If you're a fan of modern design, you’re probably familiar with Kartell. They've mastered the art of creating sleek, functional, and seriously cool furniture by being pioneers in plastic design. From their iconic transparent chairs to colorful side tables, Kartell knows how to bring a playful and contemporary edge to any space.
But if you love their blend of vibrant aesthetics and innovative materials, you'll be happy to know there are other amazing brands out there with a similar design-forward vibe. Whether you're looking for something with a Scandinavian twist, a more luxurious feel, or just a different take on modern style, here are 19 brands like Kartell to add to your radar.
Hailing from Scandinavia, Muuto embodies a "new nordic" perspective with its clean lines, functional simplicity, and high-quality craftsmanship. They offer everything from lighting to furniture, including minimalist chairs and versatile storage perfect for contemporary interiors. Think of Muuto as Kartell's calmer, more understated cousin.
While sharing a modern, design-forward approach, Muuto opts for a more muted, natural palette and sustainable materials over Kartell's bold plastics. It's the perfect entry point if you crave that modern feel with a softer, Scandinavian touch. Their pieces are both beautiful and built to last, offering excellent value and timeless style.
Shop now at muuto.com
If lighting is your focus, Foscarini is a brand you need to know. This Italian company specializes in sculptural, statement-making lamps and fixtures that feel more like art installations than simple home lighting. They experiment with materials like blown glass and polished aluminum to create designs that are visually stunning and highly functional.
While Kartell uses colorful plastics to make a statement, Foscarini achieves it through elegant, sculptural forms. Both brands share a passion for design innovation and creating iconic contemporary pieces, but Foscarini offers a more targeted, high-end approach specifically for lighting.
Shop now at foscarini.com
Danish brand HAY brings a playful, accessible, and colorful approach to modern furniture that aligns perfectly with Kartell's spirit. Known for modular sofas, unique home accessories, and vibrant dining chairs, HAY blends fun aesthetics with everyday functionality. Their pieces are designed to be both stylish and affordable, making good design available to a wider audience.
Like Kartell, HAY isn't afraid of using bold colors. The main difference lies in their materials, HAY often leans into upholstery, textiles, and powder-coated steel rather than plastics. If you love Kartell's playful personality but want cozier textures and forms, HAY is an excellent choice.
Shop now at hay.dk
Vitra is a Swiss powerhouse in the world of designer furniture, famous for producing timeless icons from legendary designers like Charles and Ray Eames. Their collection is a mix of these authenticated classics and innovative contemporary pieces, all focused on impeccable craftsmanship and enduring style.
Compared to Kartell's pop-infused plastics, Vitra offers a more sophisticated, architectural feel. Their pieces often involve wood, metal, and premium upholstery, creating investment furniture that lasts for generations. It's a go-to for someone who loves modern design history and wants pieces with a classic, high-end sensibility.
Shop now at vitra.com
For those who want their furniture to double as a conversation-starting piece of art, Moroso delivers. This Italian brand collaborates with cutting-edge designers to create bold, vibrant, and artistic furniture. Their collection features colorful sofas, highly sculptural chairs, and accessories that blur the line between function and art.
While Kartell finds its playground in plastics, Moroso explores more tactile materials like plush fabrics and experimental textiles to create its eclectic forms. Both brands are highly innovative and fearless in their aesthetic, but Moroso leans further into avant-garde and experimental shapes.
Shop now at moroso.it
Menu is another standout Danish brand that defines "soft minimalism." Focused on clean design, natural materials, and clever solutions, their furniture, lighting, and accessories are characterized by an understated elegance. Pieces like their stackable stools and simple tables feel intentional, calm, and exquisitely crafted.
Menu's sleek, functional style echoes Kartell's, but it's executed with a much more subdued color palette and natural materials like wood, steel, and marble. If you appreciate Kartell's modern silhouettes but prefer a more serene and minimalist aesthetic, Menu's collection will speak to you.
Shop now at menuspace.com
Operating at the luxury end of the spectrum, B&B Italia is synonymous with high-end Italian contemporary design. Working with world-renowned architects and designers, they produce sophisticated sofas, armchairs, and tables that are benchmarks of quality and innovation. Their pieces are defined by refined aesthetics and premium finishes.
Unlike Kartell’s playful plastic pieces, B&B Italia focuses on luxury fabrics, rich leathers, and impeccable construction. The two brands share a commitment to contemporary Italian design and pushing material boundaries, but B&B Italia serves a more upscale market looking for enduring, elegant investment furniture.
Shop now at bebitalia.com
Normann Copenhagen strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and surprise. This Danish design company creates furniture and accessories that are both contemporary and unconventional, often featuring a clever twist like an unexpected color combination, geometric shape, or witty detail.
Much like Kartell, Normann Copenhagen delivers pieces that feel like functional art. However, their aesthetic is a little more quirky and eclectic, with a broader range of materials beyond plastics. It’s an excellent choice for anyone wanting modern furniture with a bold, creative, and slightly artistic edge.
Shop now at normann-copenhagen.com
A legend in Italian furniture, Poltrona Frau is the master of leather. For over a century, they have produced exquisitely crafted sofas, armchairs, and beds known for their timeless elegance and superior comfort. Their style blends classic design principles with a refined modern sensibility.
While Kartell is all about contemporary plastics and pop colors, Poltrona Frau is centered on enduring craftsmanship and luxurious natural materials. Both brands are leaders in Italian design, but they appeal to different aesthetics - Poltrona Frau is for those who appreciate understated luxury and heritage quality.
