Ikea Is Getting Into the Interior Design Business

Jennifer Bringle
Updated ·2 min read

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Hiring an interior designer to reimagine the home is a luxury generally out of the price range of most consumers. But in the past few years, several companies have added designer services to their offerings, and Ikea is the latest.

The budget-friendly home goods retailer launched its Ikea Interior Design Service on Tuesday in the United States. The program allows customers to have one-on-one consultations with designers.

“We are excited to roll out the new Ikea Interior Design Service program, as we know design is an important part of the shopping experience,” said Abbey Stark, interior design leader for Ikea U.S. “We want to support people’s lives at home and at work and help them create their dream space. It is a great opportunity for our well-versed, creative and talented interior designers to continue to build meaningful relationships and mutual trust with our customers as we provide beautifully designed and affordable solutions that improve their home or business.”

With HGTV, Pinterest and other design-focused media gaining prominence over the past 10-15 years, the demand for and profile of interior designers has grown significantly. But most traditional design services come with a hefty price tag, making them unaccessible to the average consumer.

Ikea’s interior design process begins with a questionnaire, wherein customers describe their goals and are then paired with a designer based on their region. The designer will work with the customer via three virtual, one-on-one sessions through the Ikea website and video conferencing. During those sessions, they will develop a mood board, floor plan, upgrades, detailed 3D renderings, a lighting plan, a product list, material suggestions and furnishings tips. Then Ikea will coordinate delivery, assembly and installation of products to complete the design in-home.

The interior design service builds up on Ikea’s existing design offerings, such as its virtual design tool, Ikea Kreativ. Interior design services start at $99 per room for home projects and $299 per room for businesses.