INSIDE: Roam the Gnome’s Insider’s Guide to the Ikea Museum Sweden in Almhult.
Have you ever wondered where is Ikea from originally?
Or what’s the most popular IKEA furniture?
If you have, then a visit to the IKEA museum in Sweden will answer all your questions.
The Ikea Museum Sweden about 2 hours north of Copenhagen, and 5 hours south of Stockholm.
It’s the ONLY one of its kind in the world.
The Sweden Ikea museum is located in Älmhult, where IKEA was first conceived and born. To this day, Almhult remains the heart and soul of the IKEA brand.
Next to the Ikea Sweden Museum, you’ll find the only Ikea hotel in the world too!
Take a look below for all the details of this famous Swedish furniture design.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we may receive a small commission at NO extra cost to you.
Guide to Ikea Museum Sweden
The IKEA museum can be found at the original location of the first ever Ikea store, in the original Ikea showroom building built over 60 years ago.
It’s filled with more than 1000 examples of the IKEA product range from the original launch of the brand, right through to present day, cleverly displayed in room size arrangements or as artworks on the wall.
The items on display come from the collection of more than 30,000 pieces in the treasury of IKEA history on site, including IKEA museum catalogues.
Some of the collection comes from auctions and private sales, but there are plenty of pieces that have been donated back to the museum by fans of the brand.
Visitors will be thrilled by the fun & colourful displays of famous IKEA products, and iconic IKEA designs.
When did the first Ikea shop open?
The building was designed in the late 1950’s by the architect Claes Knutson and the first IKEA shop opened in 1958.
The museum documenting the IKEA story from conception to the worldwide success it now garners, has four floors of:
- galleries and exhibits
- a shop filled with unique IKEA products, AND
- an IKEA restaurant of course.
Hot tip: Visit IKEA Japan on your next trip to Tokyo. There’s a new IKEA store in Harajuku – it’s Japan’s first Ikea store right in the city centre.
What else you’ll find
The IKEA hotel is in the same place, just across the car park.
This location is also the main hub of IKEA worldwide, so you’ll see buildings nearby housing:
- the Ikea Customer Service Centre
- the IKEA components centre
- the IKEA distributions services centre
- the IKEA industry hub
- The IKEA activity house
- The IKEA working together conference rooms (IKEA Tillsammans)
- the IKEA communications hub
This is where the IKEA catalogue, first published in 1952, is created and distributed every September.
No.1: Visit the IKEA Exhibitions
Did you know that the original IKEA experience was VERY different from the one we experience today.
In the beginning, personal shoppers would escort customers around the showroom.
At the IKEA museum, you’ll see pictures and photo montages, as well as displays of what this was like.
Ikea Design Process
The main exhibition is a chance to walk through the Design process and see how a piece of furniture, a chair for example, goes from an idea to a finished product.
You’ll also learn who and what inspired the creation of IKEA style and helped shape the IKEA range of simple and practical furniture, bold colours, and natural materials.
It includes:
- Gustavian style furniture
- the scientist Carl Linnaeus,
- the artists Karin and Carl Larsson
- the author Ellen Key
No.2: See the Timeline of Ikea history
You can discover how the Ikea of Sweden began on the Introductory Wall.
It’s where you’ll see all the well known Ikea products, displayed in a brightly coloured rainbow display, with a few IKEA things you never knew about.
Around the edges of the gallery, follow the timeline of how IKEA has grown and developed.
Wall displays
You can also find out:
- when the first IKEA vegetarian hotdog was introduced (the original IKEA hot dog was introduced in 1990)
- learn about the IKEA bootcamp for entrepreneurs, and
- discover all about the IKEA environmental initiatives.
IKEA Business Timeline
In the decade by decade timeline, look out for the introduction of:
- the IKEA flat pack
- the IKEA Allen key, and
- the IKEA Billy bookcase
IKEA furniture instructions
Did you know that the IKEA cartoon character, developed in 2000, and featured on IKEA instructions, was created to overcome the challenge of a multi-cultural world, and find a universal language everyone can understand!
It’s true!
Vintage IKEA furniture
There’s also plenty of gorgeous IKEA vintage furniture on display.
IKEA fans will be in furniture heaven!
IKEA catalogue display 1962
The displays of IKEA homes remind us that not only did they sell furniture, IKEA gave advice on how to best place the matching furniture
Iconic IKEA pieces include:
- the KOLDING sofa
- the MTP storage system, and t
- he DANSKE dining chair in laquered oak.
Children’s IKEA
There’s also plenty to discover about how the IKEA children’s products came to be.
Including displays of the best IKEA products for kids, set up in familiar layouts!
No.3: Learn about the IKEA Founder Ingvar Kamprad
Who is the Ikea founder?