Shop now at poltronafrau.com
Arper creates sleek, minimalist furniture that feels right at home in both a stylish office and a modern dining room. Their chairs, tables, and lounge seating systems are known for their refined aesthetic, versatility, and focus on comfort. Every design feels soft, essential, and intelligently designed for everyday use.
Arper shares Kartell's commitment to modern forms and high-quality materials but executes it with a more sophisticated, professional feel. They favor soft, neutral, or desaturated color palettes over Kartell's brighter hues, making their furniture a perfect fit for serene, uncluttered interiors.
Shop now at arper.com
Fritz Hansen is a Danish luxury brand that represents the pinnacle of Scandinavian design. They are the creators of some of history's most iconic furniture, including Arne Jacobsen's Egg™ and Swan™ chairs. Their collection is defined by sculptural forms, premium materials, and a sense of timelessness.
Where Kartell plays with bold plastics, Fritz Hansen celebrates the beauty of natural materials like exquisite wood grain, supple leather, and molded plywood. It’s a choice for design connoisseurs looking for investment pieces that carry a rich history and an unparalleled level of craftsmanship.
Shop now at fritzhansen.com
Driade is often described as an "aesthetic laboratory," producing furniture that is joyfully eclectic, artistic, and sometimes even surreal. This Italian brand offers bold, sculptural, and colorful pieces designed by creative visionaries, turning everyday objects into statement art.
Both Driade and Kartell share a love for colorful, eye-catching Italian design that commands attention. Driade, however, pushes further into artistic expression and experimental forms, making it a perfect fit for shoppers who view their homes as a creative gallery and aren't afraid of a decorative flourish.
Shop now at driade.com
Famous for contemporary luxury and exceptional comfort, this French brand is best known for its iconic seating, like the plush, floor-level Togo sofa. Ligne Roset focuses on innovative yet livable designs, sculptural forms, and high-quality upholstery, offering a chic and relaxed approach to modern living.
While Kartell is renowned for hard-surface plastic pieces, Ligne Roset excels in soft, tactile furnishings. Both appeal to a design-savvy audience that appreciates a bold shape and a contemporary feel, but Ligne Roset is your destination for luxurious comfort and iconic lounge furniture.
Shop now at ligne-roset.com
Zanotta is another titan of Italian design that creates furniture celebrated for its modernity, clever functionality, and exceptional build quality. Its catalog is full of innovative yet practical pieces, from witty folding tables to sleek modular seating, often with an artistic but understated touch.
Similar to Kartell, Zanotta has always been interested in pushing the boundaries of technology and materials in design. However, Zanotta's aesthetic is generally more subdued and industrial, favoring timeless forms and sophisticated palettes over the playful pop culture references often seen in Kartell's work.
Shop now at zanotta.it
Best known for its "no-brand" philosophy, Japanese retailer Muji offers furniture that is simple, functional, and devoid of any ornamentation. Their pieces are designed to be practical and anonymous, focusing on essential forms and quality, often eco-friendly, materials like oak and polypropylene.
Muji is essentially the antithesis of Kartell's bold, designer-stamped plastic creations. While Kartell is about making a statement, Muji is about seamlessly blending in. It's the perfect choice for minimalists who value understated elegance, organizational calm, and an unbeatable price point.
Shop now at muji.us
Cappellini is for the serious design adventurer. This high-end Italian brand is known for discovering new talent and producing avant-garde, experimental furniture that often ends up in museum collections. Their pieces are artistic, conceptual, and always push the limits of form and material.
Think of Cappellini as Kartell's highly artistic older sibling. While both brands are deeply rooted in contemporary Italian design, Cappellini’s collection is more experimental and high-concept. It's for design lovers who want a collectible piece that challenges conventions.
Shop now at cappellini.com
Magis is another Italian company that wholeheartedly embraces research and development in plastic furniture, making it one of Kartell's closest rivals. Known for its witty, playful, and inventive designs, Magis regularly collaborates with leading designers to produce pieces that are both technically innovative and fun.
With famous items like the modular Magis Puppy and the Bombo stool, their aesthetic aligns perfectly with Kartell's colorful, modern vibe. If you love the idea of creatively molded plastic furniture, Magis is a must-see, offering a slightly different but equally compelling range of iconic pieces.
Shop now at magisdesign.com
Knoll is an American-based design giant that champions modernism with the motto "modern always." Their catalog features iconic mid-century pieces from design legends like Florence Knoll, Eero Saarinen, and Harry Bertoia, alongside works from contemporary talents. Their furniture often has a strong architectural quality.
Compared to Kartell's pop-art plastic sensibility, Knoll offers a more refined take on modernism, using materials like chrome, marble, and rich textiles. Knoll is about investing in a piece of design history with a stately, timeless presence.
Shop now at knoll.com
Cassina is a benchmark for quality and sophistication in Italian furniture. The company is renowned for its official reissues of modern masters from architects like Le Corbusier, as well as for its sleek contemporary pieces. Every item is a masterful expression of craftsmanship and design purity.
While Kartell is accessible, colorful, and plastic-focused, Cassina represents the luxury end of the modern design spectrum. Their pieces are heirlooms, crafted from premium woods, leathers, and metals for a sophisticated clientele. If you're looking to elevate your space with certified design icons, Cassina is the ultimate goal.
Shop now at cassina.com
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