IKEA to break the world record for largest-ever pyjama gathering — kickstarting a year dedicated to better sleep

Co-workers will team up to attempt breaking the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest gathering of people in two-piece pyjamas, in Älmhult, Sweden on 28 August. This event in the birthplace of IKEA will mark the beginning of a year-long initiative focused on improving sleep for the many people. 

Despite widespread recognition of sleep’s importance, many people still struggle to achieve good quality rest. Research from the recent IKEA Life at Home Report reveals that 55% of people rate sleep as their most important well-being activity at home. Yet, numerous studies show that as many as 1 out of 2 adults report dissatisfaction with their sleep, which affects their daily functioning, mood, work performance, and mental well-being. Additionally, socio-economically disadvantaged groups are even more negatively impacted by poor quality sleep. The IKEA view is that a good night’s sleep is essential for a better everyday life, and it should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their lifestyle, living conditions or the size of their wallet. 

“For decades, IKEA has been dedicated to understanding and improving how people sleep, but as poor sleep quality continues to be a massive societal issue, we are intensifying our focus,” says Fredrika Inger, Managing Director of IKEA of Sweden. “Over the last few years, we have innovated our sleep solutions to be more long-lasting, sustainable, comfortable and affordable, to help more people achieve better sleep. With our extensive expertise and global reach, we have the opportunity to create a better every day, and night, for hundreds of millions of people.” 

A year of sleep-focused initiatives 

The world record attempt marks the kick-off for a comprehensive, year-long campaign to promote six factors of better sleep — Comfort, Light, Sound, Temperature, Air, and Decluttering and Storage. Throughout the year, IKEA will conduct new widespread research, share valuable insights and practical advice on improving sleep quality, and launch new affordable products. 

Sharing an approach to better sleep

Creating the right sleep environment and establishing bedtime routines are essential for good sleep, yet many people lack the resources or knowledge to create these conditions. IKEA has 80 years of home furnishing expertise and has long been dedicated to understanding how the home can support better sleep. Our extensive research into sleep patterns and challenges across different cultures has informed the development of our sleep solutions. 

“We know that many people struggle with the challenges of living in small, shared spaces, where cramped and cluttered settings make it difficult to create an ideal sleep environment. We have listened to our customers to develop our range of complete sleep solutions to better meet their diverse needs, enabling everyone to create their own comfortable and restful sleep environment,” says Fredrika Inger.