Visitors can also explore the life of IKEA owner Ingvar Kamprad, and how he built and shaped his company by instilling cultural values, responding to environmental concerns and paying attention to trends.
It’s also a chance to learn about IKEA’s ‘democratic design’, the concept of his vision to “create a better everyday life for the many people”
This concept gave (and continues to give) the bulk of the population a chance to own beautifully designed furniture and products, not just those with large wallets.
No.4: IKEA Democratic Design
Democratic design was, and continues to be, the force behind Ingmar’s push to optimise the design and delivery of each product, to reduce the costs of production without compromising the quality or design.
His vision, and that of the company, developed at a time when the Swedish economy was recovering from hard times, and newly built housing included a bathtub, toilet, tiles in the kitchen and a separate cabinet for the new cleaning equipment.
Ingvar Kamprad education
Ingmar was a businessman since the age of 5 years, selling matchboxes and Christmas cards.
At 17, he sensed there was an opportunity to sell furniture by mail order.
As the museum states, “this decision paved the way for flat pack furniture and other unconventional ideas”
His success created a whole bunch of competitors.
Ingmar had to pivot again to stay in business.
So in 1953, he opened the FIRST permanent IKEA exhibition in Almhult, where customers could experience the furniture in person.
Ingmar Kamprad office
Fun Fact: Did you know you can see a carefully reconstructed replica of Ingvar’s home office on display at the museum?
No.5: Browse the collection of best IKEA products
The Ikea Museum in Almhult is home to a collection of famous Ikea products ever.
You’ll spot the best selling IKEA products and famous IKEA furniture names including:
- the ever popular Billy Bookcase
- the Poäng armchair (most famous Ikea chair)
- the Jäll laundry bag
- Malm Bed
- Lack table
- Stockholm Rug
- Klippan sofa
- FÖRSIKTIG children’s step stool
- the Expedit range of IKEA furniture (now called IKEA Kallax shelves, these cube shelves are the second most famous Ikea shelves)
IKEA FRAKTA shopping bag
And we can’t forget to the FRAKTA bag, the perfect shopping bag that also works as a laundry basket, beach bag, moving house bag, and clothes storage.
No.6: Play at the IKEA Museum
No.1: Ikea Catalogue Cover Photo Opportunity
Do find the spot on the top floor where you can take a ‘photo’ to put yourself on the cover of the IKEA Catalogue!
(It’s not just for kids. This was a team of IKEA staff visiting for a conference from London.)
No.2: Giant Ball Machine at Ikea Museum
You also cannot miss the Giant Ball Machine in the centre atrium of the museum.
Kids (and adults!) love this activity of sending famous red balls – best known from the IKEA Smaland kids ball pit – down a maze of clear glass tubes into a ball pit, pulled by the suction of a vacuum!
Fun fact: Did you know the first IKEA ball pool with the Lingonberry-red and Blueberry-blue balls was installed at IKEA Kungens Kurva in 1971?
No.7: Book into IKEA Museum Events
There’s always some kind of event being held at the IKEA museum, in conjunction with current exhibitions.
When we visited, the EveryBody exhibition was on show and visitors could book into:
- yoga sessions
- lectures with Aron Anderson
- Chair yoga
- Build a Musical Story with Sofia Thoresdotter (singing and music exploration)
- Ballad singing and showtime
- Yoga for kids and play sessions
- Print your own wrapping paper with Papperian
- Lecture with Shahrzad Kiavash
All events, except for Dinner in the Dark in KÖKET restaurant were included in the admission ticket price.
IKEA Everybody exhibition
The exhibition itself was filled with lots of engaging activities to join in, including:
- experiments to try, and
- a deep dive into their design work helping to create a more equitable world for all, with a focus on tools to help people with disabilities or challenges.
N0.8: Eat at the Ikea Museum Restaurant
There’s NO way you can visit the Ikea Museum without eating lunch at the Ikea Museum restaurant.
There’s all the Ikea favorites including
- Ikea meatballs
- Veggie balls
- Chicken balls
You can try the popular Swedish dish of potato dumplings filled with salted pork and served with melted butter and sweetened lingonberries.
Or the Salmon balls, Laxbullar, served with peas, and potatoes.
It’s open from 10am to 6pm daily.
The restaurant serves hot food from 11.30pm.
Ikea menu prices
All main meals are 90 sek. ($10.50 USD, 7.80 pounds)
A small portion is 55 sek. ($6.30 USD, 4.90 pounds)
Bread, butter, water, tea or filter coffee is included with all main meals.
IKEA meatballs
There’s a kids menu with kid-sized portions of the main dishes, plus creamed macaroni, or pancakes with jam and cream too.
Hot drinks on offer include:
- Filter coffee or tea
- Espresso, latte, cappuccino, lungo, or macchiato in regular, caramel, vanilla or decaf.
