Frequently asked questions

Where is Vitsœ made / manufactured?

Our HQ and production building is located in Royal Leamington Spa in the heart of England, at the centre of our supply chain. Here we make our furniture and send it to more than 90 countries around the world.

Where can I see Vitsœ 606 shelving, 620 chairs or 621 tables?

You can visit our shops in the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

You can see the 606 Universal Shelving System (but not buy) in our customers’ shops, galleries, libraries, museums, etc. prior to ordering with us. See Vitsœ near you.

Some of them have the 620 Chair Programme and 621 Table.

What are Dieter Rams’s ten principles for good design?

Good design is innovative. Good design makes a product useful. Good design is aesthetic. Good design makes a product understandable. Good design is unobtrusive. Good design is honest. Good design is long-lasting. Good design is thorough down to the last detail. Good design is environmentally-friendly. Good design is as little design as possible.

Rams wrote them in the late 1970s, when he asked himself whether his own design was good design. He later put it more briefly: less, but better.

Each principle, in his own words, is on our good design page.

How do you pronounce Vitsœ?

Where do you deliver to?

We deliver to most countries worldwide, directly from our production building in Royal Leamington Spa, England. We have sent furniture to more than 90 countries. The short list of countries we cannot deliver to is in our delivery section – and if yours is on it, please ask: things change.

Is delivery included?

Delivery charges are included: to the UK and Europe; and via ocean container to contiguous US and Canada, and Australia. You can check your country in our delivery section.

What are the delivery lead-times from purchase to dispatch?

With the 606 Universal Shelving System, no two orders are the same. When you place your order, we assemble your order especially for you. Normal delivery times for typical orders (> GBP 500, EUR 700, USD 1000) are:

• United Kingdom (UK): 2 to 4 weeks
• European Union (EU): 4 to 6 weeks
• United States of America (USA): 10 to 13 weeks
• Canada (CA) ships directly from the UK: 10 to 13 weeks
• Australia (AU): 14 to 18 weeks
• Rest of world, including regular deliveries to Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea: 4 to 6 weeks

Smaller orders of accessories, bookends and metal shelves are delivered sooner.

For the 620 Chairs Programme and 621 Table, see our 620 and 621 order pages for more information.

Can I pick up the order in a shop?

For orders of the 606 Universal Shelving System and 620 Chair Programme, collections are by prior arrangement with your planner.

The 621 Table can be ordered online for home delivery, or bought in-person from our shops.

Do you have a price list?

Yes. Our price list is available to download from our brochures and prices page, and the components page shows the price of every 606 shelf, cabinet and table. We charge a single, fair price all the time – so the price you see today is not waiting for a sale.

Do you have sales or offer discounts?

We charge all our customers – including architects and interior designers – a single, fair, honest price and we do not have seasonal sales because our stock does not become obsolete.

I am a designer. Will you keep your invoice private from my client?

No. We have a single price list and our pricing is fair and transparent.

How much does Vitsœ cost? / Is Vitsœ expensive?

The cost of a single 606 shelf starts from around £65, and 606 cabinets from £635. 621 tables begin at £305.

620 chairs start from £3,745 (more than competitively priced compared to certain other ‘classic’ lounge chairs retailing at around £5,750).

Vitsœ’s products and components are designed and manufactured to the absolute highest-quality specification and finish, and built to last generations.

You can buy less today, safe in the knowledge that you can return tomorrow, next year, or in ten years’ time for additional components – or simply for help reconfiguring or moving your existing furniture.

We make our own furniture and deliver it directly to you. Without middlemen our markup is lower than the industry norm allowing you to receive higher-quality furniture for your money.

Some companies routinely offer ‘discounts’. Yet this ability to offer a generous discount may result from the presentation of a ‘trade price list’ that could contain prices higher – yes, higher – than a ‘retail price list’. At Vitsœ we stand unashamedly against this approach. In short, we have already discounted our prices for everyone.

