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The Nytillverkad collection
Ever-evolving classics

The latest drop of reissued IKEA designs has arrived, but this time, with a twist! The two new Nytillverkad additions are IKEA favourites that have never gone out of production – or style. Take a peek at the KLIPPAN sofa and POÄNG armchair, refreshed in bold new looks by their late designer, Noboru Nakamura.

From Hokkaido to Älmhult

Both the KLIPPAN sofa and POÄNG armchair were created by Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura – or “Nacka” as he was affectionately known as by his colleagues – in collaboration with product developer Lars Engman and others. Nakamura, who passed away last year, worked for IKEA in Sweden between 1975 and 1978. KLIPPAN and POÄNG were both designed during this time, and remain two of the most recognisable products in the IKEA range. Find out more about the story behind these classics, from the designer himself!

Simplicity forever

It had been more than 40 years since Noburo Nakamura had last worked with IKEA, but when he received the call to reimagine the POÄNG armchair, he answered with his characteristic vigour and singular style.

With one dramatic cut, the headrest was removed. And with a lower seat, today's POÄNG armchair is made for relaxed chatting and socialising. Just as bold is the updated colour palette, with an eye-catching red added to the mix, alongside timeless staples like black, beige and birch veneer.
A white room set filled with POÄNG armchairs in different colours. Models dressed in red and black sit in two of the chairs.

The journey from POEM to POÄNG

Back in the '70s, Nakamura was tasked with designing a bentwood armchair in layer-glued birch veneer, at a low price and made for large-scale production. He came up with a cantilevered chair frame made from moulded plywood and POEM was born. The combination of design and material gave POEM “a gentle flex that would allow the sitter to swing in an elegant way.” POEM made its first appearance on the cover of the 1977 IKEA catalogue and became an immediate success. 

POEM stayed in the range up until 1991. In 1992 it was replaced by its more modern successor, POÄNG. With a collective lifespan of almost half a century, Nakamura’s poetic chair rocks on!

An image from the 1977 IKEA catalogue showing a POEM chair in light wood with a natural cover.

POEM in the 1977 IKEA Catalogue.

An image from the 1993 IKEA catalogue showing the POEM chair, now known as POÄNG, in wood with an orange fabric cover. It is next to a bookshelf full of books.

Then again as POÄNG, in 1993.

“The Japanese flag only has a circle. It’s so simple. I like to approach my design in a similar way."

– Noboru Nakamura
Designer, 1938-2023

A black and white photo of designer Noboru Nakamura. He is smiling at the camera.

Back to bold

Few products embody Scandinavian design and IKEA design principles better than the KLIPPAN sofa. Stripped down to the bare necessities, it is simple while still providing comfort and function. 

Nakamura’s 21st-century KLIPPAN update pays homage to the striking cover of the 1984 IKEA Catalogue, with a new quilted cover in bold, bright primary colours.
Five KLIPPAN sofa covers in yellow, red and blue drawstring duffle bags are stacked.

The new KLIPPAN covers come in matching textile bags. Bring home a new look for your sofa on the bus, or give one away the next time you go to a housewarming!

The comfortable chameleon

At IKEA, many of our greatest successes are born out of failure or mistakes and KLIPPAN is the perfect example. When product developer Lars Engman received two expensive Italian sofas to try out, they failed the toughest test; Lars’ six-year-old daughter. After just a few months, she and her friends had bounced them to ruin. This led him to thinking about how IKEA could create a reasonably priced, good-looking sofa that could withstand family life.

At the same time, Noboru Nakamura had designed the LAPPMON sofa, which was a lovely design, but not such a commercial success. Taking the LAPPMON frame as the starting point, the two created KLIPPAN, a sturdy family sofa with timeless appeal. And better still, it came with a removable, washable cover!

The eventual success of KLIPPAN was down to its covers. Its popularity rose with the introduction of a wider variety of colours and prints. Although little has changed to the structure (and comfort) of this family favourite over more than four decades, thanks to its many cover designs, it’s possibly had more makeovers than any other IKEA product!

The cover of the 1980 IKEA catalogue, showing images of products and rooms, with pink text.

KLIPPAN: cover star of the 1980 IKEA Catalogue.

A 1984 IKEA catalogue lays on a blue KLIPPAN sofa. The cover has an image of three KLIPPAN sofas.

And once again in 1984.

A roomset with three KLIPPAN sofas in red, blue and yellow, behind a red frame.

”POÄNG and KLIPPAN are timeless because they combine beautiful form and good function with a reasonable price and long-lasting quality.”

– Johan Ejdemo
Global Design Manager, IKEA of Sweden

A man with glasses and a white short leaning against a staircase handle.
An overhead shot of three KLIPPAN sofas and three POÄNG armchairs, with two people each lying on a KLIPPAN sofa.

Oldies but goodies

These new additions to the Nytillverkad collection are available online and at your local IKEA store from July. You can shop these and the rest of the collection online by clicking the big button below. If the collection is unavailable in your country, we'll take you to more of our latest products. Why not dig a little deeper into our design history and learn more about the original products behind Nytillverkad? Visit the IKEA Museum.