14 Intriguing Facts About IKEA's Ready-To-Assemble Furniture

The global retail landscape mourns the loss of Ingvar Kamprad, the visionary founder of IKEA, who died at 91 on January 27, 2018, in Småland, Sweden. Kamprad revolutionized affordable and chic home furnishings, transforming IKEA from a small mail-order service in Agunnaryd during the 1940s to a global powerhouse with over 300 stores worldwide. From China, where ice cream costs just 16 cents, to Russia, IKEA has become a cultural phenomenon. Discover 14 fascinating tidbits about its labyrinthine stores, instruction manuals without words, and the reason behind the hide-and-seek ban.

1. IKEA STANDS FOR MORE THAN JUST FURNITURE.

At just 17, Kamprad started his entrepreneurial journey by selling pens, jewelry, and stockings door-to-door. He christened his budding venture IKEA, with “IK” representing his initials, “E” for Elmtaryd, his family farm, and “A” for Agunnaryd, his hometown. (Amy Poehler humorously suggested IKEA might mean “argument” in Swedish, a nod to its sometimes challenging assembly process.)

2. THE NAMING SYSTEM STEMS FROM INGVAR KAMPRAD'S DYSLEXIA.

IKEA products are famously labeled with Swedish names instead of numerical codes, a tradition rooted in Kamprad’s dyslexia. While this quirky approach has endeared the brand to shoppers—who doesn’t love a desk named “Fartfull”?—it occasionally causes cultural hiccups. In 2006, for instance, some seemingly innocent Swedish terms were found to have unintended double meanings in Thailand, leading to awkward situations.

3. IKEA STRUGGLED TO WIN OVER AMERICAN CUSTOMERS AT FIRST.

Following its European success, IKEA launched its first U.S. store near Philadelphia in 1985. However, Americans found the brand name hard to pronounce and the products even harder to understand. Measurements were in centimeters, curtains didn't match U.S. window sizes, and vases were mistaken for drinking glasses due to the smaller size of European-style tumblers. Growth stalled for five years, and it wasn’t until 1997 that IKEA began to gain real traction in the American market.

The company’s perseverance has benefited both IKEA and its customers: The iconic BILLY bookcase, which cost $82 in 1985, is now priced at $59.99.

4. IKEA’S LAYOUT IS DESIGNED TO DISORIENT SHOPPERS.

If you’ve ever felt disoriented and exhausted while navigating an IKEA store, the layout is working as intended. Research from University College London reveals that IKEA guides customers through a maze-like floor plan, encouraging impulse purchases like lamp shades or pillows out of fear they might not find them again. While some compare it to a “corn maze,” there are shortcuts due to fire safety rules—but skipping the maze means missing out on most of the store’s offerings.

5. IKEA SENDS ANTHROPOLOGISTS TO OBSERVE HOW YOU USE THEIR FURNITURE.

To better understand how their designs fit into everyday life, IKEA employs “anthropologists” to visit loyal customers’ homes and observe how they use their furniture. Participants are often compensated with gift cards, and some homes are even equipped with cameras for extended observation. One surprising discovery? In Shenzhen, China, many people prefer sitting on the floor and using couches as backrests.

6. IKEA MANUALS ARE WORDLESS TO SAVE ON COSTS.

IKEA’s iconic “assembly figures” have gained global fame for their ability to guide users through building furniture without a single word. The absence of written instructions keeps the manuals slim, reducing production costs. However, these pictograms can sometimes be frustrating, with the company jokingly labeling particularly tricky assemblies as “husband killers.”

7. ASSEMBLING IKEA FURNITURE MAKES YOU VALUE IT MORE.

IKEA’s flat-pack furniture not only cuts costs but also shifts the labor to the customer. While assembling it might test your patience, a Harvard Business School study found that people who put effort into building their furniture felt it was more valuable than those who didn’t have to lift a finger.

8. CHINESE CUSTOMERS ENJOY NAPPING AT IKEA.

In a cultural tradition unlikely to catch on in the U.S., visitors to IKEA stores in Beijing, China, often take naps on the displayed bedding and mattresses. Instead of discouraging this, IKEA states that their staff only intervenes if the nappers cause a disturbance.

9. HIDE AND SEEK IS OFFICIALLY BANNED AT IKEA.

Despite their generally relaxed policies, IKEA drew the line when social media-driven hide-and-seek games became popular in their massive stores. After 19,000 people planned to play in an Amsterdam location, the company implemented a strict no-hide-and-seek rule. (Napping, however, is still allowed.)

10. IKEA MALAYSIA HOSTED A LOOKALIKE CONTEST FOR FURNITURE.

In 2014, IKEA Malaysia launched a unique contest to celebrate the reopening of one of its stores. Participants were invited through Facebook to dress up or pose as their favorite IKEA item. Many entrants creatively transformed into convincing lamps, and winners were rewarded with store gift cards.

11. IKEA’S MEATBALLS ONCE CONTAINED HORSE MEAT.

IKEA’s famous Swedish meatballs, a staple for shoppers navigating the store’s maze-like layout, faced controversy in 2013. A recall was issued in Europe after DNA tests revealed traces of horse meat in some batches. This was linked to a broader issue of fraudulent suppliers in the food industry.

12. IKEA FURNITURE IS NOW PART OF COUPLES THERAPY.

IKEA recognizes that shopping for and assembling furniture can strain relationships. Psychologist Ramani Durvasula from Santa Monica even assigns couples in therapy to work on an IKEA project together and then reflect on the experience during sessions. One individual shared with The Wall Street Journal that assembling a bed frame took 10 hours, including two hours of arguing with their partner.

13. A SOAP OPERA WAS SECRETLY FILMED IN AN IKEA STORE.

In 2009, the parody soap opera IKEA Heights was shot covertly in a Burbank, California IKEA store. Actors used hidden microphones and captured unsuspecting customers’ reactions while performing over-the-top dramatic scenes. While IKEA found the concept amusing, they clarified in 2010 that unauthorized filming in their stores is not permitted. "We think it's funny," a spokesperson said to MacCleans, "but it’s not something we can allow."

14. IKEA CREATED AN APARTMENT ON A ROCK-CLIMBING WALL.

In 2014, to mark the opening of their 30th store in France, IKEA—famous for its bold advertising—created a stunning vertical apartment display on a climbing wall. The installation allowed the public to climb and explore the setup using safety harnesses. (The 8000 extra screws required for assembly are not shown.)