Our products hold their value too. Therefore, a purchase from Vitsœ is a lifetime investment.

All of this means that ultimately, Vitsœ costs you less than cheaper alternatives.

You can find a full price list here.

What is modular shelving, and why is it a good investment?

Modular shelving is a kit of parts. The system can evolve and adapt to different environments and spaces, growing or shrinking over time. You can buy one shelf or an entire library. A bit like Lego, the shelves can be moved, swapped, added to and rotated – without using tools – by simply repositioning a few small aluminium pins. You can start with the minimum you need and add more later: dismantle it, reconfigure it, take it with you when you move. Nothing gets thrown away. Designed and made to last generations, it is timeless in both form and function, and constant additions and improvements ensure that it always caters for today’s needs.

Find out more at our 606 section.

How does 606 compare with other shelving systems?

We would rather not talk other companies down, so we will stick to what is different.

The shelves are folded steel, not painted board – a narrow bay will hold a vinyl collection without complaint. Every part we have made since 1960 still fits, so a system bought half a century ago can take a shelf bought this morning. It comes apart and moves house with you.

A planner designs it with you, without charge, and we keep your drawings for as long as you own it. When a part wears we replace the part. Most of the furniture we have ever made is still in use – we know because we keep seeing it in our customers’ homes.

None of which is worth paying for if you want shelving for one room for a few years. Something simpler will serve you better, and we would rather say so.

Coincidentally, this means Vitsœ costs you less than cheaper alternatives – as long as you keep it.

What is a planner?

A planner is the person who will design your furniture with you. Not a salesperson, and not a chatbot – an experienced designer who does this every day. Some of our planners have done it for 15 years.

They will work out how your system meets your wall, your floor and your ceiling, and how you actually intend to live with it. They will keep at it with you until it is right.

Then we keep your drawings. In ten years, when you move, we can rework what you already own rather than sell you something new.

Our planners earn no commission. In fact we actively encourage our customers to buy less, initially, and then to only add more later if they find they need to.

Our service is free of charge, and you are under no obligation to buy.

Can I plan a system myself?

Yes. Send us your drawing and we will work from it – plenty of people do.

Then we will go through it with you. We will ask what your wall is made of, and where your sockets, switches and radiators are. These are the details a drawing tends to leave out, and they decide where an E-Track can go.

Our planners do this every day, and some have done it for 15 years. They are not trying to sell you more. They are looking for the things that would otherwise turn up on installation day.

We know you would rather get on and order. In our experience the time spent planning is repaid when the system goes up, and again years later when you come back to add to it.

Our service is free of charge, always. Meet our planners.

Why is there no online configurator?

Because a configurator cannot see your wall.

We do have a planning tool. It has drawn every 606 system since 2002 (with some upgrades), and a planner drives it – because the questions that settle your system are not ones a form can ask. What is your wall made of? Where do the sockets fall? What are you putting on the shelves, and how heavy is it?

We would like you to be able to do more of this yourself, and we are working on it. We would rather not hand you a tool that produces a drawing we then have to correct.

Until then, a planner will do it with you, without charge and without obligation. Most people tell us afterwards that it took less time than they feared.

How can I buy a 606 shelving system?

We offer a free 606 planning service. We ask you to measure and photograph your space and decide how you want to use your system. Then you can fill out an online inquiry form, or contact us via telephone, video-call, email or in person at one of our shops. One of our expert planners will design your modular shelving system with you.

How can I buy additional shelves, cabinets, bookends, etc?

Once you are a Vitsœ customer you can buy more shelves and bookends directly online via your My Vitsœ account. For other products, please contact your planner.

Can I order spares or buy small components, such as wall fixings or extra aluminium pins?

Yes – please contact your planner. Within reason, fixings and pins are free of charge to existing customers, however long ago you bought your system. Small parts get lost. We would rather send you a handful of pins than have you leave a shelf down.

