The IKEA Catalog Through 7 Decades

Step into the iconic catalog's history and see how homes have changed and developed over the last 70 years

Over the years, the IKEA catalog has introduced readers to new products and reminded them of old favorites.

For the first time, you can find all the catalogs (in Swedish) in digital format. If you ever wondered what sofas looked like in 1967, or want to know what was trendy the year you were born, the furniture giant invites you to browse, share, rediscover, and be inspired by their catalogs.

The IKEA museum takes us on a journey of the company's history and reminds us of how interior design and lifeways have developed over the decades.

History

IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad. The name itself is an acronym that consists of the founder's initials (Ingvar Kamprad), Elmtaryd, the family farm where he was born, and the nearby village Agunnaryd (his hometown in Småland, southern Sweden). The founder's children still control the company.

An IKEA world

Leafing through an IKEA catalog is an everyday activity around the world. Most of us have done it at least once. We have waited for a new copy to be available on a visit to the store and then looked for inspiration through its pages as if we were still in the showroom.

IKEA has indeed given customers new perspectives on life at home worldwide, with their stylish, affordable, and sustainable furniture and homewares. One could even claim that IKEA furniture and gadgets have helped create a common ground for the world.

Here are some facts:

• IKEA has been the world's largest furniture retailer since 2008,

• 433 IKEA stores are operating in 52 countries

• The IKEA website—visited by around 2 billion people every year—contains about 12,000 products

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The modernist style of IKEA's furniture and the simplicity of the designs, together with an eco-friendly approach, are bound to make it a favorite choice.

This is a web page to delight furniture and interior designers alike and everyone who enjoys or needs inspiration for their home decor. You now have a chance to see it all in one platform and check what has come back into fashion.

Great classics

Billy bookcase

A classic design, developed in 1979 by the Swedish designer Gillis Lundgren, over 60 million units of the bookcase have been sold in IKEA worldwide. Its popularity and global spread have made it a benchmark of relative worldwide price levels.

Poäng chair

By designer Noboru Nakamura, this timeless piece combines Japanese and Scandinavian style and turned 40 recently. This super flexible seat also comes in a children's size, helping instill a love for IKEA style from an early age. In 2006, Ingvar Kamprad claimed to have owned one for 32 years, pointing out its solidity and endurance.

Frakta shopping bag

The iconic blue plastic bag is now being upcycled in all sorts of creative ways and even inspired Balenciaga to design a similar tote (a $2,145 copycat version some may say) that caused a stir on the internet. IKEA responded to the frenzy with a fun Instagram ad campaign.

Exhibition

Suppose you are traveling to Älmhult at any given time. In that case, plan a visit to the museum and enjoy an exhibition that takes you behind the scenes and shows you how 'one of the world's most widely distributed printed works has been produced and has changed over the years – from basic product pictures to furnished rooms and 3D design.'

Check out the online collection of the IKEA Museum here.

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