It Was Popular In The '70s — The Discontinued IKEA Line That We Desperately Want To Come Back

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What is it about vintage IKEA furniture that makes it so sought-after and pricey? Pieces no longer produced today are scarce, of course, so what was once commonplace becomes a unique collector's item. The durability factor matters, too; sturdy metals and other materials the Swedish retailer used in decades past can hold up well for years to come. But another reason some discontinued IKEA products may be worth a big chunk of change is their association with the design of an era that's coming back into style. 

This is true of IMPALA, a line of expressive living room furniture designed in the 1970s by IKEA's fourth-ever employee, Gillis Lundgren, who was also the mastermind behind the iconic BILLY bookcase. The lounge chair and sofa are known for their low, rounded silhouettes and warm colors, which are perfect for incorporating 1970s-style decor into a contemporary home. Interior design enthusiasts and amateur furniture makers across the internet are clamoring for IKEA to bring its IMPALA line back, and we wholeheartedly agree.

With sleek chrome bars for support and richly-hued cushioning, IMPALA sofas and chairs are instantly memorable. They ooze '70s charm and are right at home among bold, boho decor. But currently, the pieces are priced so high on resale websites that they're out of reach for many. The chairs can cost as much as $12,000 on the online vintage furniture marketplace 1stDibs. While prices vary depending on the reseller and the condition a piece is in, a search for vintage IMPALA can turn up many "sold out" results since the collection was only in production for a year.

There is some precedent for IKEA bringing back timeless favorites in re-issues, but it's hard to predict whether this will be the case for any particular item or line. The store revisits its past best sellers in the Nytillverkad collection, for instance. It includes several updated favorites originally designed in the 1970s and the DYVLINGE swivel chair, which is based on one of Lundgren's 1967 designs. Even if the store were to re-issue IMPALA, though, there would most likely be changes in the materials. After all, it was the high cost of producing the pieces that led IKEA to discontinue them even though they became more popular than IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad expected.

In the absence of our dreams coming true, you can search for vintage furniture that isn't subject to the same scarcity as Lundgren's limited-run collection, as well as for newer items inspired by the '70s. The Ligne Roset Togo chair is one option in the former category. These famously light and pillowy sofas and chairs made in France have been in production for more than 50 years, and although it takes a long time to get a new one made, they're plentiful on the vintage resale market and cost far less than an IMPALA chair.

As for modern options, finding low-slung sofas or lounge chairs that sit closer to the ground is key to recreating the IMPALA look, and luckily, this profile is a 1970s furniture trend set to make a major comeback. This will hopefully lead to a growing array of more affordable choices like the MAXYOYO Accent Chair with Ottoman, an adjustable seater from Amazon that's less than $200, with color choices ranging from deep green to bold orange.