IKEA’s New Decluttering Game Is Incredibly Satisfying

As part of its mission to help people escape clutter and replace the chaos with order, IKEA released an augmented reality escape game in Snapchat called “Escape the Clutter,” which will be available throughout March — just in time for spring cleaning. 

To play, search for and activate the “Escape the Clutter” filter in Snapchat. A cluttered, augmented 3D room will appear wherever your phone’s camera is pointed. (A large, blank surface, like a carpet or a coffee table, works best.)

To eliminate the clutter and get organized, drag and drop an IKEA item that will solve the problem into the room, and “furnish your way to (virtual) freedom,” as the game says. As you play, you can click on the IKEA furniture in the room to learn more about it.

A PAX wardrobe, for example, just might be the solution for the clean laundry you haven’t folded that’s been piling up on a chair in your bedroom. And VARDÖ underbed storage boxes are perfect for bulky blankets that you won’t need once the weather gets warmer.

”With many people spending more time at home during the pandemic, especially during the winter months, we know the home can be overwhelming and become cluttered and messy,” Paul  Anderson, IKEA’s U.S. Home Furnishing and Retail Design Leader, said. ”We wanted to create a fun experience  that also inspires people to escape the clutter and take charge of their homes’, no matter what the  project is, big or small.”  

It’s a quick, easy game that might just give you a few storage ideas for your own space — or give you something fun to do if you’re procrastinating your pickup like me. (Tomorrow, I promise I’ll do something about the clothes on my floor.) The “Escape the Clutter” filter will be available throughout March, and you can find it by scrolling through the filters available on Snapchat until March 7. After that, find it using the Snapcode available on IKEA-USA.com/clutterfree.