11 Chairs That Look Like Designer Versions But Cost a Lot Less

This classic chair brings the best of midcentury and Scandinavian design to your dining room. Scandinavian design became popular in the 1950s thanks to designers from Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway who brought Nordic aesthetics of pale colors, natural materials and lean furniture to the American furniture market. This chair has a faux fur seat that’s a nod to sheepskin rugs and throws, a very Scandi accessory.

Wicker egg chairs were influenced by several 20th century designers who set out to make a pod-like shape that cradled the sitter in a cocoon-like manner. Midcentury modern is all about packing maximum comfort into a minimalist design. This version puts a wicker egg chair on slender legs, a trademark of midcentury modern chairs.

This dining chair was inspired by chairs designed for the U.S. Navy for use on World War II-era submarines. These chairs became popular for home and commercial use after the war ended. This galvanized steel chair has a molded seat and arched backrest, and can be used in a dining room, kitchen or home office. 

It comes in silver, like the iconic chair that inspired it, but you can also get it in eight other colors. Use them indoors or outdoors. They’re that tough. And they’re so classic they work in farmhouse, industrial or modern interiors.

Inspired by iconic Scandinavian office chairs of the 1950s, this chair can also be used in dens, dining rooms and living rooms as well as home offices. It has sleek, curvy lines, velvet upholstery and thin, elegant legs, all the hallmarks of midcentury modern furniture. Put a set of these around a midcentury modern dining table for a gorgeous but affordable look.

Inspired by a legendary 1950s design, this wingback chair has sleek lines, a pedestal base and a biomorphic form. With a matching ottoman, it channels the spirit of Scandinavian design icons in a contemporary color. Pair it with a midcentury mod floor lamp for peak retro room vibes.

This rattan side chair was inspired by Danish design classics that featured sleek curves and an innovative use of plastic. This chair merges a modern shape with a traditional material so it can be mixed with farmhouse or industrial décor.

This accent chair is another inspired by iconic midcentury modern designs. It takes its cues from Danish modern and Scandinavian furniture’s sleek, curvy silhouettes and cushy upholstered seating on slim wooden legs. It’s a lighter, updated version of classic club chairs that combines form and function into a chair that’s comfy and loaded with style.

This side chair takes cues from playful, functional midcentury modern designs. It has a molded plastic shell that conforms to the body, a waterfall edge seat that reduces pressure on thighs and a simple shape on a wire and wood base. It comes in a rainbow of colors. It can be an accent chair in a living room, a dining chair in the kitchen or a homework chair in a kid’s room.

This accent chair takes its inspiration from a Scandinavian design icon, but it blends Scandi minimalism with midcentury modern’s bright colors. It’s club chair comfort without club chair visual heft and physical weight. Put a pair by a midcentury modern coffee table in a living room or use one as a side chair in a bedroom.

This chair is a riff on classic Scandinavian designs. It has a wing-like seat, curved back, airy design and aerodynamic energy that was characteristic of so many midcentury modern design classics. Put a set around a modern dining table or a pair in the living room for a look that’s unfussy and functional.

This chair is a modern take on a Louis XV classic. Baroque curves get an update when rendered in clear molded plastic. This chair is lightweight and a good pick for a small space. It’s transparent, so it takes up less space visually. It can be used as a dining chair, an office chair or an accent chair. Stackable and lightweight, you can easily move them out of the way in a multipurpose space.