IKEA New Products Lust — Smartly Artfully

I finally sat down and perused the 2018 IKEA catalog--so inspiring! I was happy to discover several new items that caught my eye. In usual IKEA fashion, most are a mix of great design and functionality at a teriffic price point.

Let's start with the image (above), the EKEBOL Sofa. Its asymmetrical design is très moderne with the wire mesh surround adding just the right amount of visual texture. The storage underneath is perfect for small-space living too.

Throw a couple of these VEDBO Armchairs in with that sofa, and you've got a winning combination that's now got a retro Scandi vibe. Love the subtle curves of this dark gray beauty...

Like the woman at the party who can pull off those leather pants, heels, and a bold pink lip, this pillow cover with its bright geometric pattern is that piece that will attract the most attention in any room (my pulse is also quickening at the sale price through September 10th...).

Who doesn't need more storage? There are new offerings in that department too for people like me who can't seem to part with any possessions (so we may as well store them neatly, right?). First (above) the STOCKHOLM Cabinet, which with its rattan open-weave exterior is so much more pleasing than its laminate cousins.

Next (below) is just one way to use IKEA's SVALNÄS, a fantastic new system of functional and space saving wall storage. Highly customizable from a single unit to a mix of multiples featuring shelving, cabinets, and work surfaces, this is another innovative offering in a handsome bamboo finish.

With the days of summer coming to an end, the botanical pattern of this duvet set keeps that tropical vibe going in a crisp black and white palette without all the competing colors of most jungle prints (plants I can't kill--hurray!).

Finally, ditch the white linen lampshade for this beauty that looks like it comes from the most fashionable restaurant. It features a black exterior with a warm brass interior perforated with a pattern that, when illuminated, throws pleasing shadows on nearby walls. Magic!

IKEA will have additional new items arriving in a special collection to be released this October, featuring a collaboration between IKEA and furniture design company HAY out of Denmark. Can't wait!

What discoveries have you made? Share in the comments below...

(All image credits: IKEA)