I’m Paige Wassel. WAS the Newsletter is your weekly dose of design inspiration, where we believe every furniture store should serve meatballs.

NEVER FORGET IKEA

IKEA is about to turn 80 so they’re celebrating by bringing back some of their most iconic designs. Basically, they’re giving us a reimagined version of “vintage IKEA”—which are two words you wouldn’t think went together. Yet here we are.

The Nytillverkad Vintage collection launches at the end of the month and yes, you should be psyched. Basically, they’re bringing back tweaked versions of their best stuff from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

What I respect about IKEA is that their idea was to democratize good design and make it affordable for all. I don’t know what people did for their starter pieces before then. How did people fill their first apartments? Where did newlyweds buy their everyday linens and flatware? WHAT ABOUT YOUR WEDDING REGISTRY…………..

Fortunately, we live in a world where no one has to ask that question. So buckle your seatbelt, climb into the DeLorean, and let’s go deep in Ikea’s past.

Check out this catalog cover from 1981.

You don’t have to read Swedish to know that you covet a lot of these pieces.

What was so cool about IKEA is what they discovered when they were making their laminate shelves. First, they realized that they could easily swap out colors without having to charge more. All of a sudden, that opened up a world of choice. And second, that in being such a uniform size, all their pieces were easily packed into boxes, which saved a ton of warehouse space and made them easy to transport. Consumers didn’t need to rent a truck if they bought a new dresser or a shelving unit—IKEA made it so they could carry it home themselves. Genius.

I’ll take two of these, please, and ja, I want the striped pillows. (Which they have in the new collection.)

They’re bringing back some of their hero pieces, from bed linens to love seats to vases.

I would most definitely carry all of these at Office Supplies.

The leg style is different on this catalog cover, but the puffy vibe of this sofa continues to vibe in the new collection.

This chair is a whole mood.

And IKEA taught us that your kitchen can embrace color. You want to have some fun with your kitchen colors? Do it. DOOOO IT.

Finally, every one of these lights is a legend and an icon.

Here’s the deal: IKEA’s been around since the1940s because they concentrated on creating pieces that people would love and could afford. But they’re still around because they made items that are timeless in style, function, and aesthetic, plus they’re durable and good-quality.

What’s not to love?

We never really think of IKEA as heirloom pieces… but maybe we should?

In the wise words of Chuck Palahniuk, “You buy furniture. You tell yourself, “Buy the sofa, then for a couple of years you’re satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you’ve got your sofa issue handled.”

Want to read more? Check out this article.

ADIOS!

xx,
P