With the new OMMJÄNGE collection, IKEA is taking a step back – to take a giant leap forward. Inspired by 19th-century Swedish folk art, this bold line of furniture and accessories tells a story of the past that is surprisingly good at solving modern problems. With plenty of color, a touch of irony and functionality that will delight anyone with an apartment under 50 square meters.
When the past waves to the present – with a patterned scarf
OMMÄNGE (which in the Småland dialect means something like “to be together”, or – to be more poetic – “to hang out with candles and Swedish cinnamon rolls”) takes us to 19th century Sweden. Back when people ate, slept, had children and sewed linen curtains in one room. In other words – they had a minimalist lifestyle before it became fashionable on Instagram.
It is this rural modesty that designers Maria Vinka and Matilda Hunyadi have transformed into a collection that redefines what “traditional” means. The emphasis is on function, aesthetics, and that distinctive Swedish sense of homeliness that works whether you live in a cabin in the woods or a one-bedroom apartment above a city bakery.
Pattern + Color + Function = Modern Folklore
Maria Vinka was inspired by a vibrant portrait of a bride from 1846 – full of color, ornamentation and the kind of mystery we keep in TikTok drafts today. “Folk art is not museum dust – it’s a treasure trove of surprises,” says Maria. And it’s this surprise that can be felt in every OMMJÄNGE piece: from the vibrantly colored textiles to the details that recall floral embroideries from the times when “homecraft” was the only craft.
Together with Matilda, an industrial designer with a nose for modern practicality, they created a collection that is neither nostalgic nor too serious. It's like someone from the 1800s opened Pinterest and decided: "This is how I would furnish my 'tiny house'."
When old materials tell new stories
The collection is dominated by classic materials: solid pine, wool, glass, ceramics. But beware – there is no room for “rustic kitsch” here. Each piece has its own purpose, each curve its own meaning. Poplar baskets woven using the traditional method, lanterns that pay homage to bridal dresses from previous centuries, and folding tables that skillfully navigate between the past and functionality for today.
Even the wall hook, simple and wrapped in the old method of wire forging, became a mini manifesto against plastic and monotony.
Less space, more imagination (and taste)
OMMJÄNGE is the answer to a pressing question of modern living: What to do when you only have one space but wish for three? The answer: create a space with a story. The collection offers an alternative to sterile minimalism – it is maximalism with meaning. With imagination, a pinch of madness and a lot of respect for tradition.
“It's not just furniture. It's a way of telling yourself that even if you run out of space, you don't run out of soul,” Maria would say if she lived in the 21st century with an active X profile.
All roads lead to Älmhult (and then to your living room)
The OMMJÄNGE collection will be presented for the first time at the famous Democratic Design Days in IKEA's home town of Älmhult (which can safely be considered the Vatican of interior design). It will be available in selected stores and online from September 2025 – which means you still have a few months to clean out your attic and say goodbye to the ikebana of a bygone era.
OMMJÄNGE is a collection that doesn't treat the past as a museum piece, but as a starting point for something truly fresh. It's a love letter to tradition, written with all due respect - but with a modern font and an exclamation point at the end.
