Design & Decor Blog

And now, as promised, we resume our tour of the IKEA Through the Ages Museum in Almhult, Sweden…

We’re delving deeper into the swinging 60s, and IKEA’s designs are taking a trippy, Warhol-esque, psychedelic turn. I love the marvelously low-slung Florida sofa (1969), and the satellite armchairs in lemon and orange pack some serious citrus punch…

…Compare those chairs to the Skruvsta swivel armchair, still in IKEA stores to this day! Obviously, the design had staying power!

Skruvsta swivel armchair in Almas Red, $169

 

 

The shag carpet may remain, but the colourway is toned down for the early 1970s, with the introduction of the denim-upholstered Tajt loungers (1973). And I think everyone, at one time or another, has purchased a set of the IKEA’s Bambu bamboo roller blinds, first launched in 1972.

Another angle…

 

 

A little further along, I came across something that very nearly blew my mind… I mean, who knew that in the 70s, IKEA was also your source for… Organs?!? Delightfully bonkers! It’s easy to forget that pianos were staples in many homes at the time, and electronic organs were an exciting new development — the iPod to the piano’s Discman, I suppose.

 

Tomorrow, we’ll complete the epic journey of IKEA up to the present day…