IKEA celebrates its 80th anniversary with its new 'Nytillverkad' collection

The vintage wave lashes animatedly, rendering the globe awash with a unanimous love for the passé. This surging popularity is replicated across spheres such as fashion and furniture design, with people seeking antique pieces that embody flair and timelessness. On the occasion of its 80th anniversary, IKEA decides to conform to this resurgence. In its latest collection dubbed Nytillverkad, the brand looks back at its rich past and pays homage to some of its iconic designs from the archives. Reimagined in fresh, joyful colours and new materials, the ensemble, encompassing furniture, bedding, and accessories, celebrates IKEA’s unique take on design as simple, functional, and always a little playful. “After 80 years, we’ve designed a lot of furniture. So, it’s only natural that we’d get a little curious about what we did in the past. To mark this momentous occasion, we decided to open up our treasure chest and take a look inside,” says Fredrika Inger, managing director at IKEA of Sweden.

For eight decades, IKEA has delivered quality product designs through its immersive and experiential showcases curated with utmost care. When the furniture designers revisited their archives, they were surprised at how the designs looked ready for a new lease of life as opposed to feeling obsolete. Some of these pieces preserved the inspiration they expressed when they were originally conceived. In multiple launches over the next few years, the brand is set to unveil a series of selected home furnishings from the past, upgraded in accordance with the bold outlook of the contemporary world. “It was a signature for this collection to be very bold and very colourful,” shares Karin Gustavsson, range identity leader, IKEA of Sweden.

For the first Nytillverkad launch, IKEA retraces its roots to its trailblazing designs. The products are characterised by clean, graphic lines and vibrant colourways, and the furnishings—ranging from side tables to accessories and beddings—aim to make a statement. Each piece defines a space’s personality while staying true to the original designs now reinvented in striking shades and updated materials. This juxtaposition of the past, present, and future has culminated in a troupe of products that epitomise the timeless. “The Nytillverkad products have a simple, well-thought-out design. They look good and work well,” explains Johan Ejdemo, design manager, IKEA of Sweden.

LÖVBACKEN: An ode to LÖVET

In the 1950s, IKEA produced its first pieces of flatpack furniture, but 1956 witnessed the launch of one of its most iconic table designs, 'LÖVET.' The three-legged side table with a shiny wooden surface was described as “a lovely little thing, in ultra-modern design” by founder Ingvar Kamprad in the catalogue that year. Exuding the optimistic mood of the time, 'LÖVET' was an expression of sleek and functional furniture that could be re-arranged as one wished. The tapered legs, with brass-covered feet, could simply be screwed on and off. Before its newest avatar, the table was reintroduced in 2013 and 2021, under a new name 'LÖVBACKEN.' The new edition is the first time the design is dressed in vivid hues of orange, blue, and light green with an ash veneer top. Making its first appearance over 60 years ago, the 'LÖVBACKEN' side table is an icon of mid-century modern design.

A desire for joyous textiles

The Swedish textile designer Sven Fristedt’s groovy 'KRYPKORNELL' pattern represents a desire for joyous design like no other. The blissful multicoloured print creeps across bedding, kitchen accessories, pre-cut fabric and cushion covers. Formerly known as 'BLADHULT' and first appearing on a cover for the 'KLIPPAN' sofa in 1980, the print aligned itself to the ‘more is more’ aesthetic of the 80s. The striking primary colours were evocative of bold expression, while the organic forms alluded to Scandinavian design. These vivid textile designs are even more daring than before in their latest edition—adding a boost of colour in every space it inhabits. The collection also includes Sven Fristedt’s clean diagonal pattern, 'LAGERMISPEL' in candy pink, sky blue, and banana yellow. “We dare to be different. We can start a new movement in colour and Scandinavian design,” Gustavsson says.

DOMSTEN: embracing simplicity sans the fuss

Simplicity has been central to IKEA’s ethos since its inception. Nytillverkad collection extends on that 80-year tradition. The 'DOMSTEN' stool features a smooth pine top, and metal legs in cool, contemporary colours, with its frames stackable. Originally designed by Karin Mobring and appearing under the name 'JERRY' in the IKEA catalogue in 1973, it is a specimen of simple Scandinavian design. Lightweight with distinctive contrasting materials, the stool design is functional furniture in its essence, back now with a fresh lick of paint, and at its most fun, too. “I like the simple stool. You can never have too many. It’s a great combination: the solid wood, the metal and the bright colour,” Ejdemo shares.

BONDSKÄRET: a fearless revival of SMED

This playful metal coat stand first entered the IKEA stores in 1978. With this addition, IKEA transcended expectations with youthful, modular designs in loud colours and quirky shapes. The 1970s were critical apropos of design, and 'SMED'—as this coat stand was called back then—struck a chord with the changing waves. Replicating that fearless energy, the product designers revamped this unique hat and coat stand, this time as 'BONDSKÄRET.' Originally designed by Rutger Andersson, its tubular, cactus-like shape is true to the semantics of postmodern design—for today, tomorrow and well into the future. “Only time can tell if something is timeless. If you put something away and then bring it back decades later and it still works, then it’s timeless,” notes Andersson.

KULTURSKOG: a versatile stand for the greens

This plant stand was originally published in the IKEA catalogue in 1957 as 'BALJA.' Its clean lines speak of the simple, fuss-free design that has long been characteristic of IKEA. Now restyled as 'KULTURSKOG' in light green, the silhouette emerges with a refreshing look. It can be used to hold dainty flower pots, knick-knacks, magazines or books—a versatile plant stand like no other. “This collection is loud, colourful and fun. All of the products have a story behind them,” comments Gustavsson.

TUVKORNELL: kindling a sense of individuality

Add a sense of individuality to your home with these characterful accessories. This set of three candle holders in vibrant shades of lilac, primary green and blue, will inject a splash of colour to your dining table or mantelpiece. Sleek and uncluttered, these accessories are the work of sibling designer duo Knut and Marianne Hagberg. Now revived as 'TUVKORNELL,' these candle holders first made an appearance in 1980 as 'CYLINDER.' Their unembellished, minimalist design dons a vibrant quality with these new expressive pigments. “The simplicity in the design—how they look—and how they help you in your everyday life is what makes this collection so special,” says Ejdemo.

With Nytillverkad, IKEA returns to the future, again. The collection will be available from July 2023, with more launches planned over the next few years. With its bold colours, updated materials, and timeless design, the collection will add personality and character to many modern homes.