I own / have inherited a 606 shelving system from the 1960s / 70s / 80s – will your components fit?

Yes. Our products are designed with longevity in mind so customers can always add, upgrade or change parts. Many of our customers inherit 606 from their parents or grandparents and are able to change the system to suit their personal needs using a mix of existing and brand-new parts.

Is Vitsœ the only maker of 606?

Today Vitsœ is the only company – worldwide – with access to Dieter Rams’s exclusive licence to make and sell the 606 Universal Shelving System. Vitsœ has made 606 continuously since the system was designed in 1960.

In 1984 Rams and Vitsœ granted a licence to the Italian company, De Padova, for an aluminium version of 606. In 1995 Rams granted a licence to the German company, sdr+. Rams later terminated both the sdr+ and De Padova licences as he identified Vitsœ as his ideal partner to present his products worldwide due to Vitsœ’s growing international presence and continued commitment to the constant improvement of his products ensuring that his furniture would be in the best hands for the years ahead.

That licence has been tested. In 2018 a German court described 606’s metal shelf as “extremely reduced, clear and calm”, with shelves that give “the impression of a flowing lightness” – a decision known in legal circles as the lyrical judgment. In 2023 the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation recognised the 606 Universal Shelving System as a work of art, copyright-protected on behalf of Rams and Vitsœ.

Since 2024 every Vitsœ metal shelf carries an embossed hallmark, so you can tell an original from a copy.

Can I use it in the kitchen?

Yes. The durability of the metal shelves means that heat, humidity and grease will present no problems if your saucepans are stored on them near your cooker.

Shelves will store your cookery books. Pans can hang from a shelf with a hanging rail. Cabinets will store your cutlery and crockery. Wine bottles will stand up in a one-drawer cabinet.

A double-sided compressed system creates an island unit between cooking and dining.

Will it work as a wardrobe?

Yes. Anything from a shelf with a hanging rail right through to a complete walk-in wardrobe.

The beauty of using the shelving system is that all positions are adjustable – simply move hanging rails up and down as seasons and fashions change (or as children grow). Sloping shelves make ideal storage for your shoe collection.

Can I use it as a room divider?

Yes. 606 is brilliant for this.

First, compress the X-Posts between the floor and ceiling. Then add as many shelves and cabinets as you like to create a more or less solid division.

Can it be free-standing?

Yes. With the addition of stabilising feet, 606 can stand alone – without the need for walls or ceilings.

Free-standing systems suit room dividers or renters who would rather not drill. Your planner will tell you whether your configuration suits free-standing use.

Can I install a system in corners and awkward spaces?

Yes. The configurable nature of 606 means it is particularly suited to troublesome areas and able to adapt to different environments and spaces.

We do not need to make corner shelves because 606 is versatile enough to offer better solutions – and your shelves can be reused in another home when there is no corner.

Our expert planners will always strive to help you find the perfect solution.

What are the components made of?

The metal shelf is epoxy polyester powder-coated pre-treated 1.6mm mild steel. Prolonged exposure to excessive moisture and/or saline environments is not recommended.

The top and bottom panels of the cabinet, single shelf, double shelf and desk shelf are high-pressure laminate over poplar plywood reinforced with eucalyptus.

The cabinet door and drawer panels are polyurethane lacquer over MDF.

The integrated table is high-pressure laminate or beech veneer over MDF.

The beech surfaces of the cabinet, single shelf, double shelf, desk shelf and table are real beech-wood veneer over MDF. Beech veneer may contain small knots that are part of the natural character of the wood, making each surface unique.

Do not subject beech to heat or moisture. Beech will darken naturally when first exposed to sunlight; it is therefore advisable to move items on the surfaces during the early months of use. Beware that electrical equipment can become hot in use. For example, put your laptop on a stand or a mat.

If you would prefer a uniform finish, we recommend you buy off-white, black or silver surfaces.

The fronts and backs of beech cabinets and shelf with drawer will be the same colour as ordered shelves (off-white, black or silver).

