Montana: Furniture that adapts to life
07/09/2026
We recently added some new pieces from Montana Furniture to our showroom: the new Montana Wardrobe with its revised proportions, a spacious shelving unit, and a beautiful, exceptionally practical nightstand. Three different pieces of furniture based on the same concept. And a good opportunity to take a closer look once again at a company that, for us, has been one of the leading names in Scandinavian design for many years.
A simple idea with a surprising number of possibilities
Peter J. Lassen founded Montana in 1982 after decades at Fritz Hansen, where he worked with some of the defining figures of Danish modernism, including Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, and Jørn Utzon. During this time, he also began developing the modular storage concept that would later give rise to Montana.
The idea behind it was remarkably pragmatic: storage space should complement the architecture and furniture of a room, but also the items that people actually store in it. The dimensions were based on the DIN standard and provided space for familiar sizes such as A4 folders. At the same time, the proportions were chosen to be so understated that the furniture could be naturally combined with the tables and chairs of Danish Modernism.
From this rational starting point, a system with an astonishing number of possibilities evolved. Today, the Montana System comprises 36 base modules, four depths, and 43 finishes. Added to these are shelves, doors, drawers, trays, and numerous other elements. The modules can be mounted on the wall, placed on pedestals, legs, or casters, cover an entire wall, or serve as a small standalone piece next to the bed. And then, of course, there’s color. Lots and lots of color.
Despite all these options, we see time and again that our customers find it surprisingly easy to choose Montana. Perhaps this is precisely because Montana furniture doesn’t have to solve every conceivable problem of the next twenty years right now.
When a Bookshelf Becomes a Lowboard
We saw a good example of this with one of our customers. She moved with a Montana bookshelf that no longer made sense as a bookshelf in her new apartment. There was nothing wrong with the furniture itself; it was just that the room had changed. We reconfigured the modules, added matching bases, and turned it into a lowboard.
For us, this is one of the most compelling arguments in favor of Montana. After all, durability doesn’t just mean that a piece of furniture will physically last thirty years. What’s also crucial is whether it can remain useful for thirty years.
People move. Rooms take on new functions. Collections grow. Home offices come and go. What was once meant to be on display may later be put away—and vice versa.
With the Montana System, you can rearrange existing modules, distribute them across different rooms, or customize them with doors, drawers, legs, and bases. Here, modularity isn’t just an excuse to keep buying new things. Rather, it’s a way to keep what you already own relevant.
The New Montana Wardrobe
The new Montana Wardrobe builds on precisely this logic; Montana unveiled it during this year's 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen.
The redesigned modules provide more generous storage space and are available in two depths. Of particular interest is the new, reduced depth of 38.8 cm. It opens up possibilities in spaces where a traditional 60-cm-deep wardrobe would take up too much room—such as a narrow hallway, a smaller bedroom, or a walk-in closet.
After all, folded sweaters, bags, shoes, and many other items don’t always require the full depth of the closet. For hanging clothes and traditional closet solutions, the depth remains at 60 cm.
This is a very typical way for Montana to further develop a product. They don't replace what already works. They simply add new features to the system, making it more useful.
Furniture That's Allowed to Change
There is also a sense of continuity behind the furniture itself. Montana remains a Danish family-owned business to this day and is led by Peter J. Lassen’s son, Joakim Lassen. The furniture continues to be designed and manufactured in Denmark. Montana has been using water-based finishes since 2007, and the Montana System has held the EU Ecolabel since 2019.
These are important details. What we find even more interesting, however, is that the original idea still works more than forty years after the system was introduced. Perhaps it is even more relevant today than ever before.
In an age when new products, variations, and possibilities are constantly being introduced, choosing Montana can be surprisingly straightforward. You don’t have to know today what you’ll need in ten or twenty years. The furniture allows enough flexibility for life around it to change—and for you to change your mind.
Our new Montana Wardrobe, the large shelving unit, and the nightstand are now on display at the holm° showroom in Zurich. The only thing we can’t promise is that choosing a color will be quite so quick.
Book your 1:1. A free and non-binding introductory appointment with our expert.
An interior design is as personal as it gets. So get to know your personal designer from our team in a free 30-minute video call or during your visit to our studio in Zurich. Together we will find out which consultation package is right for you and answer all your questions about our consultation.
Anna Berg
Interior Design Lead
The founder of holm, Anna Berg, was born in Sweden and has been running holm for 20 years. As Interior Design Lead, she is responsible for all our interior design projects.