Ikea unveils collections for small-space living and renters

Design giant Ikea has unveiled new collections for renters frequently on the move and those living in small spaces.

With the high cost of housing in many cities leaving more people in the rental market and in smaller properties, pieces that could quickly turn small spaces into smart spaces was a key focus at the Swedish company’s annual Democratic Design Days conference this week.

“There is a rapidly growing urban population and people are living in smaller spaces as well as moving more often than before,” said Viveca Olsson, a creative leader at IKEA of Sweden.

“We wanted to create a few key items that have a new level of versatility, functionality and simplicity. And when it is time to move, it should be easy to pack everything up, stack them together and relocate to your next home,” she said of RÅVAROR, one of several upcoming collections.

The range – which will be released in September 2020 – will have 20 products, including a daybed and sofa, tables, mini kitchen, open storage solutions and boxes, textiles and lighting. When it’s time to move the items can then be packed and stacked onto an open storage unit and wheeled out the door.

“Our starting point  … was the reality of urban life. We asked ourselves; what is needed to turn a small space, such as 12 square metres, into a home? And what is needed to create that homely feeling even though you might be moving on to a new place soon?”

Ikea also unveiled robotic furniture which can transform a room at the push of the button and announced a collaboration with Greyhound Original Bangkok, to deliver a new collection combining the best of Scandinavian and Thai design.

“We know that people today want their personalities to be shown in their home. At the same time both space and money is limited when living in big cities,” said Michael Nikolic, another creative leader at IKEA of Sweden.

While being able to express yourself in a small space on a tight budget is a common challenge all over the world, Ikea looked to Asia – where city dwellers are increasingly turning to recycling, reusing and creative re-purposing to furnish small spaces – for inspiration.

“Since multi-function and creativity is key in order to enable both a small space living solution and an expressive design piece, we turned to Greyhound Original,” said Mr Nikolic of the design collective, which began as a fashion store in 1980 and transformed into a lifestyle brand.

“They have great experience combining the expressive design of fashion and street culture [as well as] using materials in new ways, reusing and repurposing it,” he added.

The resulting collection called Sammankoppla, which means interconnect or unify, will be available from next year.

Prototypes for the collection include bright colourful cushions, kitchenware, clothes racks, tables and recycled floor mats – a favourite of Bhanu Inkawat, the founder and creative director at Greyhound.

“Thailand is all about relaxed living, and a lot of floor living,” said Mr Inkawat, noting the latter was key to creating multi-functional spaces.

“For us working with IKEA was a great experience … they are acknowledging contemporary Thai attitudes and lifestyle and striving to incorporate these ideas into their collection, an approach well suited to the task of making the most of small spaces in modern urban living.”

The reporter travelled to Sweden courtesy of Ikea.