When simple isn?t so simple 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 brings 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 differentiate (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

Solid Soap/Lotion Dispenser (plastic), $13.

Voxnan soap dispenser (glass and stainless steel), $6.99.

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.

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