What IKEA was selling during the decade you were born

1960s

IKEA’s first international store opened just outside Oslo, Norway in 1963. The market place, warehouse pick-up and children’s department were all parts of the original concept. This TROFE seating furniture used polyether for which IKEA applied for a patent.

1970s

The first IKEA store in Canada was built in Richmond, B.C. in 1976. It was followed by stores in Toronto in 1977, Edmonton in 1978, and Calgary and Ottawa in 1979. These modular sofas could be buttoned together in a seated position or placed next to each other on the floor to create a mattress.

1980s

In 1984, IKEA adopted its telltale blue and yellow brand colours in a collaboration initiated with the Swedish Tourist Board. This textile photograph from the 1981 catalogue stated, “IKEA’s textile department can be found at the end of the rainbow.”

1990s

IKEA was not a success right out of the gate with North American homeowners. The bed sizes and linens had to be changed to our king and queen sizes, the sofas were not deep enough, the kitchens had the wrong dimensions and customers mistook vases for drinking glasses.

2000s

In the 2000s, IKEA catalogues started calculating the cubic footage of areas, i.e. including the ceiling and wall area measurement. As people move into smaller spaces, using every possible inch has become a way of life.

2010s

IKEA employees conduct “house tours” around the world where they visit regular homes to find what they call business opportunities. If they find the same problems occurring again and again they will look for a way to solve the problem.