Famous for its sleek and ridiculously adaptable shelving systems, String Furniture is a dream for anyone who appreciates clever Swedish design. The brand has built a cult following around its customizable, wall-mounted units that make organizing feel like a design project, not a chore.
If you love that clean, minimalist aesthetic but are curious about what else is out there, you’re in luck. Here are 19 similar brands that deliver on minimalist style, smart function, and beautiful design.
1. Muuto
Muuto champions the "New Nordic" aesthetic, offering furniture, lighting, and accessories that feel fresh and modern. Their shelving and storage options, like the Stacked Storage System, share String's commitment to modularity and clean lines. Pieces are functional and simple but often come with a small, innovative twist or a unique color palette that sets them apart.
While String remains hyper-focused on its signature shelving, Muuto provides a broader range of products for a cohesive minimalist home. If you appreciate Swedish functionality but want to explore a wider variety of minimalist forms and materials, Muuto is a go-to. Their price point is comparable to the mid-to-high end of String's configurations.
Shop now at muuto.com
2. Hay
Hay is the cool, slightly more colorful cousin in the Danish design family. They merge minimalist principles with a contemporary, often playful energy. Their shelving and storage collections feature the same clean, practical ethos as String, but you’ll find bolder color choices and collaborations with leading designers that inject a dose of personality into their functional pieces.
If you're drawn to String's modularity but wish it came in more vibrant hues or unexpected forms, Hay offers the perfect middle ground. It delivers high-end Scandinavian design that doesn't take itself too seriously, making it ideal for creating a curated but livable space.
Shop now at hay.dk
3. Normann Copenhagen
Normann Copenhagen creates furniture and decor that beautifully balances minimalism with character. Their storage solutions, such as the modular 'Rise' shelving, share the functional elegance of String but often incorporate softer curves and thoughtful, understated details. This brand is less about strict grid systems and more about creating a distinct, design-forward object that also happens to be great for storage.
Think of it as minimalist design with a subtle artistic touch. It's a great match for someone who wants the organizational benefits of a modular system but desires a piece that stands out as a unique design element in a room.
Shop now at normann-copenhagen.com
4. IKEA
For modular, minimalist design on a budget, IKEA remains an unbeatable resource. Systems like IVAR, KALLAX, and PLATSA offer a similar spirit of customization and flexibility as String, allowing you to create wall-to-wall storage or simple, freestanding units. The aesthetic is clean, Scandinavian-inspired, and famously practical.
While the materials may be less refined and the finish less luxurious than String, IKEA provides the fundamental building blocks for excellent organization at a fraction of the cost. It’s the perfect choice for renters, first-time homeowners, or anyone who loves a good DIY hack to elevate affordable furniture.
Shop now at ikea.com
5. Menu
Menu is all about "soft minimalism," focusing on high-quality natural materials and clean, human-centric design. Their shelving options emphasize elegant simplicity, often blending beautiful woods with powder-coated metals to create pieces that feel both modern and timeless. Their approach is sophisticated and intentional, with every design serving a clear purpose.
Compared to String, Menu feels slightly more luxurious and architectural. It's less of a "system" and more of a collection of standalone statement pieces or quiet, considered storage. If your home leans toward warm minimalism with a touch of elegance, Menu will fit right in.
Shop now at menu.dk
6. Vitra
Vitra is a titan of design, producing furniture classics from iconic designers like Charles and Ray Eames and Jean Prouvé. While known for seating, their storage solutions are just as meticulously crafted. Pieces like the Eames Storage Unit bring a mid-century modern flavor to modular design, blending minimalist principles with distinctive pops of color and high-quality materials.
Vitra sits at a higher price point, reflecting its status as a producer of design-history artifacts. It's an investment brand for those who see furniture as collectible art and want a minimalist piece with an iconic heritage.
Shop now at vitra.com
7. Blu Dot
Blu Dot crafts modern furniture designed to be useful and beautiful. Their aesthetic is clean and unfussy but often features a smart design detail or a playful geometric form that makes it distinctive. Their shelving and bookcases, like the Welf and Shale systems, combine sturdy construction with an airy, minimalist vibe, making them great String alternatives for apartments and homes.
What sets Blu Dot apart is its balance of good design, solid quality, and a price point that rests comfortably between mass-market and high-end luxury. It's the perfect sweet spot for anyone wanting well-made, contemporary storage that will last.
Shop now at bludot.com
8. Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach is a retailer that serves as a gateway to the world's best modern and minimalist furniture, including its own excellent designs. Their in-house Story Bookcase or the modular Line series echo String's blend of form and function. They emphasize quality materials, clean silhouettes, and systems that work in a variety of contemporary settings.
As a curator of iconic and emerging brands, DWR is a fantastic one-stop-shop if your budget is in the higher mid-range. You might find shelving systems similar to String right alongside pieces from brands like Hay and Muuto, making it an efficient place to compare and contrast.
Shop now at dwr.com
9. Snøhetta
Known primarily as a world-renowned architecture firm, Snøhetta also extends its design philosophy to furniture and objects. Their approach is rooted in sustainability and conceptual clarity, resulting in minimalist pieces that are both thoughtful and beautiful. While not a large-scale furniture producer, their forays into storage design prioritize eco-friendly materials and pure, structural forms.
Choosing a piece from Snøhetta means buying into a larger architectural vision. It's a brand for the design purist who appreciates furniture with a strong narrative and an unwavering commitment to sustainable, modern principles, much like String's foundational ethos.
