them a great option for fitting stylish sofas into tricky or compact spaces. If it's a sleek, modern sofa you're after, Soffa offers a focused and well-crafted collection.
Shop now at soffa.co
9. Interior Define
For those who love to get the details just right, Interior Define is a dream. The brand specializes in highly customizable sofas, beds, seating, and tables. You can change everything from the fabric and leg finish to the cushion-fill and overall dimensions, ensuring the piece fits your space and style perfectly. Their aesthetic remains modern and approachable, similar to Dowel's.
Interior Define takes Dowel's clean shapes and gives you the tools to make them entirely your own. It's the ultimate destination for anyone who has a very specific vision in mind.
Shop now at interiordefine.com
10. Thuma
Thuma is known for its quiet, considered approach to bedroom furniture, centered around "The Bed" - a minimalist, platform bed frame made from solid, reclaimed wood. Their design ethos is all about thoughtful simplicity, using Japanese joinery techniques that make for an incredibly strong and silent frame that's also a breeze to assemble.
Like Dowel, Thuma prioritizes solid wood construction and understated, timeless design. If you appreciate the craftsmanship and clean lines of Dowel, Thuma's dedication to creating a better, simpler bedroom experience will resonate with you.
Shop now at thuma.co
11. HAY
Hailing from Denmark, HAY is a major player in the world of modern Scandinavian design. They create furniture, lighting, and home accessories that are functional, beautiful, and often surprisingly playful. You'll find everything from sleek sofas and metal shelving units to colorful trays and office supplies, all with a distinctively contemporary feel.
HAY shares Dowel's Scandinavian roots but often injects more color and modern sensibility into its designs. It’s a fantastic, often more affordable, option for everyday objects that bring a touch of Danish design into your home.
Shop now at hay.dk
12. Muuto
Muuto is another icon of New Nordic design, known for furniture and decor that feels both familiar and forward-thinking. Their collections of seating, tables, and storage often have a sculptural quality, where simple forms are elevated by subtle, refined details. Craftsmanship and innovation are at the heart of everything they do.
While sharing Dowel's love for minimalism and quality materials, Muuto often takes a more artistic and expressive approach. Their pieces can function as subtle statement items in a modern home.
Shop now at muuto.com
13. Vitra
Vitra isn't just a furniture brand, it's a design institution. They are the official producer of iconic mid-century pieces from designers like Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. This is where you go for licensed originals of some of the most famous chairs and tables in modern design history.
While Dowel offers its own brand of modern minimalism, Vitra offers the originals that inspired generations of designers. The price point is significantly higher, positioning these pieces as true investment-grade design art for serious collectors and enthusiasts.
Shop now at vitra.com
14. Havstad
Havstad crafts beautiful, Scandinavian-inspired furniture with a strong emphasis on natural materials and simplicity. Led by a husband-and-wife team, their collections of dining tables, chairs, and consoles showcase the natural beauty of wood with warm, often rustic finishes. The style is versatile and timeless, designed for everyday gatherings.
Both Dowel and Havstad share a deep appreciation for solid wood craftsmanship, but Havstad's vibe leans slightly more toward a warm, cozy Scandinavian cabin than minimalist modernism. It’s a wonderful choice for creating an inviting, nature-inspired space.
Shop now at havstad.com
15. Normann Copenhagen
Normann Copenhagen is a Danish design company that embraces adventurous forms in its furniture and home accessories. Their aesthetic is bold yet simple, with products ranging from sleek lounge chairs and storage units to distinctive lighting and textiles. Their designs often have an experimental or unexpected twist.
Like Dowel, their work is rooted in Scandinavian design principles, but Normann Copenhagen isn’t afraid to be more playful and unconventional. It’s a great brand for finding modern pieces that feel both functional and artistically interesting.
Shop now at normann-copenhagen.com
16. CB2
As Crate & Barrel's edgier, more modern sibling, CB2 offers on-trend furniture and decor for a younger-leaning audience. Their collection is an eclectic mix of industrial, glam, modern, and minimalist styles, from low-slung velvet sofas and sleek metal bookcases to funky lighting and accessories. They frequently collaborate with designers or small creative studios for unique capsule collections.
While Dowel sticks to a refined modern vernacular, CB2 is more trend-responsive and playful. It’s a fantastic one-stop shop for furnishing a whole room with an expressive, contemporary feel at a similar mid-range price point.
Shop now at cb2.com
17. Serena & Lily
Known for its fresh, breezy take on classic style, Serena & Lily excels at creating a relaxed, coastal-inspired home. Their furniture, bedding, and decor often feature light woods, woven textures like rattan, and a calming color palette of blues and neutrals. This is the brand for creating a space that feels like a permanent vacation.
While the overall vibe is very different from Dowel’s modern minimalism, Serena & Lily shares a similar commitment to quality materials and craftsmanship. If you want to trade woodsy modern for a sunny, sophisticated coastal look, this is your destination.
Shop now at serenaandlily.com
18. Made
Based in the UK, Made.com creates original, contemporary furniture designed to be both stylish and accessible. They work directly with an ever-expanding roster of designers bringing bold, trend-driven pieces to a really attractive price point. Their catalogue features everything from sofas and tables with swooping silhouettes to chic accessories in punchy colours.
Compared to Dowel's understated aesthetic, Made is more vibrant and eye-catching. If you love modern design but want something with more personality and flair that won't break the bank, Made is a fantastic source of inspiration.
Shop now at made.com
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
