A man and a woman reading in a living room, each sitting on an IKEA TROFE armchair from 1969.

IKEA design through the years

1950s

Characterised by contemporary materials, mid-century design is fun, colourful, light and often inspired by car design and space-age aesthetics. Shapes are organic and whimsical. Danish designers impress the world with their sophisticated furniture in wood like teak and jacaranda.

1957 HANSA bookcase, design IKEA of Sweden

HANSA bookcase was the beginning of how IKEA of Sweden AB started to work with its own designs. The bookcase, with its black steel frame sections, had wooden shelves that could be height-adjusted. HANSA was sketched by Gillis Lundgren, one of Ingvar Kamprad’s closest co-workers.

1958 BÅSTAD rug, design Gillis Lundgren

The new Axminster wool rug, BÅSTAD was proof of the ongoing effort to modernise wool rugs with contemporary designs, rather than the usual imitations of oriental patterns. Wilton rugs and Axminster rugs are machine-made, making them very efficient and quick to manufacture, and the techniques used are very similar. They also have a lower price level than traditional hand-woven rugs.

The iconic 50s style dark-brown wooden IKEA table LÖVET with a leaf-shaped countertop and three black legs. — 1953 DELFI coffee table

The rectangular IKEA brown wood TEA table from 1959 featuring two shelves and four legs with two weeks and a handle. — 1959 TEA table

The ÄGGET armchair from 1957 features a conical seat in black and yellow with four black slim legs. — 1957 ÄGGET armchair

One of the first IKEA armchairs CAVELLI has a modern form with a moss green colour and curved wooden arms and legs. — 1959 CAVELLI armchair

The IKEA CUBA floor lamp designed by IKEA of Sweden from 1958 features three legs and a round white lamp shade. — 1958 CUBA lamp

The IKEA HANSA bookcase features two black side frames and one midframe in steel with six brown wooden shelves. — 1957 HANSA bookcase

The machine-made IKEA wool rug BÅSTAD designed by Gillis Lundgren in 1958 has a graphic pattern in different blue shades. — 1958 BÅSTAD rug

MTP cabinet was initially a wedding gift for Ingvar Kamprad and his wife Margareta.

The IKEA MTP cabinet in light oak wood features two smaller cabinets and one taller open shelving cabinet. — 1963 MTP cabinet

1960s

Colourful furniture and design objects in bright red, yellow and orange plastics reflect the youthful attitude of the era. Italian designers like Vico Magistretti, Joe Colombo and Achille Castiglione create playful space-age designs, embracing the possibilities of mass production in contemporary materials. In Finland, designers like Yrjö Kukkapuro and Eero Aarnio create a Nordic version of the Italian style.

1961 TORE drawer unit, design Gillis Lundgren

TORE was one of the 60s products that wasn’t flat-packed. Back then, there weren’t as many good fittings and production solutions to enable flat-packing and self-assembly. Those that did exist would have left TORE difficult to assemble and rather unstable. Because of this, TORE remained factory assembled.

The classic IKEA TORE red chest with six drawers from 1961. — 1961 TORE drawer unit

1963 MTP cabinet, design Marian Grabinski

MTP cabinet was, initially, a wedding gift for Ingvar Kamprad and his wife, Margareta. Light oak wood design in combination with the many functions and affordable price made this cabinet a true IKEA sensation that people were thrilled about for more than 10 years.

1964 ANNA children’s table and chairs, design Otto Nielsen

The ANNA children’s chair was reversible so it could offer two different seating heights: 24,5 and 18,5 centimetres so that the child could grow with it. ANNA first appeared in the 1964 catalogue and was sold for an impressive 25 years.

The classic black IKEA ÖGLA chair from 1962 with a curved back designed by Gillis Lundgren. — 1962 ÖGLA chair

A red ANNA children’s table and two chairs. The chair is reversible so it could offer two different seating heights. — 1964 ANNA children’s table and chairs

The red low IKEA GRÅBO sofa featured two armrests and four light-wooden legs. — 1964 GRÅBO sofa

1970s

Mostly remembered for shag carpets, lava lamps and over-the-top wallpapers, the 70s also sees the rise of an environmentalist conscience in the design world. The dominance of plastics in contemporary design comes to an abrupt halt with the oil crisis of 1973. As a protest against mass-production, Italian designer Enzo Mari publishes drawings for simple do it yourself design.

