90 YEARS. NO SHORTCUTS.
1936 / 2026
The industrial village of Horred lies in the Viskan valley in western Sweden. Horreds Möbelindustri AB was founded in 1936 and it was here that the first factory was built. Today, the company is run by the third generation of the family, led by Per-Ola Johansson.
Today, Horreds is regarded as one of Sweden’s most respected design brands, known far beyond the valley. Its furniture continues to live on – again and again – even on the second-hand market.
During 2026, we’ll share anecdotes and unexpected moments from our history. Stories that reveal the people, ideas and decisions behind the furniture. Join us on the journey.
MADE TO LAST
1936 – 1940
Sven Johansson was born in 1910 in Horred, growing up among planks, wood shavings and the smell of freshly sawn timber in his father’s small carpentry workshop. It was there his feeling for material took root – the importance of precision and an instinctive eye for how wood should be shaped.
When he had saved one thousand kronor, he bought a plot of land and built the first factory – a simple timber-clad structure in a field. Cold, simple but determined. It was there, in 1936, that Horreds Möbelindustri AB began.
THE FACTORY IN THE FIELD.
In 1936, the machines started humming in Sven’s small workshop. The space was compact, the equipment simple – but the ambition was anything but. Production included a bit of everything, depending on what customers ordered: chairs, chests of drawers, cupboards, bathroom and kitchen furniture. No large series – just precision and craftsmanship, using locally sourced wood.
WAR AND PROGRESS.
Despite wartime shortages, Sven continued to expand. In 1943, a new section of the factory was built along the main road, followed by the first floor of the three-storey building that still defines the site today. Horreds furniture began to find its way into Swedish homes. As industrialisation accelerated after the war, production shifted towards small-scale series manufacturing.
the importance of the surface
1950
During the 1950s, storage furniture for the home became a central part of the collection. Walnut, teak and mahogany defined the era, and a high level of craftsmanship came to define Horreds’ signature.
As the company grew — in people as well as in production facilities — Horreds naturally took its place within the interior ideals of Swedish design.
Quality first.
1960
The 1960s marked a clear direction for Horreds. At a time when mass production and standardisation were on the rise, the company chose a different path – to refine rather than simplify. The factory evolved with new machines and more efficient processes, but the core remained the same: uncompromising craftsmanship with a focus on materials, details and lasting form.
At the same time, the next generation stepped into the business – brothers Bengt, Ingvar and Alf – carrying forward knowledge and ambition in a growing company that now employed around 50 people. The product range expanded with functional, flexible furniture adapted to the emerging Swedish folkhem.
The image shows the Parant furniture series. Today, we offer a shelving system that carries the same name.
1970 – 1980
Thick screens and mouse arm.
1990
Human behaviour has always shaped furniture design. When computers entered Swedish offices in the early 1990s, the way we worked changed fundamentally – and Horreds was already there, creating furniture solutions that met the needs of a new era.
ANNE KROOK STORY
A design icon that has made its mark in countless homes and workplaces, the Anne shelf by Anne Krook has earned its place as a natural part of Swedish design history.
This year, we relaunch Anne, inspired by sketches created by Anne Krook in 2013.
A REVIVAL
1999
The equation of quality, design and value – It was 1999 when Per-Ola Johansson, then 33 years old, took over as CEO – marking the beginning of a new chapter in Horreds’ history. Two years earlier, in 1997, the company had been at its peak: order books were full, production was running at full speed and optimism was high. But when the recession hit the following year, Horreds lost several million in revenue. It was a test – but also a turning point. By 1999, the company had regained its footing and emerged stronger than ever.
“ For me, it was never a dramatic transition. I had already worked in the factory, in customer support, travelled as a salesperson and been responsible for product development. I knew both the people and the machines. It felt natural – not a change, but a continued responsibility.”
HENRY ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE
2000
The Henry furniture series was originally designed for the OMX headquarters in Stockholm. The idea was to create a simple, smart and flexible system built from a few well-considered components. The design carried a distinct character – more home than office.
Thoughtfully designed for the modern office environments of its time, Henry included several functional accessories where technology and form were seamlessly woven into an architectural expression.
More to come…
2010 – 2026
the tactile
2026
“ It shouldn’t be turned veneer – it has to be knife-cut in a specific way. Those are the kinds of details we never compromise on. The level of quality we maintain at Horreds is something you’d normally only find in a true carpentry workshop – not at a typical office furniture manufacturer.”
Moving into the office
1980
“ My father and uncle were exhibiting at a fair in Stockholm. A Norwegian visitor came by, pointed at a storage unit called Flexi and said, ‘You should make that available for offices.’ And so we did.”
In the 1980s, office furniture production really took off.
Every yuppie wanted to fill their office with functional, modern design. Take a closer look at the corner desk. The computers.
More to come.
Horreds Möbel
Rebellkvalitet med långsiktig hållbarhet
Horreds står för långsiktig hållbarhet och lokal produktion. Vi strävar efter minimal miljöpåverkan och återvinner allt spillmaterial för att bidra med värme till bygden. Vår möbeldesign är skapad för att hålla och återvinnas, om och om igen.
Vi som står i montern är: Per, Anders, Jonathan och Per-Ola – fråga oss gärna om långsiktigt hållbar design!
Stockholm Furniture Fair – Möten, inspiration och kreativitet
På Stockholm Furniture Fair 2025 kan du uppleva vår vision av framtidens arbetsplatser, där kvalitet, funktion och estetik möts. Välkommen till vår monter för en inspirerande stund – möt våra senaste innovationer och upplev vår rebellkvalitet i sin renaste form.
Vi ser fram emot att träffas och diskutera hur vi tillsammans kan skapa kontorsmiljöer som inte bara ser bra ut, utan även känns rätt på djupet.
Här hittar du våra kontaktuppgifter >
Varmt välkommen önskar Team Horreds