Guide: Where to go design shopping in West Sweden

Gothenburg, design city

Let’s start big, in the city’s throbbing heart, or more precisely along Magasinsgatan – Gothenburg’s trendiest neighbourhood. Well known fashion brands such as Acne have their own shops here, but you can also pop into one of Sweden’s premier interior decoration and design shops, Artilleriet. Be inspired by the miniature worlds created in the shop and browse the eclectic selection of furniture, lighting and textiles. Also on Magasinsgatan is the stylish Norrgavel  interiors shop, with cleanly designed, sustainable, Swedish-made furniture. The whole area smells mouthwateringly of street food, and there are several cosy cafés such as da Matteo coffee roasters and bakery.

Take the opportunity to visit the Linné district and Gallery Four, a workshop and gallery. One of the country’s foremost jewellery artists, Karin Roy Andersson, creates contemporary jewellery here from several different materials. The gallery often hosts internationally renowned jewellery artists. 

Borås, textile town

Sweden’s textile capital Borås has a history going back several centuries, which has resulted in worldwide exports from the town.

Every summer Quality Outlet Åhaga opens in the old railway engine workshop, where you can get great bargains on everything from designer clothes to interior decoration items.

Abecita’s well-stocked factory outlet has a special selection of Scandinavia’s foremost lingerie and women’s swimwear. And don’t miss the Abecita Art Museum, with its great collection of photographic art from the 1960s onwards. 

Fabric kingdom in Mark

Kasthall is long-running company that creates woven and hand-tufted rugs which turn floors into genuine design. Successfully exporting worldwide, the factory and headquarters are still in Kinna, and the factory outlet sells seconds, discontinued products and surplus yarn.

It’s also easy to spend a couple of hours in the museum and factory outlet at Ekelund in Horred – the world’s oldest family firm in the soft furnishings business. Refuel in the café and then take a factory tour of the textile mill.

Lidköping, china town

At the Rörstrand Center in Lidköping you can partake of the history of porcelain in Sweden as well as visit the Iittala Outlet and find bargains on Rörstrand china and other Nordic design items.

This area on the southern shores of Lake Vänern is also big on jewellery design. At Ateljé Silverknappen, housed in Lidköping’s oldest building, the Hvorslev family make and sell their internationally renowned jewellery. The name, which means ‘silver button’, recalls the legend that Charles XII was shot with the button of a uniform at the fortress of Fredriksten in Halden. As the king’s body was being brought back, the procession stopped in Lidköping on the Epiphany holiday in 1719, and the body was left to repose under the stone vaults of what is now the jewellery shop.

Limmared, antiques treasure chest

In closing, a hot tip for all fanatics of everything vintage. The old glassworks community of Limmared, near Tranemo, can boast more than a dozen second hand, antiques and retro shops – representing the whole range from true rustic to 50s, 60s and 70s retro. And when you’re in Limmared, drop in on Glasets Hus, which has a museum and exhibitions as well as offering the opportunity to try out glass-blowing.