It's no accident that the IKEA logo is blue and yellow. These are the
colours of the Swedish flag.
In Sweden, nature and the home both play a big part in people's lives.
In fact, one of the best ways to describe the Swedish home furnishing
style is to describe nature — full of light and fresh air, yet
restrained and unpretentious.
In the late 1800s, the artists Carl and Karin Larsson combined classical
influences with warmer Swedish folk styles. They created a model of
Swedish home furnishing design that today enjoys world-wide renown. In
the 1950s the styles of modernism and functionalism developed at the
same time as Sweden established a society founded on social equality.The
IKEA product range — modern but not trendy, functional yet attractive,
human-centred and child-friendly — carries on these various Swedish home
furnishing traditions.
Many people associate Sweden with a fresh, healthy way of life. This
Swedish lifestyle is reflected in the IKEA product range. The freshness
of the open air is reflected in the colours and materials used and the
sense of space they create: blond woods, natural textiles and untreated
surfaces. In a climate that is cold and dark for much of the year, these
light, bright living spaces create the sensation of summer sunshine
indoors all year round.
The IKEA concept, like its founder, was born in Småland. This is a part
of southern Sweden where the soil is thin and poor. The people are
famous for working hard, living on small means and using their heads to
make the best possible use of the limited resources they have. This way
of doing things is at the heart of the IKEA approach to keeping prices
low.
But quality is not compromised for the sake of cost. Sweden has an
international reputation for safety and quality you can rely on, and
IKEA retailers take pride in offering the right quality in all
situations.
IKEA was founded when Sweden was fast becoming an example of the caring
society, where rich and poor alike were well looked after. This is also
a theme that fits well with the IKEA vision. In order to give the many
people a better everyday life, IKEA asks the customer to work as a
partner. The product range is child-friendly and covers the needs of the
whole family, young and old. So together we can create a better everyday
life for everyone.
