Iconic Furniture From IKEA In The '60s We Wish Would Have A Comeback

IKEA has been a resource for stylish and affordable furniture since the 1940s. Some of its most iconic pieces were released in the mid-20^th century and are still highly coveted today. If you're looking for timeless home decor inspiration, IKEA's catalogs from the '60s are a goldmine. From seating to textiles, this decade was full of mid-century modern staples that helped shape the current design industry.

Although several vintage IKEA furniture items have recently returned to stores, some are still locked in the vintage vault. However, you might just get lucky enough to find these limited items secondhand. We've selected 12 of the most iconic IKEA furniture pieces from the '60s and highlighted what made them such a success. Even if you can't find these exact pieces, we've rounded up the best alternatives to capture the classic look. Whether you're looking for a retro rug or a sweet sofa bed, these vintage items will always look stylish.

Beginning in 1960, IKEA worked with the textile artist Kerstin Svensson to create a stunning selection of rugs. According to its archives, the green SKOGSBRYNET pattern became a clear best seller. It surpassed the other colorways and secured its place in IKEA's vintage product highlights. Because demand was so high, IKEA moved production to a faster Italian supplier to produce larger quantities more efficiently. It was priced at about 31 euros and appeared in the catalog in both 1962 and 1963.

While the ombré green SKOGSBRYNET might be off the shelves, you can find products that capture a similar vibe. For example, the low pile STOENSE rug is highly rated on IKEA's website. It has a light sheen, and customers compliment its soft touch. Be aware that some buyers note that the green color actually has some gray woven in, while the product photo appears more solid-colored. However, this visual variation only makes it hark back in a suble way to the SKOGSBRYNET rug. If you're designing on a tight budget, explore the least expensive rugs at IKEA.

This multi-purpose shelving series was released in 1962. Known as "MTP," this line of large storage pieces was originally a personal wedding gift from designer Marian Grabinski to Ingvar Kamprad. The line served several functions, including shelving, storage, and a TV unit. Its initials came from the Swedish words for: "Well-dimensioned, pleasant, and well-priced." Made entirely from natural oak, it was sold for about 21 euros. It became a major success after IKEA added it to its catalog and eventually became a long-running bestseller.

These days, IKEA is famous for its custom storage solutions and build-your-own shelving combinations. While there isn't a piece exactly like MTP, the BESTÅ TV storage unit serves a similar purpose. If you want to capture the chic, mid-century look of MTP, thrifting might be your best bet. You can sometimes find decent deals on the original MTP set by Marian Grabinski by searching websites such as AuctionNet, 1stDibs, or Etsy.

In 1963, Danish architect Otto Nielsen designed ANNA. It was a simple and practical table and chair set made for children. It became a long-term success because of its functional, durable design and actually remained in IKEA's range for around 25 years. It was sold for about 4.50 euros and was recognizable for its bright red coloring and half-moon chairs.

IKEA currently has a few children's table-and-chair sets available, but none match the bold look of the ANNA. Perhaps one of its most famous modern options is the LÄTT set, designed for use as an arts-and-crafts table. If you love the bright color of the ANNA product, the blue or green MAMMUT table can give your children's room a playful look. For a vibrant red option, the ECR4Kids Tri-Me Indoor/Outdoor Table from Amazon looks perfectly rouge and retro.

In 1966, this futuristic armchair was found by Ingvar Kamprad at a furniture fair. The chair was named POLO, showcasing a rounded form, a durable fiberglass frame, and a rotating base for additional flexibility. It became especially popular in vibrant fabric choices and was celebrated for its innovative materials and distinctive, playful design.

The '60s wasn't the only time during which the POLO appeared in an IKEA catalog. It was rereleased in 1993, but renamed ORSA. It was then offered for a third time in 2003 with the name SKRUVSTA. Today, you can still find a variation of SKRUVSTA, available in solid gray or white. You can get a slipcover made specifically for the SKRUVSTA chair, which can help it look more like the original POLO piece. Etsy offers several custom options, such as this made-to-order cover from RockinCushionStudio. You can also explore these brands that make covers to revitalize your IKEA sofa or armchair.

KATINKA and KARUSELL were designed by Karin Mobring in 1967. The set included a sofa and armchair with bent plywood frames and soft corduroy cushions, along with a matching coffee table made of particleboard. The series epitomized the modern Scandinavian style and was prominently featured in the catalog, with the KARUSELL table becoming especially popular. The KARUSELL table was around for 10 years, but the KATINKA sofa and armchairs only lasted two.

