Build Your Own String System®
Use the String System® configurator to build the perfect storage solution for your space. Start designing!
String Furniture
String Furniture: Customizable Scandinavian Modular Shelving
Few designs capture the essence of Scandinavian furniture design like the String System from String Furniture. Designed in 1949 by Swedish architect Nisse Strinning and designer Kajsa Strinning, the String System introduced a revolutionary idea: a modular shelving system that is both beautifully minimal and endlessly customizable.
The story began when Swedish publisher Bonnier announced a design competition seeking an affordable bookshelf that was easy to ship, simple to assemble, and adaptable to modern homes. The Strinnings responded with a lightweight shelving solution built from slim metal side panels and interchangeable shelves. Their design won the competition that same year and quickly became a staple in Swedish homes.
What set the String System apart was its flexibility. Designed as a modular and customizable shelving system, it allows users to combine shelves, cabinets, desks, and accessories to create storage tailored to their space. Whether installed as wall-mounted shelves in a living room, kitchen storage, or a home office shelving system, the String System can be expanded and reconfigured over time—making it one of the most adaptable examples of Scandinavian shelving ever created.
During the 1950s and 1960s, String Furniture gained international recognition. The shelving system appeared in influential design exhibitions, including installations at the UN Headquarters in New York, a gold medal at the Milan Triennale, and the groundbreaking H55 exhibition in Sweden, which helped define modern Swedish design. The String System also became one of the best-selling pieces of Scandinavian furniture in Germany.
Today, String Furniture continues to build on this legacy with thoughtfully designed collections that maintain the brand’s commitment to functionality and timeless design. The popular String Pocket offers a compact version of the iconic shelving system, while the Works collection, designed by architect Anna von Schewen and industrial designer Björn Dahlström, focuses on flexible solutions for modern workspaces.
The Museum collection, designed by Studio TAF (Gabriella Lenke and Mattias Ståhlbom), was created in collaboration with the Swedish National Museum. Originally designed to display the museum’s bust collection, the elegant Museum shelf launched alongside the museum’s reopening in 2018.
More than seventy years after its introduction, String Furniture remains a benchmark for customizable modular shelving. With its clean lines, intelligent construction, and ability to adapt to changing spaces, the String System continues to define what modern Scandinavian shelving design can be.
String Furniture Build Your Own String System®
Use the String System® configurator to build the perfect storage solution for your space. Start designing!
String Furniture is currently available online and in-store at Illuminée locations. If you need assistance with ordering, feel free to Contact us.