In which colours are the shelves available?

Metal shelves: Off-white (RAL 9002). Black (RAL 9005). Silver (RAL 9006).

Single-shelf, double-shelf and shelf with drawer: as above, but also in beech veneer.

In which finishes are the cabinets, desk-shelves and integrated tables available?

Cabinet tops and bottoms are available in off-white, black, silver or beech veneer but the fronts are always coloured (off-white, black or silver) to combine with metal shelves. The end-plates are anodised aluminium.

Desk-shelves and integrated tables are available in off-white, black, silver or beech veneer. The end-plates are anodised aluminium.

Can I mix components (wood / metal etc)?

Yes. There is no limit other than your imagination.

Beech cabinets combine wonderfully with metal shelves because the cabinet’s front is the same colour as the neighbouring shelves.

Beech combines equally well with off-white (the original 1950’s Braun combination) as it does with black or silver.

Do the shelves and cabinets surface scratch?

Our shelves are epoxy-polyester powder-coated, which is a tough finish. But metal can scratch this surface. We recommend avoiding using metal-bottomed files on shelves.

After years of use, the metal shelves (only) can be given a new lease of life with a mild cream cleaner.

Our cabinets are a durable laminate finish but not as tough as the metal shelves. Rough-bottomed vases or pots will scratch surfaces if dragged across a cabinet.

If a surface becomes damaged, the top and bottom panels can be swapped so the damage is no longer visible. Alternatively we can provide replacement panels.

Do I need a wall?

Not necessarily. The system can be compressed between the floor and ceiling or even configured to be a free-standing system.

If you are unsure about your wall type, it is best to speak with your planner who will be best placed to assist you further.

Can the system be installed onto plasterboard / gypsum board?

Yes. Using the best modern cavity fixings a plasterboard / gypsum board wall will accept most domestic loads. Our system is installed on such walls daily.

Can the system be installed onto a lath-and-plaster wall?

Yes. Although, almost certainly, you will need to rely on the floor to achieve a desirable loading.

Please, check our planning guide, semi-wall mounted section.

How do I know what type of wall I have?

The best method to deduce the type of wall is by knocking on the wall. Additionally, the age and type of building can be considered.

As a rough guide:

A solid wall is made of masonry, brick or concrete. It sounds true and solid when you tap it with your knuckle. It is ideal.

A plasterboard / gypsum-board wall sounds hollow and consistently crisp wherever you tap.

If you are unsure whether a wall is plasterboard / gypsum-board or lath-and-plaster, try running your palm over the surface. A wall that is perfectly straight is likely to be plasterboard / gypsum board, one with undulations is likely to be lath-and-plaster.

A wall which varies from dull to hollow sounding may either have blown plaster or have cavities at some points in the wall.

If in doubt, please consult your planner.

How do I measure / what measurements do you need?

To begin, we need to know about your space. Ideally we need some pictures; measurements are essential: the full width and height of your space, not just the area you want to use (see below).

If you can, measure where any sockets, switches or other obstructions appear on your wall – and tell us what your wall is made of.

For more help with measurements, please refer to our planning guide.

Is my wall / floor / ceiling strong enough?

The system is only as strong as the wall or floor on which it is relying.

Hence, a wall-mounted system is only as strong as the wall to which it is attached, while a semi-wall mounted system relies on a wall and a rigid floor too.

The compressed system allows the shelving to be used without a wall. A rigid floor is essential. A solid ceiling is best, but a plaster or plasterboard / gypsum board ceiling is suitable.

Is the system strong enough?

The 606 system is only as strong as the wall, floor and ceiling to which it is attached.

The strong metal shelves are designed to carry books and files. A DJ told us that it was the first system he’d ever had that held his entire vinyl LP collection without collapsing.

Cabinet tops are not intended for heavy load-bearing.

How much weight can I put on a shelf?

