Little by little, IKEA is becoming less about cheap furniture and more about finding a balance in your daily life. From doing research on how the world eats at home to helping you improve your morning routine, IKEA is becoming something we appreciate more and more, and not just for their reasonable price tags. Right on theme with living well, their new 2016 catalog revolves around “The Little Things That Matter,” and all the new items are focused on shared moments and a home life centered on the kitchen. The catalog proudly states, “Never before have we been more aware of wanting to feel well. And while making healthier choices is a big part of that, feeling well is also linked to family and friends.” From cookware and serving dishes to clever ways to grow and store your food, the 2016 catalog celebrates how food and traditions bring friends and family together.
Right on point with the food and cooking theme, the catalog opens with gorgeous spreads of kitchens, from tiny apartment nooks to more open floor plans. Small kitchen owners everywhere are rejoicing over that little Gamleby table ($249) with the fold-down leaf. You can open it up to enjoy a leisurely weekend brunch, and then tuck it all away when you need extra floor space.
IKEA also introduces another star material this fall: bamboo. From cutting boards to spice racks ($11) and tablet stands ($16), you’ll be seeing a lot of bamboo in this catalog. It combines beautifully with glass and steel.
Focusing on growing, preserving and recycling, IKEA is expanding their indoor garden options and coming up with more and more creative ways to reuse and recycle in the kitchen (without things getting gross and smelly). How amazing is that three-tiered hanging garden ($30) in the corner?
Referring to the kitchen as the “new” living room, IKEA is attempting to blur the lines between kitchen, dining and living room and create one space where everyone can work and hang out together. We’re just a little bit obsessed with the Olofstorp storage unit ($249) with its extendable storage, open shelving and closed cabinet space. It’s exactly what every small kitchen needs. You can also expect to see a lot of rail storage ($9), which is a fun, inexpensive way to bring in more storage without having to install cabinets or open shelving.
Given the phenomenal success of the IKEA bar cart, we weren’t at all surprised to see another version of a rolling storage cart, this time in wire basket form ($60). And while we can depend on IKEA for small-space solutions, they also weren’t afraid to go a little bigger this year with a brand new rustic oak farmhouse table, Mockelby ($700), that seats eight. There are also new additions to the 365+ series of glassware, carafes and dishes, including simple short glasses ($3) that are reminiscent of the way vin ordinaire is served in European cafes.
What do you think of IKEA’s new collections? Talk to us in the comments below!
