These Vintage IKEA Catalogues From 1951 To 2000 Show What The Perfect Modern Home Used To Look Like
Vintage IKEA catalogues
Are you a fan of ready-to-assemble furniture at a moderate price? Because if you are, the delivery of the annual IKEA catalog is an event unto itself. With pages upon paper thin pages of image-rendered inspiration, the head honchos of the multinational furniture corporation assemble each year to decide what’s hot and what’s not in the world of interior design. Despite the fact that most catalogs will soon end up at the bottom of consumer recycling bins, the annual IKEA collection release offers a detailed glimpse into the current trends populating apartment living spaces around the world. Surprisingly, IKEA has been sending out catalogs for over fifty years, with the first issue gracing doorsteps in 1951. So go back in time with these vintage IKEA catalogues, and see just how long vomit-orange couches were on-trend. (It’s longer than you think. I promise).1951
The 1950s were a much different time. Back when “The Catcher in the Rye” was a hot new piece of literature instead of required reading for every highschool freshman, it was apparently on-trend to adorn your home with burgundy accent chairs.
Personally, I’m a fan of the airplane-styled built-in pillow.
1960
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It’s comforting to realize that in the 58 years since this catalog hit the market, there’s still nothing cooler than sunglasses.
Peddling their budget-friendly furniture in the refection of stunner shades, it’s clear that IKEA was jumping on the counter culture bandwagon of the ’60s and riding the new wave.
1963
Nothing goes together like floral print and bright colors, right? Back in ’63, living rooms across the globe were so loud you could practically hear the color scheme screaming from the catalog page.
Also praised for their accessories, the retro IKEA phone on the end table was clearly taken from a hipster’s wet, vintage dream.
1971
Ah, the ’70s. Moving away from the bright, loud interior design palette of the ’50s and ’60s, the ’70s soon proved to be the decade of beige, tan and burnt orange.
After all, the design experts at IKEA knew even at the start of the decade that there is nothing in this world more welcoming than poop-brown walls.