Header: Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2025
Celebrating 40 years since its debut, IKEA’s STOCKHOLM introduces its largest collection yet, with 96 thoughtfully designed pieces that reflect the signature mark of high-quality materials and Scandinavian design, from statement sofas and handwoven wool rugs to chandeliers and mouth-blown glass vases.
About STOCKHOLM
The STOCKHOLM collection has evolved through eight distinct editions, each unique but sharing the same defining characteristic: modern Scandinavian design of the highest quality, offered at an affordable price.
In its latest and largest iteration, the collection offers a diverse range of furniture, textiles, lighting, and accessories across the home. Materials take centre stage – carefully chosen for their quality and how they age and interact with one another. Solid woods paired with tactile surfaces and natural fibers, such as linen and leather, combine to create unique expressions in sturdy wood furniture, handwoven wool rugs, mouth-blown glass, and handcrafted rattan pieces. The collection also includes two glass chandeliers with a retro feel, accompanied by white gloves to wear during assembly.
“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.”
A team of three
Three Swedish designers with different yet complementary design languages have joined forces to create a collection that is cohesive while ensuring the presence of unique pieces that shine on their own. True to its namesake, the inspiration is deeply rooted in the city of Stockholm, reflecting both the urban and natural landscape surrounding the town. Rich earth tones contrast with natural woods, and textiles reflect scenes and colors from nature.
A look at STOCKHOLM 2025
Two distinctly different sofas were first designed as centrepieces to guide the collection as a whole. Designer Ola Wihlborg’s wide modular sofa, offered in four colours including a deep turquoise velvet, was born out of his frustration with sofas that constantly require the cushions to be fluffed. Per the designer, he “wanted to create a high-quality sofa that maintains its shape and looks the same even after you stand up from sitting in it, (…) something that prioritises comfort without needing extra pillows.” After developing over 30 prototypes to find the perfect shape for everyday comfort, the result is a sleek, generously proportioned sofa with modules that can be used on their own or connected to create the desired length.
The second sofa, designed by Nike Karlsson and with a solid pine wood frame and white cushions, serves as an exploration into design without foam. Made from natural materials, the sofa features woven fabric, natural latex, and coconut fibre, offering exceptional comfort and a timeless appeal.
Rattan was a focal point of STOCKHOLM 2017, and Nike’s iconic rattan cabinet became a sought-after favourite. In the new collection, Nike introduces a sliding-door cabinet featuring a surface woven from rattan fibres, tied, bent, and shaped by hand. Rattan is also used in the backrest of one of the dining chairs, while the lounge chair is built around a robust rattan frame and topped with a deep cushion in a light bouclé.
“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.”
Nike Karlsson
The raw nature of the materials shines throughout the collection, where chairs, bookshelves, and dining tables showcase detailed craftsmanship and smart construction, achieving sleek, clean designs that remain strong and durable. The bentwood chairs are crafted using a traditional technique where the beech wood is soaked and carefully bent by hand to form soft, rounded arches in the arms and back.
The forest is a central character in textile designer Paulin Machado’s designs, including lampshades adorned with leaf and mushroom prints and colour combinations inspired by the Scandinavian seasons. Handwoven by master weavers, her collection of 100% wool rugs brings nature inside, with woven birch tree patterns available in shades of green, in greyscale, and in black and white. Merino wool blankets and pillowcases in multi-coloured patterns add pops of drama. As Paulin puts it, “Nature is the best designer – every colour matches beautifully in the natural world, and you can see how we have tried to capture the hues of Sweden’s seasonal shifts.”
For dining, the collection offers tableware in ceramic and porcelain, including glazed stone plates and bowls, and a series of glasses. A selection of large vases stands out as beautiful centrepieces, with two mouth-blown and one ceramic black amorph, so each one carries its own character.