This shelving system has been in continuous production since 1960; it is tried and tested. But, however good the pedigree, any storage system ultimately relies on the strength of the wall, floor and ceiling to which it is attached.

What do I do about my TV?

Cabinets hold most TVs if spread across two cabinets.

TVs can be wall-mounted within the design of your shelving system. Let us know the shape and size and we will add it to your drawing.

Using a semi-wall mounted system gives you extra space for lots of wiring. Ask us about our cable conduit for tidying up the wires.

Can I store my vinyl / LPs / records on the system?

Yes. They can be stored on the 36cm deep shelf. They will not fit on the 30cm deep shelf.

Always use the narrow 65.5cm bay, which is best for heavy loads.

When installed on plasterboard / gypsum board walls or other soft-surface walls, never allow the bottom shelf to be level with the bottom of the E-Track as this may cause the surface to fail locally.

If the shelf is to be hung from the bottom hole of the E-Track, loading must be restricted to light / medium weight only. Alternatively, use a semi-wall mounted structure. Using a high bookend will help to keep your vinyl records upright.

Can I hide my wiring?

Yes. For a wall-mounted system, put the bottom shelf (or cabinet) just above the electrical sockets. By doing this you will hide the sockets from view without preventing their use. Then coil the excess wires (and multi-gang extension leads) onto the bottom shelf.

For semi-wall mounted systems, the fact that the system stands in front of the sockets and plugs allows them to be obscured by shelves/cabinets (which can be hung lower than on a wall-mounted system) whilst still allowing their use.

Remember that shelves (empty!) can be lifted up by the front lip to make space for a plug to be passed behind. Hence you do not need to detach the shelf to run your wires around. Cabinets do need to be detached, or run your wires before hanging your cabinets.

Final tip for tidy cable management: you can hide unsightly wires and cables by running them through the E-Tracks and keeping them in place with the aluminium pins.

Is it easy to move the shelves?

Yes. Tools are not needed, just some patience whilst you develop the knack (see page 26 of ‘Installation and Beyond’ that comes with your delivery).

Always empty the shelf you are moving as well as any immediately adjacent shelves.

Preferably use another pin to help you push the relevant pin to one side while you take the weight of the shelf at the front bottom corner.

This is an adjustable system where owners really do move the shelves around rather than leave them ‘fixed’ for evermore.

Can I turn a shelf upside down?

Yes. By reversing a shelf, a number of possibilities are created:

Firstly, the shelf-ends are now pointing downwards which means that adjacent reversed shelves form a continuous flat surface rather than being interrupted by shelf ends.

Secondly, a reversed shelf above a regular shelf forms a ‘box’ which can be excellent for preventing books / files / records from falling over.

How difficult is it for a ‘competent’ person to install it?

We include instructions – 'Installation and Beyond' – with your delivery.

Knowledge of walls is much more important than any experience installing our system. Hence, competent DIYers / builders / carpenters can put the system up.

If you tell us accurately the type of wall (ie brick, concrete, block, plasterboard, gypsum board, lath-and-plaster etc) we will supply you with the most suitable wall fixings.

We supply our ‘spacer levels’ for wall-mounted systems which allow you to space and level adjacent E-Tracks to perfection.

We often hear comments from our customers, such as: “It was great! I was expecting it to be far more difficult than it turned out to be.”

You can read similar feedback on our customer comments page.

Can I use fewer screws to fix the E-tracks?

No. All fixing points are required to ensure the system is securely attached to your wall.

Can you recommend installers in my area?

In many locations, we can offer either our own installation service or can recommend local installers. Alternatively, any competent DIYers / builders / carpenters /tradespeople can install the 606 system using the acclaimed instructions – ‘Installation and Beyond’ – which are provided with your order. Knowledge of wall types is much more important than any previous experience installing the 606 system.

Now that I’ve installed my shelves, what can I do with my packaging?

If practical, you can return it to us for reuse (we reuse virtually all of our packaging).

