Over the years, I've found myself returning to IKEA any time I'm kitting out a new place, doing a home refresh, or looking to upgrade on some home essentials. Not only does it offer affordable furnishings, but they're also fun to make (if you like building flat-pack, like me). But, how about if you could also pack them back up when it's time to move?
IKEA's newest collection is specially designed with movers in mind. KOMPISHÄNG is an 11-piece collection for "a growing generation of young city dwellers and college students who move often and settle in quickly."
I used to move a lot and I had a tendency to just leave the furniture behind, rolling my two suitcases away unencumbered. IKEA's new collection aims to eliminate the need to start over, crafting items that are both portable and multifunctional. It launches online on August 15, but you can also find it exclusively in stores from July 13 to August 14. Here's a sneak peek at what's on offer.
For life in transit
IKEA's no stranger to curating collections with a purpose. Its SOLUPPGÅNG range is geared towards those who love exploring the great outdoors. Its DOFTRIPS collection is for those who love to grow and nurture plants. And now, the KOMPISHÄNG collection is designed for those who tend to move around, whether for work, travel, study, or another life purpose.
IKEA's newest collection wants to make sure you can pick up pieces for your residence that are still purposeful without breaking the budget. And more importantly, they're pieces that travel incredibly well when it's time to go again.
Even if you move often, you don't want your home to feel temporary.
Dora Ding, Product Developer at IKEA
Made from solid pine, powder-coated steel and durable canvas, this entire range has been designed to be packed, carried and set up again in a new location with ease. But, it'll still look as good when you finally move it into a home you want to stay in. You just won't have had such a hard time getting it there.
And IKEA has done its research. Spending time with young adults aged 20-28 in London, it wanted to find out patterns and needs for its newest collection. As Dora Ding, Product Developer at IKEA explains: "Even if you move often, you don't want your home to feel temporary. We saw how carefully people chose the things they carried with them from place to place, and that insight shaped the collection. We want the collection to be portable but still have a permanent look, people should feel settled and [their space] considered."
Curated for convenience
So, what is included in the 11-piece collection? Well, it's composed of a solid pine desk, stools that fit together like a puzzle, a hanging wardrobe organizer, solid pine mirror frames, a shopping bag on wheels, side table, door hangers (one pine, one canvas), a triangular back cushion, jute plant pot and red metal bookend.
Each of the 11 pieces has been designed with portability in mind. The solid pine desk, available for $99.99, is one of the pieces I'm most excited about. Not only does it require no tools or assembly time to set up, just two pulls and two clicks, but it even has a built-in handle under the tabletop making it incredibly easy to move around.
The hanging wardrobe organizer is another interesting design, converting from wardrobe to carry bag with a single zip that can be worn on your back. That means you can leave your clothes inside, zip it up and move to the next place without the stress of packing and unpacking.
And the side table can easily turn into a shoulder table in seconds, folding completely flat and making it easy to fit anywhere. As David Wahl, Designer at IKEA explains: "This table isn't just a temporary solution. It's designed to accompany life's transitions – equally at home in a first apartment, a family house, or even a retirement space."
I'm already thinking about what I'll pop in my basket when the KOMPISHÄNG collection launches. I just wish it had existed when I was still living the nomad life.
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