For KATINKA dupes, you can explore IKEA's selection of modular seating. For example, the BINGSTA armchair is playful and sunny. The FRIDHULT sleeper sofa is also available in "Skiftebo yellow." When it comes to getting the look of the KARUSELL coffee table, the FRÖTORP coffee table is brand-new and bears an airy resemblance. There is also a smaller, FRÖTORP side table option if you're working with a tight space but love the retro look.

KRÖKEN, designed by Christer Blomquist in 1968, was a lounge chair focused on ergonomic comfort, allowing the body to fully recline. With nickel-plated steel tubing and linen upholstery, it is a beautiful representation of '60s craftsmanship. It became highly popular, unsurprisingly, given its enticing description: "Don't you just long to try it? A super-comfy chaise longue that lets your whole body relax. Your feet come up to a comfortable height, and you sit (or should we say lie?) as comfortably as you could ever wish."

Although the KRÖKEN has yet to make a comeback to catalogues, a moderately reminiscent IKEA lounge chair is available today. The HAVBERG swivel easy chair is made from leather rather than linen, but it has a similarly retro look. This chair is a great furniture idea for a mid-century modern home. If you're really after that chrome structure, Amazon offers the Bestano Swivel Accent Chair. For something with very similar lines, you could also consider a reproduction of the Le Corbusier Style LC4 Chaise Lounge Chair.

In the 1960s, the market began to see the rise of different kinds of soft furniture, such as inflatable armchairs, large beanbag-style seats filled with plastic beads, and other rising trends. TROFÉ, designed by Gillis Lundgren in 1968, introduced a new approach to soft furniture using shaped polyether pieces covered in fabric. It stood out for being colorful, lightweight, and affordable. The colors included red, orange, yellow, and blue, and matching footstools were also available.

The closest product IKEA currently offers is arguably the bright orange IKEA PS 2026 chair. In addition to capturing the modular charm of TROFÉ, it has the added benefit of turning into a small bed. The STOCKHOLM 2025 is another geometric, low-sitting option, with four colors to choose from. Amazon also offers several bean bag chairs with a similar concept to the TROFÉ set. This Snug Soffee Giant Bean Bag Chair is highly reviewed and comes in several vibrant shades.

The AMIRAL, designed by Karin Mobring in 1969, combined leather details with a strong, stable frame developed in collaboration with skilled manufacturers. It became popular for its high-quality craftsmanship. The price was approximately 19.90 euros. Unfortunately, the leatherwork was too time-consuming and bulky to ship, so IKEA released a deconstructed version in 1973. The seat of the rerelease was not made from the original leather fabric. Instead, only the armrests featured leather details.

This style of leather seat with chrome legs became extremely popular in mid-century interiors, and several designers created similar variations. The Baxton Studio Wassily Chair is a famous leather-and-chrome armchair, and it can still be ordered today. It's definitely a mid-century furniture brand that's worth looking out for at the thrift store. IKEA doesn't currently offer anything similar, but Amazon offers these '60s-inspired cantilever Zesthouse Mid Century Modern Dining Chairs.

The KLOT lights were designed by Lennart Centervall in 1969. Centervall used a repurposed aluminum speaker by the company Töreboda to create a clean, rounded form. This product marked the beginning of Centervall's design work for IKEA and reflected a focus on simple lighting solutions. A single KLOT lamp was priced at a value of 1.95 euros.

Although the IKEA KLOT lights have become iconic designs, they was also very much a product of a broader mid-century lighting trend. Its spherical form reflected the widespread popularity of globe-shaped pendant lights and table lamps during this era, when designers embraced futuristic aesthetics inspired by the Space Age. You can typically find lamps with a similar aesthetic at the thrift store or on Etsy. IKEA actually offers the JÄRPLIDEN pendant light, which has a similar structure. If you want something reminiscent of the KLOT table lamps, IKEA now sells the PS 2026 and MARKFROST / MOLNART. These have more modernized, less Space Age era designs, but channel a similar silhouette. 

TELEGONO was created by the famous architect and industrial designer Vico Magistretti in 1969. Inspired by modern Italian lighting design, it featured a rotating shade that let users adjust the light's direction and mood. The lamp used a rotating shade system similar to that found on Vico Magistretti's Eclisse table lamp from 1966. It was featured in a bright red color and crafted from plastic. The catalog price was about 7.50 euros at the time of release.

There is currently a limited-edition IKEA lamp that resembles the TELEGONO design. The SOLVINDEN is a retro-inspired, bright red table lamp that can be rotated or angled, similar to the adjustable TELEGONO. It has the benefit of being battery-operated, so you can move it around your space as your needs change. Another vintage-style table lamp is the SPETSBOJ, which can be dimmed by turning the metal shade.