The STOCKHOLM 2025 Collection From IKEA Celebrates Swedish Design

The STOCKHOLM 2025 collection from IKEA was unveiled in Milan during Salone del Mobile this year, celebrating 40 years since its initial debut. With a stunning 96 new pieces in the collection – its largest yet – all are thoughtfully designed to consider the confluence of high quality and affordability that put IKEA on the map, through the lens of Swedish style. Evolving through eight distinct editions, each in keeping with current design wants and needs of the time, STOCKHOLM gets a refreshing update this year with a return to natural fibers, hardwoods, rich earth tones, and industrial details. Included in the launch are a range of furniture, lighting, textiles, and accessories, created by three Swedish designers with varied but complementary design languages to form a cohesive collection.

The new patterns represent tasteful design style with clear mid-century influences, fused with the color palette of a vibrant city. Beyond the city limits, the designers also looked to the natural features of the Swedish landscape, to bridge the gap between in and out. This was a huge benefit to the project, working with local suppliers to ensure the highest grade of Swedish pine would be used in the collection. “The purpose of the STOCKHOLM collections has always been to prove that high quality doesn’t need to come at an intimidating cost,” says Karin Gustavsson, Creative Leader for STOCKHOLM. “We have worked to create a no-compromise kind of collection where every piece tells a story. Craftsmanship is at the heart of this project, where traditional techniques and hands-on methods have resulted in durable and beautiful design pieces that stand the test of time.”

At the heart of the collection is a quiet celebration of craftsmanship. Chairs, bookshelves, and dining tables are pared back to their purest forms, allowing structural ingenuity to shine. The standout bentwood chairs give nod to traditional Scandinavian technique – hand-shaped beech wood arches that cradle the body with soft curves.

The latest STOCKHOLM iteration began with two distinct sofa designs that jumpstarted the rest of the collection. The first being a wide, modular sofa by Swedish designer Ola Wihlborg that comes in four colors, including a brilliant turquoise velvet, making a statement with or without the matching ottoman. “I wanted to create a high-quality sofa that maintains its shape and looks the same even after you stand up from sitting in it,” says Wihlborg. “Something that prioritizes comfort without needing extra pillows.” After more than 30 prototypes, the ideal shape and comfort came to be

While not necessary, new, whimsical color-blocked throw pillows can dot the sofa, a felted wool look adding to the personality of the collection.

The second new sofa comes from Nike Karlsson featuring a solid pine wood frame topped with cozy white cushions. The timeless design is made using natural materials in the for of woven fabric, natural latex, and coconut fiber. “You’d think with the name STOCKHOLM, the pieces would have a big city feeling, but we went outside the urban setting, to the nature and islands around it. This allowed us to lean into the Scandinavian materials, including working with a Swedish pine supplier to source the highest-quality pine. People often think of pine as a budget material, but when you go for the best and apply smart, efficient design techniques, its beauty is undeniable,” says Karlsson.

Rattan makes a comeback in a big way, a main focus of Stockholm 2017. Rounding out the collection with more natural influences, the rattan cabinet, another piece designed by Karlsson, got an update with considered, elegant casing and a beautiful transition between the panels. Rattan can also be found as the backrest of one of the dining chairs, as well as a lounge chair with a rattan frame.

Nature flows through the textile work of designer Paulin Machado, whose forest-inspired motifs add narrative depth to everyday items. Lampshades bloom with leaves and mushrooms in palettes drawn straight from the Swedish landscape – greens, grays, black, and white. Her 100% wool rugs, handwoven by skilled artisans, echo the birch trees of the north in colorways ranging from deep forest green to stark black-and-white. Merino wool blankets and pillowcases in multi-hued patterns punctuate the collection with warmth and vibrance. As Machado explains, “Nature is the ultimate designer. We’ve simply followed its lead.”

Dining also gets a refined, organic update. Ceramic and porcelain tableware in glazed stone finishes bring subtle texture to the table, while a curated glassware range keeps things minimal and elegant. The vases – two mouth-blown and one in bold, black ceramic – serve as sculptural statements, no two alike, each one an added touch for any room.

IKEA has influenced the design industry at large for over 70 years, constantly pushing the boundaries of material science and innovation to create approachable, affordable design across the living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and other household accessories. Untold amounts of packaging and shipping material have been removed from waste streams since their overall adoption of flat-packed products since the mid-1950s, creating precedents for many other furniture brands to follow suit. A household name, a design giant, some may even say a lifestyle – IKEA’s iconic blue bag continues to carry much more than just our items.

To learn more about the STOCKHOLM 2025 Collection by IKEA, please visit ikea.com.

Photography courtesy of IKEA.