I have been an avid IKEA fan for years. In fact, when I first moved out of home at 21, into my very own apartment in Waterloo, Sydney, I went across to the IKEA at Moore Park Supa Centa and purchased a desk. It was a pretty exciting moment for a young me at the time – buying my very first ‘out of home’ furniture piece. I’m not sure that desk makes the list of Ikea best sellers, but I was still pretty happy.
Years later, while that IKEA is no longer there and while I have since moved to Melbourne, my infatuation with the flat-pack giant lives on. Actually, when I was hunting for the right area to live in down in Melbourne and realised there was an IKEA in Richmond, I knew that it was the suburb for me (added bonus that Adairs, OZ Design and a host of other retail giants are just moments away).
IKEA is celebrating its 40-year anniversary this year and has released its list of all-time top 5 products. These are the pieces that have been the most popular since they landed in Aus, and I was surprised to see that I actually didn’t own ANY of them (and I feel kinda wrong about that).
Check out the list below and let me know how many of the five you’ve owned (or still do).
The BILLY Bookcase
By far the most recognisable of the bunch and definitely one of Ikea’s best sellers. Everyone knows him. He began as a simple sketch on the back of a napkin in 1979 when IKEA designer, Gillis Lundgren, wanted to create a bookcase that was discreet, attractive and timeless. The BILLY bookcase is now 30% lighter than the original design and is also now made of folding solid wood, so it can be folded down to a size that requires only a third of the previous packaging. BILLY starts at $49.
The LACK Table
This gotta be the second in line for most popular product/IKEA best seller. I didn’t own LACK but I know many people who did. Introduced in the 80s, IKEA had already developed an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to produce LACK, so it has to this day kept that very same design. It retails from $7.99 too, so it’s as cheap as chips!
The iconic KLIPPAN Sofa
This dates back to the late 1970s, when an IKEA product developer found his expensive sofa broken from his children playing and jumping on it. As a result, he and a colleague decided to design a sofa that was child-friendly, affordable and good-looking. In 1980, the round-cornered KLIPPAN was introduced with a choice of two colourful covers, which could be easily removed and machine-washed. It retails for $249. It has been one of the Ikea best sellers since.
(Psst: In the market for a sofa? Check out our review of the Friheten sofa bed, another Ikea great)
The Foto
Being a renter, I’ve never been able to use a pendant light yet, but the FOTO is a popular part of the IKEA range. This iconic lamp was designed by Nicholas Cortolezzis and it has been shining bright ever since. IKEA focused on improving the packaging of this bad boy, and by 1997 they were able to get six times more on a pallet; reducing carbon emissions during transportation. It costs $29.99
POÄNG
Introduced in 1977 by Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura, POÄNG was originally called the ‘POEM’ chair. Noboru wanted to create a comfortable, durable and attractive chair that could be sold at a low price – an armchair for life. This comfy chair goes for $189.
>>> How many of these Ikea best sellers have you owned? Drop me a comment below and let me know 🙂
The Poang chair is the one item we are always going to throw out but can’t seem to do so. We have now had it for 20 years & it is still as good as the day we bought it
Poang, lack and billy. But expidite has to be number six i also have three of those. They are awesome.
3 Billys, 1 Poang, 2 Lack tables – but if you could see the rest of my unit, you would be astounded at how we have used other Ikea products – it is like one of those show flats in the shops themselves.
There is one item I would love to see return – stacking tables/stools – flat top bent plywood with a cutout at the sides – I have 2, and would love to add to the number.
Hi, just wanting to know, the Poang chair is $299 on the IKEA app, where did you see it for $189 and what was the actual name and colour? Looking for an armchair for my babies room!
Thanks heaps,
Caroline.
The Niche Mia is cheaper if you are a light person.
We have all the pieces except for the pendant light. Our recent trip to IKEA has given us some storage ideas for our growing collection of plus size swimwear.
Currently we have in our spare room a black lack table, and frosta stool – which I have had for years. Also there are two benjamin stools in the garage waiting for makeovers – these represent classic ikea design, sadly discontinued.
Sitting in my Poang right now…..! I bought it as a breast feeding chair when I had my third and have since moved it to my lounge room- it was too comfy to get rid of. Now we all fight over sitting in it.
Hi Chris,
I love ikea, enjoyable couple of hours spent wondering aimlessly along the guided path!
And a pocket full of mini pencils for your trouble.
for me its the lack table and the Poang chair.Lasted me through my student days.
Thanks for sharing.
Personally I hate ikea furniture. I think it’s so much better to buy vintage second hand furniture that lasts and lasts rather than cheap furniture made of chipboard/Mdf. Such a shame it’s so popular.
(I haven’t owned any of them)
Fiona
What?? I can’t believe I don’t own any of these. Surprised there is no expedit. I own three of those!