IKEA is an international company that sells modern low-cost furniture, mostly being assembled by the customers. IKEA is an acronym comprising the initials of the founder’s name, Ingvar Kamprad, and home village, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd. The company was funded in Sweden in 1943. Since then it developed in a huge furniture retailer. Many people like IKEA, but others hate their products. Here, I will put down a little debate on IKEA.

Five reasons why to choose IKEA

1. Great design ideas. Personally what I like the most at IKEA are the designed rooms you can find in each store. Some of them are quite impressive. Even if you don’t like the whole room design, it inspires you to make your own plan. It gives you ideas.

2. Modern and utilitarian furniture. The main purpose for IKEA designers is to make things as easy as possible. I mean they try to create modern furniture that saves your space. Besides, the furniture helps you to organize your room in the best way.

3. Eco-friendly products. Most of the products are greener. Because I like the lamps and lighting devices, I always check that sector in IKEA. I saw they promote many low energy consumption bulbs. Another aspect that I want to discuss about are the materials used to make the furniture. From what I saw at the local store, the furniture is made of wood mostly. The wood is ecological, so IKEA protects the environment.

4. Do-it-yourself products. The low-cost policy has brought it the success. Assembling the furniture by yourself costs you less money. I have always loved to construct something by myself. Sometimes could be harder, but when you fulfill the task you are proud of your work.

5. Great stores design. The IKEA stores are really ingenious. They have one entrance and one exit, so the customers have to walk through the entire store. That matters in terms of sales. Furthermore, I like those stores that have restaurants with Swedish foods and groceries that sell Swedish-made products.

Five reasons to avoid IKEA

1. Furniture for the masses. The products sold in IKEAs tend to become kitsches. The low price permits to all people to have access at IKEA’s furniture or decorations. So, I don’t like the idea that all my friends to have the same furniture in their homes. Or, when I get in a new house I don’t want to see the same curtains as mine. But that’s the cost for low-cost products.

2. Cheap products. And when I say cheap I refer to the materials used. I have checked labels from many products and what I have seen? Made in China. Some are bad quality, I am telling you… IKEA offers guarantees, but I still become uncertain to buy.

3. The catalog “lie”. I had the surprise to read the catalog, to make an impression and to find another price for the whole wardrobe. The big product has a price, then you need to pay for shelves, for metal bar and so on. If you want that product, you probably will buy it, but you pay more than the initial budget.

4. Aggressive marketing. “Just pack up, ship out, find a place of your own. And for all your new things, you know where to come. Make a fresh start!” was the slogan that attract the criticism for trivializing marriage breakups. The 2007 IKEA catalog got in a controversy concerning a dog in the interior-front-cover photo depicting what appeared at first glance to be a human-looking penis. The company told that the object in discussion is the dog’s leg.

5. DIY not so funny for others. When you mess up the furniture is not so funny. The do-it-yourself policy could bring a lot of trouble for the unexperienced customers. If they don’t have the tools or the skills to assemble the furniture, it will broke or accidents could happen. In this case a specialist would be the most appropriate advice. But that costs money too…

This item has won the first prize at Interior innovation award imm Cologne 2006. The Yakuza table was designed like a tattooed wooden body. If you take a look at the table’s body you can see the tattoo with Japanese motives. The wood texture acts as skin for the tattoo print, which is unique for every item because of the digital printing technology.

Yakuza table measures 110L x 55W x 35H cm. Its design reflects the Japanese traditional style. It expresses a strong cultural and personal identity.

Designer’s page

I saw this chair at Design Nobis, a company specialized in creativity design. They have many collections, one of them being the Chairs and Armchairs. Searching through that collection, you will find quite interesting chairs. I have spotted the Floger Folding Chair.

Its innovative and futuristic design attracted me from the first sight. It looks very comfortable too. Personal I like this lemon color, but the Floger chairs come in blue, green, orange and purple. So, you have the option to choose from these. I didn’t find details about pricing or stores where you can find the folding Floger chairs. However, the company is from Turkey (Ankara) and I don’t think they have stores across Europe. For more details check their website.