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Looking back to

2016

In 2016 we said a big "Hej!" to the IKEA Museum in Älmhult; our very own exhibition space, restaurant and museum shop dedicated to all things IKEA. Aptly housed in what was once the world's first IKEA store, 2026 marks a decade of sharing IKEA history.

Elsewhere, IKEA welcomed Moroccan customers inside the country's first IKEA store. Originally scheduled to open in 2015, the giant Zenata store near Casablanca, finally opened its doors on March 16th 2016.

But what did life at home look like a decade ago? From delicate touches to bold statements, let's see some of our favourite looks from the 2016 IKEA Catalogue.

An exterior view of the IKEA Museum in Älmhult.

What's new?

You may have seen some pretty exciting launches in the 2016 IKEA Catalogue, including the SINNERLIG collection – a collaboration with designer Ilse Crawford – and the LISABO table with its innovative wedge-dowel fittings for easy assembly.

In the kitchen, a relaunch of the IKEA 365+ series – a range of simple, everyday basics for the kitchen – the fun ÖNSKEDRÖM collection by graphic artist Olle Eksell and a veggie alternative to the beloved IKEA meatball were just some of the inspiring new additions to the 2016 edition.

  • An open indoor-outdoor area with cork tables and chairs and rattan lampshades, all from the SINNERLIG collection.
  • An aerial view of coasters and a mug featuring graphic drawings.
  • A page from the 2016 IKEA catalogue featuring a woman and child in a kitchen, with IKEA PS 365+ cookware on a LISABO table.
  • An aerial view of a pan of IKEA vegetable balls, next to an open packet.

Rose coloured spectacles

There was no escaping the power of pink. Rose Quartz was the favourite tone for 2016, and walls were awash with a rosie blush. The slightly more subtle hue of this sofa was giving bubblegum vibes (and what about the gold and pink striped combo in the kitchen?), while full-on pink tiles in the bathroom added a fun, pop feel.

  • An orange chair with a wooden table propped with colourful plates and cups, against a pink background.
  • A pink kitchen and living room area. In the kitchen, the wall and refrigerator are adorned with gold horizontal stripes.
  • A pink tiled bathroom from the 2016 IKEA catalogue.
  • A pink tiled bathroom from the 2016 IKEA catalogue.

Going grey

At the other end of the colour scale, inspired by stylists and home renovation shows, grey was also at its peak – now sometimes referred to as "millennial grey". Loved at the time for its clean and versatile look, this popular neutral in its many hues adorned the walls of many homes, not to mention the pages of the 2016 IKEA Catalogue.

  • A person in a grey living room sits on a red sofa, working at a red table.
  • A grey living room with a grey sofa, lamp and footstool.
  • A grey bedroom with a sloping ceiling and a shelf above the bed featuring framed images.
  • A neutral beige-grey coloured kitchen with metal kitchen fronts and ope shelving.

Hard working walls

There was no such thing as an empty wall; or so it seems. This hallway scene has everything – from a dedicated shoe wall to a medicine cabinet! In the bathroom, there's plenty of storage and hanging space for the whole family... and for laundry too, thanks to wall-hung storage, hanging rails and hooks.

In other rooms in the 2016 IKEA Catalogue, who could resist a gallery wall? A curated collage of images in matching or coordinated frames, meticulously positioned on empty walls felt personal, yet polished.

  • A child plays in a light green hallway filled with storage, while a woman watches, waiting for him.
  • A family bathroom with turquoise tiled walls and lots of storage and towels, etc., hanging from the walls.
  • A small, dark wood dining table and two chairs are placed near a wall. On the wall is lots of framed photos and images.
  • A blue living room from the 2016 IKEA catalogue, with storage and a wall-hung TV on the wall. In the foreground is a natural leather sofa and some armchairs.
  • The wall of a home office area with a white BILLY bookshelf and lots of images on the wall above an open doorway, from the 2016 IKEA catalogue.

Do draw on the walls

From walls that work hard to a space for expression. After encouraging little ones not to draw on walls, chalkboards came along and changed all that.

And there was plenty more space for creativity in the kitchen as a pinboard was (and still is) ideal for displaying favourite photos, as well as keeping a watchful eye on family chores and schedules.

  • A child draws on a chalkboard surface in the back of a colourful, playful living room area, while another child runs around the sofa.
  • A young child plays with children's kitchen, with a chalkboard with scribbles on the wall behind it.
  • A brown kitchen island in a kitchen, with a large cork board on the wall, filled with chalk boards and papers.

Romantic touches

Statement florals, chandeliers and other romantic details adorned every room in the catalogue – a nod to the boho chic trend. This freespirited style was cosy and unapologetically feminine. Even the kitchen succumbed to a few fancy flourishes, while in the bedroom, it was canopies, full on four-poster beds and old-fashioned style kidney-shaped dressing tables for a boudoir feel.

  • A white dressing table with fabric frills around the edges, from the 2016 IKEA catalogue.
  • A page from the 2016 IKEA catalogue featuring a four-poster bed in a light bedroom.
  • A bed with a red and white canopy in a blue floral bedroom.
  • A blue dining room with a grey upholstered dining room set and flowers and candlesticks decorating the table.
  • A pale kitchen with a dark wood round dining set, with a glass chandelier hanging above.

Urban country

Who said you had to move out of town to enjoy country style living? Wood panelled walls, exposed beams and solid wood floors added a touch of rugged cottage charm, even in the most urban homes. A few cosy throws and solid wood furniture transformed any room into a rural retreat.

  • A rustic style bedroom with ceiling beams, natural coloured wood furniture and a patchwork quilt on the bed.
  • A grey and white kitchen, dining room with grey and white, rustic style furniture.
  • A sage green kitchen with traditional style white wood kitchen doors and a rustic style sink.

Proudly colourful

Neon tones popped in standout pieces and clashed in bold combinations. Imagine waking up in this bed linen, or to neon floral wallpaper!

  • Colourful, pixel design bed linen.
  • A colourful striped towel hangs from a STUGVIK hook on a white tiled bathroom wall.
  • A blue room with a brightly coloured striped rug, an orange sofa, and lots of other colourful pieces.
  • A green, white and orange striped curtain with graphic drawings, in front of a bright floral patterned wall and a small bed.

Family, friendship and good feelings stand the test of time

Trends come and go, but a decade on, the recipe for a better life at home remains the same: family, friendship and feeling good about the spaces we live in and those we share it with.

Three people stand in a turquoise tiled kitchen with white kitchen units. They are cooking and baking.

2016

A large colourful family kitchen. Two children stand at a kitchen island baking, while dad puts something in the oven. At a small table a mother and young child are drawing.

2026

Back to 2026

We hope you enjoyed our journey back through time. In 2021 we bid a fond farewell to the IKEA Catalogue, but you can still find plenty of home inspiration and new products online at your local IKEA – just click below!