Every year we await the coming of the latest IKEA catalog, not only to see the new items, but also for the styling and creative ideas gleamed from their pages. Wonder what style ideas and furniture solutions the big blue box delivered in its first catalog? Check out images from catalogs past:
IKEA released its first catalog in 1951, where the style was traditional on the brink of mid-century modernism. Through the mid-60s, clean lines and bold colors had taken over, and the 70s brought molded furniture and lots of yellow. Traditional shapes returned in the 80s and early 90s, eventually circling back to IKEA's current aesthetic of Swedish modernism.
Check out more photos from catalogs past over on Buzzfeed.
(Images: via Buzzfeed)






Nomade Express Slee...
This is crazy, for some reason I just assumed ikea was a fairly modern brand.... my next thought was 'man, you never do come across vintage ikea stuff...i wonder why' lol
I still have my Billy bookcases from the 1990s--they're going strong. The edges of the doors are more rounded than on the ones today.
Omg. Can we petition IKEA to bring back those orange sofas?
I have a "vintage" Ikea sofa bed from 1993. The thing weighs a ton. My parents had it for a while I lived in Germany- they got in reupholstered and he said that it was so well made is should last forever. I guess he was right-had it for 20 years now! I don't think they make them as sturdy anymore.
Well Ikea has re-issued the chair in the first picture. Its called the STRANDMON: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90251659/
Maybe if you make enough noise, they'll bring back those orange sofas too.
I'd sign DovieAnn's petition.
1973 lady looks so depressed vs. 1970s lady who is thrilled!
I would love to have the orange sofa! That 1986 sofa...Anyone else envision a woman with really big permed hair, sporting legwarmers while listening to a cassette tape on a Walkman?
The sofa in our first apartment together - plus a whole bunch of Ivar shelving, and an Ingo kitchen table - we purchased at Ikea in Sliedrecht (NL) in 1980. We still have the Ivar and the Ingo. :-)
@ec05 - 1973 lady is probably looking that way because she forgot her sunglasses.
1970s lady - yeowza.
They should definitely bring some of those designs back! Well, maybe not that 1986 sofa.
I was so happy when i saw STRANDMON chair on their catalogue but upon seeing the actual chair in the store, I was disappointed at the look. I didn't like it at all.
@zrossiter: how do you know? You might have some vintage Ikea pieces without knowing it.
I bought a wardrobe second hand and always had the hinch that it was Ikea, my mother though thought it couldn't be since it was "too nice". Since it wasn't available anymore at Ikea I thought we would never know who was right- then I saw the same one in a different colour on ebay with its Ikea name, googled it and found it. In the meantime I moved and the wardrobe moved with me and still is going strong. No, its not 50 years old, but it has been disassembled, moved and reassembled several times and still works and looks nice which isn't bad for something that I got for almost nothing.
Purple armchair, get in my house.
I really like the 60's and 70's decor, but I'll pass on the 80's....and I was an 80's/Gen Xer, lol!
I had a white Billy bookcase from 1980 something until 2000 when my ex-stepfather threw it away "by accident". It survived five moves with no problems and never broke down.
I desperately want the orange sofa from 1965!!!!
i wish they'd bring back everything from '65!