The IKEA TAJT armchair designed by Gillis Lundgren in 1973 featured covers in denim and leather buttons. — 1973 TAJT armchair

The red plastic TELEGONO table lamps from 1970 featured a white lamp shade you could turn to direct the light. — 1970 TELEGONO table lamp

1970 TELEGONO table lamp, design Vico Magistretti

TELEGONO was made from plastic, a huge trend thanks to the mass production possibilities. The smart design made it possible to turn the lamp and direct the light. But despite this, TELEGONO only lasted one season.

1973, TAJT armchair, design Gillis Lundgren

Ingvar Kamprad purchased five kilometres of denim fabric and told the designers and product developers to be creative – and that’s how TAJT armchair was born. The denim fabric and beautiful leather buttons made this armchair one of the most famous IKEA products at the time.

A yellow IKEA IMPALA armchair featuring a reclining backrest and steel legs with plush upholstery. — 1972 IMPALA armchair

Five classic IKEA ARKITEKT work lamps in assorted colours with adjustable arm and head. Designed 1977 by IKEA of Sweden. — 1977 ARKITEKT work lamps

The IKEA SKOPA armchair in white moulded plastic from 1974 kind of looked like a bottle opening that you sit in! — 1974 SKOPA armchair

1980s

The Italian, postmodern design movement Memphis, founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1981, replaces the reductionist Modernist design aesthetic with geometric, playful furniture and objects bordering on kitsch. The same tendency is seen in architecture, where the glitter and glamour of Las Vegas becomes an important influence, and in the arts, where big, brash paintings fetch record prices at auctions.

KLIPPAN was designed to be an alternative to expensive designer sofas that weren’t safe, or durable enough for children to play on.

The KLIPPAN/BLADHULT sofa from 1980 with red and white striped removable, washable covers and four black cone legs. — 1980 KLIPPAN/BLOCKRAND sofa

1980, KLIPPAN/BLOCKRAND sofa, design IKEA of Sweden

KLIPPAN was designed to be an alternative to expensive designer sofas that weren’t safe, or durable enough for children to play on. The soft shapes and removable and washable covers in many styles, like BLOCKRAND, made it a child-friendly favourite that lives on to this day.

1981, SKYAR quilt cover and pillowcase, design Sven Fristedt

The SKYAR print was designed by Sven Fristedt, and this dreamy cloud-pattern is one of his most well-known IKEA designs – it was even sold as a wallpaper!

Black and white metre fabric with yellow bananas. BANAN was launched in 1986 from a design by Inez Svensson. — 1986 RANDIG BANAN fabric

Four IKEA BOGEN round side tables with castors in black, orange, white and grey. Two tables are folded. — 1986 BOGEN side tables

IKEA MOMENT table from 1986 featuring a metal base with frosted glass top. — 1987 MOMENT table

1990s

Minimalism makes a return in design. Designers such as Marc Newson, Jasper Morrison, Naoto Fukasawa, Swedes Claesson Koivisto Rune and many more create sleek, minimalist and blonde furniture and objects that stand in stark contrast to the playful, postmodern aesthetic of the stylistically wild 80s. Stockholm is officially the coolest place on Earth, according to trend bible Wallpaper.

1994, ANTILOP highchair, design IKEA of Sweden

ANTILOP was the first IKEA children’s chair that went straight to being created as a model in a computer, instead of being developed through a designer and a design engineer collaboration. ANTILOP is sold to this day and has become somewhat of a classic that is found in thousands of homes.

