No more flat pack? Ikea furniture now comes ready-built, but there's a catch: it's for dolls' houses, not grown-ups

 

Gillian Orr
Wednesday 12 June 2013 15:10 BST
Comments
August will see the launch of Ikea’s 2014 catalogue which, for the first time, includes a set of dinky versions of some of its most famous pieces
August will see the launch of Ikea’s 2014 catalogue which, for the first time, includes a set of dinky versions of some of its most famous pieces

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Bagging yourself a sofa, table, storage unit, rug, chair and cushion for £12 might sound like a steal even by Ikea’s standards, but there is a catch: you’d have to share measurements with the Lilliputians if you wanted to kick back and relax on this particular living room furniture.

August will see the launch of Ikea’s 2014 catalogue which, for the first time, includes a set of dinky versions of some of its most famous pieces, including the Klippan sofa and Lack table, which, although made for children to play with, are expected to become something of a collector’s item for adults too. The packaging it arrives in can also become a toy, which feature illustrations of a lamp, clock, frame and books which can be painted and cut out.

It’s not the first time Ikea has dabbled in miniatures; teeny tiny versions of its bestselling Ivar shelves were given as Christmas presents to employees back in 1997. The 1:6 scale shelves were produced by Vitra Design Museum, which famously sells a range of miniature design classics, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s miniature barrel chair and a toy version of Eero Saarinen’s womb chair and ottoman.

Vitra’s pieces are solely for die-hard collectors, however; its furniture starts at around £100 and goes up to £740 for Mark Newson’s miniature Lockheed lounge from 1986, which is pretty dear considering it measures just 275mm by 147mm.

Dolls house furniture is now big business online, providing a place for aficionados to show off their perfect 1950s set-ups and where they can trade pieces. So if you’ve ever hankered after a mid-century design but just couldn’t afford it, then putting together your dream living room in a dolls house might be the next best option.

A mini version of Franco Albini’s 1950 gala lounge chair might seem steep at £430 but to get your hands on a new full sized one you’ll need about £3,500. And don’t even ask about an original.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in