Top 10 Iconic Scandinavian Chairs (& where to get affordable replicas)

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If you’re looking for the perfect Scandinavian chairs to complete your Scandinavian style abode, this post should help you narrow things down a bit!

Today we’re going to look at the most ICONIC Scandinavian chairs that were ever designed, and we’re also going to find out where to buy more affordable versions of them. 👊🪑✅ There is definitely a very specific look that comes to mind when I think of Scandinavian decor and Scandinavian chairs; the style that makes the most sense to describe it would be mid-century.And not surprisingly, an incredible amount of notable Scandinavian designers emerged in the middle of the 20th century!

They created some of the most beautifully designed chairs the world has ever seen.

I’ve gathered a list of my favorite Scandinavian inspired chairs to share with you, in case you’re looking for new pieces for your space.

If you want to buy the originals of any of these chairs, they are most likely going to cost you a pretty penny. So I’ve also included links of where to buy replicas and reproductions of all of these iconic Scandinavian chairs. 

The Wishbone Chair

The Wishbone chair (also known as the Y chair, or the CH24 Chair) was designed in 1949 by Hans Wegner. This chair has been in continuous production since then and the design is still going strong today, after over 70 years!

You can find the Wishbone chair in many different colors and wood finishes; my favorite finish of this chair is in light wood, like the one pictured above.

Design Within Reach sells the original for $765. (← click the link to shop the original chair). Understandably, you may find that’s a bit steep. Fortunately, there are many respectable-looking reproductions available that sell for several hundreds of dollars less. I’ve linked a few of my favorite affordable options below!

Wishbone chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to view all the details on these beautiful, affordable wishbone chair replicas!

 

The Elbow Chair

This is another design from Hans Wegner (there will be quite a few on this list – after all he *did* design some 500 chairs in his lifetime!). 

It was designed in 1956, but then set aside and archived away for some reason. So the chair actually only started being mass-produced in 2005!

Like the Wishbone, it has no armrests and has a beautiful, timeless design. It’s also stackable. The Elbow chair also goes by the name CH20.

The Elbow Chair retails starting at $985 (← click the link to shop the original chair).

Elbow chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these affordable, high-quality elbow chair replicas!

 

“The Chair”

Hans Wegner strikes again! This masterpiece of a chair was designed in 1949.

“The Chair”, also known as “the round chair” (now made by PP Mobler and known as models PP501/PP503), is similar to the Elbow chair, but this time features armrests. 

“The Chair” is said to have been so comfortable that John F Kennedy requested it when he appeared on TV with Richard Nixon in the Presidential Debate of 1960. The chair’s appearance on television is part of what helped shoot it to fame.

Wegner himself said that “The Chair” was his best achievement.

“The Chair” replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these beautiful, affordable and high-quality round chair replicas!

The Easy Chair

The Easy Chair is another Hans Wegner chair, and was designed in 1949 and put into production in 1950. It certainly is “easy” on the eyes – with an absolutely beautiful frame, truly stunning whichever angle you observe it from.

Design Within Reach sells the original for $3,965.00 (← click the link to shop the original chair). Palette and Parlor carry many more color options but are in the same price range (and even more expensive).

The Easy Chair replicas and reproductions

Click the photo to shop this beautiful, high-quality easy chair replica! 

Cuba Lounge Chair

I bet you wouldn’t believe me if I told you when this chair was designed! 

The designer of this chair is Morten Gøttler and he’s danish – but this beautiful chair is much younger than all the others featured on this list so far. Can you believe it was designed in 1997?! 

The Cuba chair is the sum of all the best parts of classic midcentury Scandinavian design.

Buy the original for $965 from Design Within Reach (← click the link to shop), or check out some Cuba lounge inspired chairs below.

Cuba Lounge Chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these beautiful, affordable Cuba lounge chair inspired replicas!

Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair

This incredibly popular chair was officially designed by the 1950s industrial design American power couple, Charles and Ray Eames. The idea for a single piece chair seat was actually born much earlier, in 1939, when Charles Eames and his friend Eero Saarinen began experimenting with molded plywood while studying at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Charles and Ray Eames were American, but were heavily influenced by Finnish architects and designers Eliel and his son Eero Saarinen.

The side chair is available with either metal or wooden dowel legs and the plastic shell can be found in pretty much every color of the rainbow.

There are a few variations of the Eames molded chairs:

• armchairs (that have armrests incorporated into the mold)
• rocking chairs, which is basically just the armchair seat, but placed on a rocker base.
• fiberglass molds with a layer of upholstery
• molded wood
• wire chairs

You can purchase original Eames shell chairs from the Herman Miller website – they start at $345.

Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these beautiful, affordable Eames Plastic Side Chair replicas.

Eames Lounge Chair

The Eames lounge chair is another classic that is immensely popular in Scandinavian design (despite its American design roots).

The original concept behind this iconic piece was to create a chair that felt like warm and receptive like a well-used baseball glove. The soft and inviting shapes paired with the supple leather are truly successful in conveying that initial idea!

The Eames Lounge and Ottoman were officially released in 1956 after many years of development and design.

Design Within Reach sells the original starting at $5,295.00 (← click the link to shop) or check out the reproductions below.

Eames Lounge Chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these beautiful, affordable Eames Lounge Chair replicas! (reproductions are in genuine leather, not PU!)

Saarinen Womb Chair

The womb chair was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1948 for Florence Knoll, who wanted a chair that felt like a “basket full of pillows”. 

(Hint: Saarinen is the designer of the famous Tulip table!)

The womb chair comes in 3 different size options (normal, medium and “child-size”) and there is also a settee option. 

You can purchase the original from a few different sources including Knoll and Design Within Reach, and they retail starting at $4000. If you want the matching ottoman, that’ll set you back another $1200 to $1800.

Saarinen Womb chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these beautiful Womb chair replicas.

The Diamond Chair

This chair was actually designed by an Italian named Harry Bertoia in 1952.

Despite the Bertoia not being Scandinavian, the iconic Diamond Chair has become a popular addition in Scandinavian decor.

We have Mr. Bertoia to thank for introducing industrial wire mesh to the world of design.

The original chair is available to purchase here (← click the link to shop the original Diamond chair). Side chairs and barstools are also available.

Diamond chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these beautiful Diamond chair replicas.

Selig Z Chair

This iconic chair was designed in Denmark by Poul Jensen and were produced between 1950 and 1959.

It is known as the ‘Z’ lounge chair for its signature armrests that connect to the legs, which resembles the letter.

Original Selig Z chairs can go for around $3000/$4000 at auction nowadays, so if you love this chair, getting a replica is a much more affordable alternative.

Selig Z chair replicas and reproductions

Click on whichever photo you like best to shop these beautiful Z chair replicas!

Do you have any favorite Scandinavian chairs that weren’t on this top 10 list? It was super hard to narrow it down to just 10 chairs! I’d love to hear which chairs you would put on this list!

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If you love Scandinavian interiors, click on the images below to find out how to recreate these Scandinavian rooms!