The 2010 IKEA Catalog is Here!

A little slice of heaven arrived in the mail this weekend . . . the 2010 IKEA Catalog! If you have never had the pleasure, the IKEA Catalog is part shopping guide, part art exhibition and 100% inspiration. The products, as always, are stylish, practical and affordable and the example interiors are chic, clean and dream-like.

In the Washington, D.C. area, IKEA is an institution and nearly everyone I know has at least one IKEA product in their home. IKEA is a particular draw in our area because it has always offered stylish, Scandinavian-style, assemble-it-yourself, furniture at an affordable price (before stores like Target got in on the act). IKEA is a godsend for those who have recently moved to the Washington area and are experiencing their first taste of “sticker shock” at our high housing costs–particularly college students, recent grads and young families. IKEA is also a draw for our area’s international population and often the shopping experience is like attending a United Nations home design conference. It is not unusual for me to find actual Swedes shopping in our local IKEA.

As I go through the Catalog, I like to imagine what life would be like in these gorgeous spaces.

How relaxing would it be to shower and get ready in the zen-like GODMORGON bathroom on page 198?

I could easily be best friends with the cool crafter living in the living/dining room combination on pages 94-95. Who else has their knitting yarn and needles stored fruit-bowl like, their fabric yardage hanging from towel racks on the living room wall and a pincushion at the ready on the dining room table?

Would the kids in the gorgeous white living room with children’s art corner on pages 10-11, really keep their chalk for the blackboard wall confined to the corner or would it end up all over the white sofa?

Would the fashionista living in the open closet bedroom design on page 174 really keep it that tidy all the time? And where does she stash her running shoes, underwear and jeans? Has she really managed to fit them all in the two small drawers and the hatboxes?

In addition to my make-believe exercises, I also take a hard look at the organizing products in the Catalog as well. Some of the new IKEA products for 2010 that I find intriguing are:

• Book/magazine rails for the BILLY bookcase system.
  The BILLY bookcase system is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year and is the subject of an upcoming book launching January 2010.  If you have never heard of it before, BILLY is one of IKEA’s classic products. At its core, it is just a basic bookshelf with height-adjustable shelves.  The great thing about BILLY, however, is that you can order it in multiple sizes that you can combine together to make wall units or entertainment centers or add on accessories like glass doors, shelf inserts and now, a book/magazine rack!

  The book/magazine rails are not listed on the IKEA website yet but you can see a picture here. (Click on “About.” The magazine rack is on the third shelf from the bottom in the wide bookcase.) These racks would be a great way to either display your current books or magazines to remind you to read them or maybe give your bookcase a little flair by using it to display a small painting.

• RATIONELL waste sorting bin
  In line with IKEA’s commitment to the environment, they are introducing a new recycling bin with folding handles.  You can use the bin with their AKURUM kitchen cabinet system and create a great under-counter recycling station that keeps your recyclables easy to access but out of sight.
• HEMNES twin day-bed frame with two drawers
  I wish this product had been around when I was shopping for a toddler bed for my daughter. I love the storage drawers underneath and the fact that this fits a regular twin mattress. It could also easily be used as a guest bed if you ever need to use your nursery as a space for visiting guests.
• HEMNES shoe cabinet with 4 compartments
  This great shoe cabinet unit has 4 tilt-drawers and a narrow profile, great for storing all the shoes that pile up near the entrances and exits to your home. The flat surface on top provides more storage spots for outgoing mail, library books to return, or other items.

I am looking forward to visiting our local IKEA near the holidays. Their holiday decorations are always unique and fun and it is great to admire them from the cafe over a plate of Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam.

Do you have an IKEA assembly story to share? How about a favorite IKEA product name? I am typing this to you from the light of a SNABEL. Hope you have some fun of your own perusing the 2010 IKEA Catalog. Wishing you an inspired week!