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Make space for what you loveMake space for what you love

A multi-functional kitchen for more than just cooking

Where life happens

With Emilia Ljungberg
Interior designer at IKEA

Interior designer Emilia Ljungberg, sitting on a bench, looking straight at the camera.

Imagine a kitchen that truly serves as the heart of your home – a dedicated space for family, friends, and the many dimensions of the life you love, such as cooking, preserving, reading, and socialising. This dream kitchen, designed by IKEA interior designer Emilia Ljungberg, brings together smart storage solutions, personal touches, and thoughtful design to create a multi-functional, warm, and organised space.

A spacious white kitchen with ASPUDDEN door fronts, open shelving with various types of chopping boards, an organised pantry, with a cosy seating area.

Pantry party

For a clean look with a touch of personality, Emilia designed a pantry that proves that "organised clutter" can be both beautiful and practical. "KORKEN glass jars labelled with expiry dates and contents, neatly hold dried goods and preserves. Their stackable design maximises limited space, ensuring that nothing is buried or forgotten," says Emilia. "This way of organising doesn’t just store what you love, it celebrates it."

A pantry space with OMAR metal shelving units, full of jars, stacked pots, and condiments, tucked behind a kitchen island with a citrus plant and wooden cutting boards on display.
An OMAR metal shelving unit with glass KORKEN jars with labels ingredients written on them, in a neatly organised pantry space.

  • Show it off

    Elements from nature were used to bring a sense of the outdoors, making this a truly welcoming space. With this dream kitchen, Emilia wanted to design solutions that were both inspiring and functional.

    "A picture ledge is the perfect pairing to a chopping board collection, and a magnetic knife rail can be used to store more than just knives," says Emilia. "Utensils, peelers, shopping lists, and personal touches like photos and notes, add personality and warmth while also turning the magnetic rail into a smart storage solution."

    An organised kitchen with a row of chopping boards displayed on a MOSSLANDA picture ledge above a row of KUNGSFORS magnetic knife racks holding many utensils, above a counter with drawers.

  • A wall for it all

    For the family that loves to socialise, the kitchen is more than a cooking space – it’s where life happens. Emilia designed a cork board wall to track daily activities and keep cherished memories on display.

    With a soft touch, cork adds personality and warmth to any space. "I would love to have a wall like this," says Emilia. "It's a nice look instead of just having a white wall which can sometimes feel stiff. You can fill the wall with memories and update as time goes by."

    A wall of FLÖNSA memo board with pins featuring photos and notes, in a kitchen setting.

A not so lonely island

A dream kitchen wouldn’t be complete without a versatile island. For this design, the island isn’t just a surface or additional storage, it’s a place to come together. "Whether reading a book, catching up with a friend, or helping with homework, it allows everyone to feel part of the action, even if they’re not part of the cooking," says Emilia. And with clever storage solutions, it offers practicality without compromising on style. Using bamboo drawer organisers, Emilia proves that even the insides of drawers can delight!

A white ASPUDDEN kitchen with a close-up of a kitchen island with lots of drawers, a grey countertop with an open space for a black folding chair, with some decor and organised kitchen accessories in the background.
Opened kitchen drawers with wooden utensils, cutlery, measuring cups and other assorted cooking tools, neatly organised by a bamboo cutlery tray.

Emilia's practical pointers

Kitchen helpers

ARTISTISK chopping board on a light peach background.

ARTISTISK chopping board

Not just a pretty surface, this oak chopping board protects your knives while doubling as a serving board. Slice, dice and serve in style.

KORKEN glass jar with lid on a light peach coloured background.

KORKEN jar with lid

Seal in the flavour with the KORKEN storage series. Perfect for storing everything from homemade jam to colourful sweets. Its timeless design adds a touch of rustic charm to any kitchen or pantry.

HEAT pot stand in dark brown with tan flecks against a light peach background.

HEAT pot stand

Beyond protecting tables from hot pots and pans, the speckled cork design is a perfect base for a beautiful display.

Ready for a refresh?

Your kitchen is! Visit your closest IKEA store or shop online to find the right kitchen storage for the heart of your home!