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IKEA has inspired both designers and the average homeowner. Here, one of the slipcovers designed by Bemz on an IKEA sofa. Photo: Bemz
One furniture giant inspires a slew of creative websites.
IKEA has helped many young college students and families get their homes furnished on the cheap. It's also helped us organize our offices, furnish our bedrooms, stock our kitchens and prepare for the real world. IKEA's catalog is a wonderland of visual inspiration and, for me, little Post-it bookmarks! Oh yeah, they also make great meatballs.
But IKEA -- and its loyal fans -- probably didn't expect that the brand would become so popular that it would become the catalyst for a number of websites and businesses. The spawn of IKEA, so to speak. Here are some of my favorite sites and products inspired by the Swedish furniture giant.
The Karlanda 3-seater gets a new Marimekko slipcover courtesy of Bemz. Photo: Bemz
Bemz creates custom pillow, chair and sofa slipcovers for standard IKEA designs, offering a level of customization not available for most pieces at the store. Since IKEA has become a very recognizable brand, it's sometimes hard to create a personal space when your furnishings can be found in many homes across the world. Bemz capitalized on the desire to make IKEA pieces unique by launching a line of slipcovers in fresh-feeling colors and prints. They even offer Marimekko fabric options, but watch out -- they can get pricey.
One fan posted this photo of his IKEA kitchen on IKEA Fans. Photo: IKEAFans
IKEA Fans is the ultimate IKEA groupie destination. For anyone who loves the affordable, assembly-required giant, this is the blog to read. Not only can you keep up to date with IKEA news, you can also interact with fellow fans, get a quick fix for a common problem or even share images of your own IKEA furnishings. It's an inspirational IKEA hot spot for someone looking to get ideas on creating their very own IKEA kitchen or bath.
This plain Billy bookshelf is now a cat-climbing jungle gym. Photo: IKEA Hacker
IKEA Hacker is dedicated to finding new and creative ways to customize and personalize your IKEA furniture. I mentioned that IKEA pieces have become quite recognizable, so this is the blog to read if you want to take your IKEA pieces beyond the box and make them into something unusual. There is even an accompanying Instructables group.
Silly Swedish names for me and ShelterPop, if they were furniture. Photos: Blogadilla
This is my favorite of the bunch because growing up I always thought IKEA's Swedish furniture naming system was funny. Now you can create your very own IKEA-style name. Although the results aren't really in Swedish and they're not officially associated with IKEA, this exercise is super fun and a great time-waster when you need a work break.
And that's not all we've got on IKEA...
Designer Nick Olsen turns an IKEA coffee table into a chic dining place
Hundreds of Ways to Organize With IKEA Shelves
IKEA or Designer?
Pretty Pug Fabric from IKEA
Beyond IKEA: Where to Buy Modern Furniture
Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
My sister-in-law has a sugar dispenser that has a plastic tube that runs down the middle of the top. It has a notch on the bottom, that when you turn it upside down it disperses a small amount of sugar. My wife has searched for this unique dispenser wothout any success. HELP. Your online store says that they are out of this, to go to a local store. Hey I live in the center of Kentucky. We got no store anywhere close. Again HELP. Thanks Bill.
Reply.
Please send me the specs on item you want and I will be happy to send to you. I go to Ikea probably once a week. I usually go to the Burbank CA store but am close to Industry, Carson and often am in OC to go to the Irvine CA store.
No biggie, happy to do just paying it forward. Please check which store has and let me know if you want me to get for you.
Layton
This is a great little sugar dispenser. I picked one up in May at the local IKEA here in Texas. :) It's too bad though that they don't offer more products to buy online for those who don't have an IKEA near. I go by there quite often and it seems like I always find something new.
ReplyI give,what DID Zandra say?
ReplyI survived the World of Ikea.
ReplyWarning: DO NOT go into an Ikea store and think you’ll easily find your way out. Dropping bread crumbs as you shop is a good idea at Ikea.
Getting into the store is no problem. You park in the garage…and take the elevators up. Then enter with hundreds of people who arm themselves with an itty bitty #2 pencil and an order form.
When you first arrive, you realize Ikea is a world unto itself…with a food court and a daycare that offers free babysitting. The daycare is reason enough to get lost at Ikea. You can enter with a toddler and exit when your child is all grown up…with a job.
The store is massively huge with a clever design that has you following arrows…taking you through the different departments of Living, Bathing, Dining, and Kitchening.
Anywho………..
After quickly realizing the stuff at IKea would BREAKea at the drop of HATea, and probably not last longer than my manicure, I decided it was time to escape the World of Ikea and head for the nearest exit.
My problem …Where is the exit? How the Hell do I get out? Seems easy: Follow the yellow brick road of signs that are posted. With each new exit sign I followed, I gained new hope of exiting. No such DEAlea.
After traipsing around to no avail…I used the itty bitty #2 pencil to write a goodbye note to my family on the back of my order form and taped it to the frig in the Kitchen department.
As my stomach churned during my futile attempts…luck intervened. I happened upon the food court and thought…Why not sit down for a little rest and burrito? The perfect Mexican combination…rest and burrito.
With new fuel...new hope…and new gas…I set out again. I was ready to take on Ikea.
After 30 more minutes of endless rambling and asking other store customers for help…I was still trapped.
I made a decision. There was only one way out: Stand there and cry: “I lost my mommy.” Someone will have to help.
I survived the World of Ikea…and all I have to show for it is my itty bitty #2 pencil.