If not, please try to reuse it yourself, and lastly, you can locate your nearest recycling facility. We have seen many examples of children building magnificent dens and vehicles with our packaging.

I’m moving home / office and I am taking the 606 system with me, will you help me?

Yes. We regard it as a major defeat if you leave your system behind you when you move. We’d actually prefer you to rearrange your existing parts rather than buy new (although we hear lovely stories of customers selling their shelves with their homes – at full price – and starting again).

We retain records of what you already own; if you let us know the shape and size of your new space we can help you rearrange your parts. Contact us to ask for advice, instructions and any tools, templates, fixings or packaging that you might need.

If we installed your system, we can dismantle it and pack it for your movers to take it to your new home/office. Frankly, this service is one of the hidden benefits of buying into the world of Vitsœ.

Once moved, if appropriate, we can reinstall it for you.

Will you clean / empty my shelves / cabinets when dismantling and / or reinstalling?

Unfortunately not. We recommend that you clean the system once you – or your movers – have emptied it and before we dismantle.

Will my 620 fit through my door upon delivery?

Yes. Unlike conventional armchairs and sofas, the 620 Chair Programme is a modular kit of parts, making it easier to deliver. The different components of your 620 will arrive in multiple easily manageable boxes, whatever the size of chair or sofa you have ordered.

Can I assemble or dismantle 620 myself?

Yes. You can assemble and dismantle your chairs using a simple magnetic tool – and become aware how easily your chair can adapt over the years. Of course, tools and instructions are provided with your delivery.

How hard-wearing is the upholstery?

Our linen exceeds 30,000 rubs on the Martindale test. Above 30,000 is the rating for commercial use, so in a home it is unlikely to be the first thing to give way.

Leather is not measured the same way. Ours is full-grain and uncoated, so it takes on scars and a patina rather than staying new – which is rather the point of it.

Either way, the covering can be replaced without the chair leaving your house. Rams knew the chair would outlast its covering, and designed it accordingly.

Can I renew the upholstery, replace the shell (arms / back)?

Yes. 620 is designed and made to last, but you can always order new parts from us. Contact one of our planners to arrange this for you.

Prices for these components are in our price list.

You can replace the upholstery in the comfort of your own home without the need to return it to us or a professional upholsterer.

How do I look after linen or leather upholstery?

Linen: vacuum it regularly with an upholstery brush. Mop up spills promptly with a clean absorbent cloth and try not to rub them in. Dried stains will usually come out with a little water and a soap-based shampoo suitable for natural fibres. For anything large or stubborn, take the upholstery off and have it dry-cleaned. Please do not machine wash it – linen shrinks by about three per cent, and it will no longer fit.

Leather: ours is full-grain and aniline-dyed, with no surface coating, which is why it feels as it does and why it ages as it does. A well-wrung damp cloth removes dust. Mop up spills promptly, again without rubbing. Dried stains can be treated with diluted natural soap flakes. Occasionally give it a good-quality leather conditioner to replace the tanning oils. Nothing else.

Both will change colour a little in sunlight, and both are meant to. As Niels Vitsœ said of leather: “The first mark is a disaster; the second mark is a shame; the third mark is a patina.”

Can I have a firmer cushion?

Yes, where it suits. The standard cushion is feather and foam: soft, with support underneath, and it wants plumping now and then.

We also make a firmer cushion, filled with foam alone, which holds its shape without plumping. We developed it for commercial settings, where nobody is going to plump anything, and we can supply it on request.

It is not a standard option, so please raise it with your planner early rather than after your chair has arrived.

I bought a second-hand 620 chair, will the replacements fit?

Most current components are generally compatible with chairs produced from 1974 onwards.

We cannot guarantee that all components are compatible with every generation of the 620 Chair Programme, but our expert planners will be able to advise whether the required replacements will be compatible with your chair.

We can provide current linen or leather samples to you for approval in order to ensure it will match your existing material (although we cannot compensate for their natural ageing).