How Target’s new minimalist home goods line compares to Ikea and Muji products

Target already has new in-house home goods lines for lovers of boho, midcentury modern, and Fixer Upper, and now it’s adding to the roster with Made by Design, a brand focusing on affordable, carefully considered basics. Launching in stores and online tomorrow, June 23, the line includes over 750 products spanning bedding, bath accessories, kitchenware, storage, and furniture; prices range from $1 to $260, with most items coming under $30.

The concept of well-designed essentials is, of course, nothing new. Snowe and Piaule are examples of new brands chasing this kind of vision. The overall look—clean-lined with lots of neutral tones—and the one-dollar-sign pricing of Target’s line also bring to mind a few older contenders: Ikea, long a household name, and Muji, which has been ramping up its global expansion.

To get a better sense of how these brands’ offerings differ (or not) from each other, we took a closer look at a few Made by Design products and their rough counterparts at Ikea and Muji.

Target

The main design trick with these soap dispensers is a wide opening for easy refills. Ikea has similar twist-off dispensers ranging from $1.49 to $9.99, but none with that oh-so-trendy all-black look. Muji’s soap dispenser, made of porcelain, is pristine but has a small opening.

Target

Ikea

Ah, an Ikea classic gets the Target treatment. These look virtually the same, with four wheels, three tiers, and mesh bottoms for each section. Target’s is $5 more and for that you get handles on top (could be useful) and two can’t-go-wrong colors (gray and white).

Target

Ikea

There’s no shortage of simple, affordable glasses at Ikea and Muji, but none seem to bring stackability to the elegant stemless wine glass—which is what Target is delivering. The stackable glasses at Ikea are for general beverage use, while its shorter, more rounded designs clearly state, “These glasses are not designed to be stacked.”

Target

Ikea

Ikea offers dining chairs galore, but we couldn’t find one that looks almost exactly like the new fiberboard chairs from Target (which is probably a good thing). Target’s chairs remind us of designs from Akron Street and Hedge House Furniture, which are made of solid wood and run in the $300s.

Target

Ikea

A spoon is a spoon is a spoon, and all three brands we’re looking at here have beechwood spoons. Ikea’s is the most affordable at $1.79 and, for better or worse, has a straight edge instead of round and is flatter, like a spatula. Muji’s round spoon has a bit more depth and scoopability, like Target’s, but is smaller and pricier at $9.50.

We’ve highlighted just a very small sampling of products from all three stores, but this exercise suggests that there’s still nuance to “beautiful basics,” and for discerning shoppers, Target’s Made by Design line is another opportunity to find exactly what you want at an affordable price point.