Shop now at snohetta.com
10. Muji
Muji is the master of Japanese minimalism, offering "no-brand quality goods." Their philosophy centers on simplicity, functionality, and restraint. Their Stainless Steel Unit Shelves and Pulp Board Boxes are famous for their modularity, light footprint, and accessible pricing. They embody a simple, eco-conscious mentality perfect for creating calm, organized spaces.
Muji is the go-to for anyone who finds even classic Scandinavian design a bit too embellished. If you love String for its pure utility and adaptable nature but seek an even more understated look at a lower price point, Muji's solutions are practically perfect.
Shop now at muji.com
11. Eames Office
The Eames Office continues the legacy of Charles and Ray Eames, innovators of mid-century modern design. Their iconic Eames Storage Units (ESUs) are the blueprint for playful, functional modularity. Combining industrial steel frames with wood shelves and colorful painted panels, these units deliver timeless minimalist style with a graphic, vintage-cool sensibility.
While String is rooted in cool Scandinavian modernism, Eames is all about warm Californian modernism. It's an excellent choice for design lovers who want a piece of history and appreciate a minimalist system with a more expressive, mid-century personality.
Shop now at eames.com
12. Ferm Living
Ferm Living brings warmth and personality to Scandinavian design. The brand focuses on soft forms, rich textures, and deep, earthy color palettes. Their shelving solutions, like the modular 'Place' shelves, share String's simplicity but feel more organic and less rigid. They often incorporate rounded edges and natural materials like solid oak and rattan.
If you're looking for a storage solution that feels less industrial and more like a gentle, decorative element in your home, Ferm Living is ideal. It’s perfect for creating a cozy, hygge-inspired minimalist interior that feels curated and personal.
Shop now at fermliving.com
13. Hülsta
As a powerhouse of German engineering and design, Hülsta produces high-end, contemporary furniture systems built with incredible precision. Their wall units and media storage offer sleek, minimalist forms and a vast range of customizable finishes. The quality is exceptional, with a focus on smart features and flawless functionality.
Hülsta is a step up in terms of luxury and intricacy compared to String. If you want a comprehensive, built-in look for a media room or home office and demand impeccable, long-lasting German craftsmanship, Hülsta's highly configurable systems are a top-tier choice.
Shop now at hulsta.com
14. MDF Italia
MDF Italia is a master of sleek, architectural Italian minimalism. The brand is renowned for creating furniture that feels almost weightless, pushing materials like aluminum and glass to their structural limits. Their shelving systems, like the iconic "Minima," are celebrated for their thin profiles and modular precision, making them feel clean and unobtrusive.
Compared to the warmer wood-and-metal look of String, MDF Italia offers a high-tech, razor-sharp aesthetic. It's a brand for a true minimalist who appreciates cutting-edge design and loves furniture with a strong, graphic presence.
Shop now at mdfitalia.com
15. Ligne Roset
Ligne Roset is a French luxury brand known for its collaborations with contemporary designers. Their storage furniture often embodies an artful, sophisticated take on minimalism. Expect clean lines, premium materials like solid wood and lacquer, and designs that serve as much-needed storage and as standalone sculptural pieces perfect for a modern, elegant interior.
For those who love String's function but crave a more luxurious finish and a designer name, Ligne Roset is an excellent upscale alternative. It’s ideal for design-conscious consumers who view furniture as a long-term investment in style.
Shop now at ligne-roset.com
16. Kave Home
Kave Home delivers on-trend, modern furniture at an attractive price point. Their shelving and storage pieces capture the essence of minimalist Scandinavian and Mediterranean design - think light woods, black metal frames, and simple, functional silhouettes. They offer stylish options perfect for a contemporary home without requiring a huge budget.
Like a more stylized IKEA, Kave Home makes clean, minimalist design accessible. If you're decorating a first home or want a flexible, fashionable storage unit that vibes with String's look but is more affordable, Kave Home is a smart place to shop.
Shop now at kavehome.com
17. Floyd
Floyd is built on the philosophy of creating adaptable, long-lasting furniture for modern nomads. Their modular shelving system is designed to be easily assembled, disassembled, and reconfigured - sounding familiar? Made from birch plywood and powder-coated steel, it shares String's honest materials and functional ethos but has a distinctly robust, American-modern feel.
Where String is delicate and light, Floyd is sturdy and grounded. It's a fantastic alternative for someone who moves often or expects their storage needs to evolve dramatically over time, all while appreciating a warm, enduring minimalist aesthetic.
Shop now at floydhome.com
18. Hem
Based in Stockholm, Hem collaborates with forward-thinking designers to produce creative, high-quality furniture. Their brand of minimalism is often more expressive and artful. For shelving, pieces like the Zig Zag Shelf and Hyde Shelves are less about customizable systems and more about being unique, sculptural objects that add artistic flair to a wall.
Hem is the right choice for the design enthusiast who loves String’s Scandinavian roots but wants a centerpiece rather than a subtle background player. If you're looking for a shelf that feels more like art, Hem's innovative and beautifully crafted designs will surely appeal.
Shop now at us.hem.com
19. Tylko
Tylko takes String's modular concept to its ultimate conclusion: fully parametric, made-to-order shelving. Using their innovative online configurator, you can design a piece of furniture down to the centimeter to perfectly fit your space, choosing everything from the dimensions and color to the internal layout. The result is pure, seamless minimalism.
If your love for String is driven by its customizable nature, Tylko is the brand you need to know. It eliminates guesswork and gaps, offering a perfect-fit solution for awkward alcoves or specific storage needs, delivering a truly unique and precisely engineered minimalist product.
Shop now at tylko.com
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