The light but sturdy IKEA MAMMUT children’s chair in red featuring four cone-shaped legs and a broad backrest. — 1994 MAMMUT children’s chair

The IKEA ANTILOP highchair from 1994 in white and silver lets small children sit at the same table as adults. — 1994 ANTILOP highchair

The keyhole-shaped red IKEA PS clock can be used as a wall or table clock and features storage space for smaller items. — 1995 IKEA PS clock

2000s

Designers like Konstantin Grcic and Patricia Urquiola dominate the furniture fair in Milan, the former with web-like geometric shapes, the latter with organic shapes and unexpected, playful meetings between materials, colours and patterns. Inventions such as CNC milling (Computer Numerical Control), CAD software (Computer-Aided Design) and 3D-printing make entirely new shapes possible.

The IKEA PS navy sofa bed from 2000 has a mattress stuffed with foam attached to a metal frame with wheels. — 2000 IKEA PS sofa bed

The blue corner chair IKEA a.i.r ROLIG armchair from 2001 was an inflatable plastic chair filled with air. — 2000 IKEA a.i.r ROLIG armchair

The IKEA red heart-shaped FAMNIG children’s cushion with two hug-friendly arms designed in 2000 by Anna Efverlund. — 2000 FAMNIG cushion

The idea was to fill it with air using a hair dryer, and after that, dress it with a fabric cover.

The white 2010 IKEA PS MASKROS wall lamp imitates a dandelion ready to be scattered by the wind. — 2010 IKEA PS MASKROS pendant lamp

IKEA OLLE chair from 2010 is a classic wooden chair in black with four legs and a backrest made from four wooden rods. — 2011 OLLE chair

2000, IKEA a.i.r ROLIG armchair, design Jan Dranger

IKEA a.i.r armchair was an attempt to solve the eternal IKEA problem – how to get the flattest packages with the lowest possible weight. An inflatable plastic chair was filled with air using a hair dryer, then dressed with a fabric cover. Even though this reduced the use of raw materials by 85% and transport volume by 90%, the chairs leaked. Deflated, IKEA a.i.r ROLIG quietly floated out of the IKEA range.

2000, FAMNIG cushion, design Anna Efverlund

FAMNIG is actually the successful result of a big setback: the plastic eyes of the existing IKEA soft toys could come loose. So, we created FAMNIG – a hug-friendly, eyeless heart that is loved by children around the world. Thanks to what happened, we learned to systematise safety work even more.

2002, IKEA PS/VÅLLÖ watering can, design Monika Mulder

This watering can is a true IKEA classic thanks to its affordable price and clean design in a variety of colours. The slightly bent pour spout makes manufacturing easier and it has helped to water lots of plants and flowers in many homes throughout the years.

Four STOLLE wooden Dala horses. One pink, one grey with a woolen coat, one white with glasses and one spotty punk. — 2002 STOLLE Dala horses

Three IKEA PS/VÅLLÖ plastic water cans from 2002 in orange, yellow and lime with a slightly bent pour spout. — 2002 IKEA PS/VÅLLÖ watering can

The VÅLLÖ watering can is a true IKEA classic thanks to its affordable price and clean design in a variety of colours.

The plastic fuchsia coloured table lamp LAMPAN is a lightweight IKEA classic. — 2004 LAMPAN table lamp

The IKEA STOCKHOLM wooden cabinet from 2008 features a circular hole in the middle of the two doors and four legs. — 2008 IKEA STOCKHOLM cabinet

The HAVSTEN outdoor sofa features fluffy coral cushions and a light steel frame construction. — 2018 HAVSTEN outdoor sofa

2010s

Socially and environmentally sustainable design is presented as a way for designers to help combat climate change. By sourcing raw materials close to the production, lessening the need for transportation with the aid of 3D printing, enabling recycling and reducing toxic materials, designers want to help people change their behaviour and save the planet.

2015, SINNERLIG stool, design Ilse Crawford

SINNERLIG, with its natural cork material and clean design, was primarily created to appeal to the human senses and enhance the feeling of well-being in the home. Cork was the obvious choice – both for its style and because all bark that is harvested is taken care of in the production to minimize waste.

2015, MÄSTERBY step stool, design Chris Martin

MÄSTERRBY is lightweight, sturdy and stackable. And not only does it help people reach things on the top shelf, it also helps them be a little kinder to the planet as it’s made from recycled polypropylene.