Funkis and Swedish Modern

The Stockholm Exhibition introduced functionalism, and during the 1930s it softened into the comfortable, light style known abroad as Swedish Modern.

The Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 and the manifesto acceptera of 1931 made functionalism part of the Swedish housing debate. Wilhelm Kåge's Praktika service and the HSB cooperative's flats showed the modern home to ordinary people.

Josef Frank at Svenskt Tenn, Bruno Mathsson in Värnamo and Carl Malmsten with his craft furniture shaped a milder modernism. At the New York World's Fair of 1939 it was called Swedish Modern. IKEA was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, but only began selling furniture a few years later.