Why IKEA Vintage is so popular

June 3, 2025

It often begins unspectacularly: You discover an old piece of furniture – perhaps at a flea market, perhaps in a shared kitchen – and suddenly you sense that it's something special. No designer name, no price tag. But character. Presence. History.

And then you read: IKEA.

IKEA can also make design history

For many, IKEA stands for simple, functional mass-produced goods – the shelf found in every student apartment. What many overlook is that over the past few decades, IKEA has not only built furniture, but also shaped design.

Between the 1960s and the early 2000s, IKEA created designs that are now a natural part of vintage interiors – because they are cleverly designed, long-lasting, and surprisingly aesthetic.

5 reasons why IKEA Vintage is so popular

1. Design that still works today

Whether it's the Impala armchair, the Enetri shelving unit, or pieces from the PS collection, many of IKEA's older pieces impress with their clear, timeless design language. They fit in with both mid-century and modern minimalism.

2. Quality that surprises

While current IKEA models are often intended for short-term use, many older series were still made with powder-coated steel, real veneer, or solid wood. Those who find these pieces today often get surprisingly robust pieces with real substance.

3. Emotional bond

A piece of furniture that sat on the dining table in childhood suddenly becomes a collector's item. For many, the connection to IKEA vintage is also personal: memories, first apartments, a familiar feeling of home.

4. Sustainable living style

Reusing old IKEA furniture is not only stylish, but also sensible. Buying vintage extends life cycles, saves resources, and lives more consciously. This, too, is part of design today: responsibility, not just for form, but also for effect.

5. Collectibles with history

Models like the Jerker desk or the Enetri shelf are now sought after worldwide – precisely because they were never intended as "high design." Their value lies in their combination of functionality, design quality, and originality.

IKEA Vintage is not a trend – it is rediscovery

What makes these pieces so special is their quiet clarity. They don't scream for attention; they simply work – and often have done so for decades. In a world of sensory overload, they are almost a haven of calm.

They prove that design doesn't have to be elitist to have an impact. That a piece of furniture can be relevant even if it was once intended for everyone. IKEA Vintage tells precisely this story: of good design in everyday life, of lived-in style, of things that have endured.