10 time-tested HAY favorites – can you guess what’s on our list?

Danish brand HAY is known for their clever, color-packed creations – perfect for adding a touch of joie-de-vivre to the home decor. We hand-picked ten iconic HAY pieces, keep reading to see if your favorite made the cut!

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
HAY's collection spans everything from lighting and furniture to textiles and home décor essentials.

HAY

  • Founded in Denmark in 2002
  • Founders Rolf and Mette Hay also serve as the brand’s creative directors
  • HAY's mission is to bring beautiful, durable, and intriguing design objects to as many people as possible
  • HAY collaborates with both emerging design talents and world-renowned designers
  • Among the talented designers partnering with HAY are Inga Sempé, Naoto Fukasawa, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, and Hee Welling.

DANISH BRAND HAY does not miss with their always-on-trend designs, brimming with warmth and playfulness. Founded by Mette and Rolf Hay in 2002, the company’s mission is simple: create affordable, top-quality products in collaboration with the world’s best designers—and make them available to as many people as possible.

From functional furniture to home essentials perfected with happy hues, HAY’s collection truly ticks all the boxes. In the spring of 2024, HAY launched HAY Dogs, a pet collection crafted in collaboration with Danish luxury fashion brand Holly Golightly. Join us as we explore HAY’s most iconic pieces and find your favorites!

Read also: Interview with Mette Hay
Read also: Interview with Rolf Hay


An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
With their classic design, HAY’s paper shades evoke the soothing spirit of Japanese rice paper lanterns – offering a beautifully modern take on a timeless aesthetic.

Paper shade

The exquisite paper lampshade by HAY is a timeless classic, with its softly organic shape and light-filtering material creating a cozy atmosphere in any setting – be it at home or in public spaces. HAY offers paper lamps in multiple sizes, along with fun alternatives to the traditional round design. Would a peach-shaped pendant like the Common Peach be the playful pièce de résistance your home is craving for?

HAY paper shades >
All HAY lamps >

See also

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
The Palissade outdoor furniture collection features a variety of shades.
An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
The Balcony outdoor furniture series, designed by the Bouroullec brothers, and Gerrit Thomas Rietveld's pinewood Crate garden furniture are also standout favorites in HAY’s collection.

Palissade patio furniture

Designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, the Palissade outdoor furniture series is a modern classic like no other. The elegant Palissade pieces are crafted from simple steel tubes and grids, giving the collection its distinctive, balanced rhythm.

Timeless in both design and durability, the Palissade collection is built to withstand the unpredictable whims of Scandinavian summers, from scorching heat to chilly frost – making the robust metal outdoor furniture exceptionally low-maintenance as well

HAY Palissade patio furniture >
All HAY patio furniture >

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
The Pastis chair (on the left) is a classic wooden chair with a modern twist. The Arcs trolley, designed by Muller Van Severen, features a gleeful gingerbread trim.
An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
Pastis chairs are available with or without armrests, in a variety of cozy colors – is your favorite the fresh and vibrant pine green or perhaps the warm and inviting barn red?

Pastis chair

HAY's simple yet surprising Pastis chair is the creation of Julien Renault. The French designer envisioned a chair that would be as versatile as possible while remaining uncompromisingly elegant. This distinctive, stackable wooden chair feels right at home whether around the kitchen table or in a restaurant setting.

HAY Pastis chairs >
All HAY chairs

See also

The Slit series features both metal and wooden tables. Naoto Fukasawa's Pao Portable lamp is another standout piece.

Slit table

The clever design of HAY's Slit and Slit Wood tables draws inspiration from Japanese origami, with the elegantly simple structure of the legs reminiscent of folded paper. The tables in the Slit series stand out as captivating focal points in any home decor, while their various shapes, heights, and colors make them perfect for mixing and matching together.

HAY Slit tables >
All HAY side tables >

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
A streamlined design from the 1950s, the Result chair remains a beloved classic.
An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
Kramer and Rietveld designed the popular Result chair as the perfect match for the Pyramid table – both available in HAY’s collection.

Result chair

The Result chair is a classic created by esteemed designers Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld in the 1950s. Originally crafted for Ahrend – a Dutch company specializing in office furniture – this iconic chair has since been relaunched through a collaboration between HAY and Ahrend. The chair’s slender steel frame exemplifies the most innovative steel design of its time, while its uniquely expressive form remains strikingly contemporary.

HAY Result chair >

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
The Bella collection carries a table for every setting, available in various sizes and colors.

Bella table

The cherished Bella table by HAY was initially crafted for the Bella Sky hotel in Copenhagen, but it soon became a staple in HAY's permanent collection. This elegant side table impresses with its multifunctionality and understated dimensions – it's nearly impossible to imagine a space in which it wouldn’t blend beautifully!

HAY Bella tables >

See also

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
Inga Sempé’s Matin lamp draws the eye. The robust Bernard armchair comes from the creative mind of Shane Schneck.

Matin lamp

HAY's Matin lamp, designed by Inga Sempé, is a delicate creation that became an instant sensation upon its release. With its delightful '90s vibes, the lamp boasts a playful mood: the slender, bent metal base and skillfully pleated shade appeal to both modern and classic tastes while maintaining an irresistibly contemporary feel.

In 2023, HAY launched a special collection of the Matin lamp in collaboration with London’s Liberty department store. Renowned for its strong ties to art, culture, and design, Liberty is particularly famous for its dainty floral-patterned fabrics –which now grace the shades of the HAY x Liberty Matin lamps in this exclusive collection.

HAY Matin lamps >

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
The simple aesthetic of the Mags sofa conceals a host of thoughtful features: comfortable spring suspension, high-quality cushioning, and durable upholstery.

Mags sofa

HAY’s Mags sofa is a modular marvel, delighting design enthusiasts everywhere with its versatility and flexibility. Each sofa consists of customizable modules that allow you to create and reconfigure your ideal setup to suit your style.

Featuring a chic yet plush silhouette, the Mags sofa invites you to sink in and unwind – while its subtle elegance and carefully designed proportions make it a perfect fit for any space.

HAY Mags sofa >
All HAY sofas >

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
HAY's beautiful and durable tray tables are crafted from powder-coated steel.

Tray table

HAY’s tray table is a multifunctional classic that continues to charm with its minimalist elegance. With a refined metal frame and a removable tray, this stylish piece adapts effortlessly to any setting. Select your favorite color or combine different sizes and tones for a visually striking grouping – the HAY tray tables are ideal for serving as both coffee tables and bedside tables.

Opt for HAY's Kaleido trays for an added splash of color. They fit perfectly into the tray section, providing both aesthetic appeal and handy storage options!

HAY tray table >
All HAY coffee tables >

An image featuring Danish design brand HAY's most iconic items.
Today, the Rey collection also features dining tables, coffee tables, and stools – available in a variety of subtle shades.

Rey chair

HAY's Rey chair is a fresh reinterpretation of designer Bruno Rey's iconic creation from 1971. In collaboration with the original manufacturer, the Swiss company Dietiker, this re-released classic captivates with its simple yet detail-rich design.

The softly rounded wooden frame and seat combine in the Rey collection in an innovative way, thanks to pressure-cast aluminum supports. This unique mechanism gives the Rey chair its signature look: the seat appears to float, lending an irresistible lightness to its sturdy silhouette.

HAY's Rey collection >

More from HAY

See also:

All HAY items at Finnish Design Shop >
All items at Finnish Design Shop >

Text: Mira Ahola Images: HAY

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