- Hot chocolate
No.9: Visit the Ikea Museum Store
The Ikea Älmhult museum has a shop.
If you go into the Almhult Ikea museum shop, you’ll find a range of signature Ikea products.
These Ikea souvenirs take inspiration from “the lines of the arcade that run along the facade of the IKEA museum.”
Be sure to check out the range of signature products that you can’t buy anywhere else.
This range includes:
- Ikea tote bags and Ikea shopping bags
- Ikea trays
- Ikea notebooks
- Ikea napkins
- Ikea magnets
- Ikea wrapping paper
- Ikea umbrellas
- Ikea clothing and Ikea t shirts
It’s open from 10am to 6pm daily.
MORE THINGS TO DO IN ALMHULT
No.1: Stay a Night at the Only Ikea Hotel in the World
Yes, you read that right.
There IS an Ikea hotel, the only one in the world.
And it’s right here.
We booked a stay.
Take a look below for details.
READ MORE: Stay a night at the Ikea Hotel ALMHULT
No.2: Eat at the IKEA Hotel Restaurant
There’s a fancy restaurant inside the IKEA hotel, that’s a bit different to your normal IKEA bistro.
The meals are Scandi inspired, and made with local organic produce – you won’t regret eating here.
Read our foodie guide to the IKEA hotel restaurant
No.3: Shop at Ikea Sweden Älmhult
If you still haven’t had your fill of IKEA, catch the bus or walk to the new Almhult IKEA showroom in Handelsplatsen.
As well as the IKEA store, there’s also an IKEA Fyndet (a big IKEA outlet store).
The IKEA Varuhuset (Department Store) is 5 minutes by car, or a flat 10 minutes walk from the hotel.
(Don’t bother waiting for the bus if you are ok to walk. It’s an easy pleasant stroll through town)
Ikea Smaland is inside, so head straight to the counter to book your kids in for a play session.
7 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No.1: Is there another Ikea Museum in Stockholm?
Sadly, no.
But the BIGGEST Ikea in Sweden IS at Kungens Kurva in Skärholmen, south of Stockholm.
Spend the day!
It’s massive.
No.2: Where is the IKEA in Sweden?
You can find more Ikea Sweden locations on the Ikea Sweden store locator.
How many IKEA stores in Sweden?
There are 20 Ikea stores in Sweden in total.
Ikea Sweden opening hours are usually 10am to around 6pm or 8pm, depending on the city.
How many IKEA’s are there in the world?
424, and counting.
Across 52 countries.
No.3: How big is the biggest IKEA in the world?
The largest Ikea store in the world, which opened in 1965, has a number of exclusive products you can’t buy elsewhere.
The biggest IKEA in the world measures in at 640,000 sq ft. That’s 59,000 square meters of floor space.
Find it in Gwangmyeong Station, in Gyeonggi Province in South Korea.
No.4: How do you pronounce IKEA?
It turns out us English speakers may not be saying it quite right.
(This is how to say IKEA in English: I – KEY- ya)
But in Swedish, it’s more like: E – KAY – ya.
Have a listen here.
No.5: Are Swedish homes filled with furniture from Ikea?
They definitely are.
Just like in England and Australia, Swedish homes are a mix of IKEA furniture, and furniture from other stores.
No.6: Is IKEA a big deal in Sweden?
Definitely.
Most Swedish people are very proud of this iconic export!
No.7: What are the Best Ikea Hacks Ever?
Here is a fabulous article about the best high quality IKEA hack companies who take your IKEA product style next level!
THE INSIDE SCOOP: Sweden Ikea Museum
Correct at time of publication on Roam the Gnome. Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in Swedish Sek, or US dollars, unless otherwise stated
Ikea official website for the museum: Click here
Address: IKEA Museum is in central Älmhult at IKEAgatan 5.
Ikea Museum Opening Hours
- 10:00 – 18:00 daily
Älmhult Ikea Museum price
- Adult 60 sek
- 60+ years 55 sek
- Children under 18 – FREE
- IKEA employees – FREE
How to get to Ikea museum Älmhult
Directions to Ikea museum can be found below.
How to get from Copenhagen to Almhult
Älmhult in Sweden is easily reached by train or car from Copenhagen and Copenhagen Airport.
The journey is approximately two hours.
By Train:
Catch the Øresundtåg train. All trains stop at Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup), Malmö and Lund. (The train continues to Växjö and/or Kalmar.)
Tickets can be purchased at Copenhagen train station from the ticket counter, vending machines or online here or via Swedish railways. Tickets cost approximately SEK250 /€50 one-way. Our trip was included in our Eurail tickets.
Once you arrive at the Almhult train station, walk up the stairs, then cross the airbridge in the direction AWAY from the town.
Follow the walking/bike path until you reach the carpark – the entrance to the IKEA museum is on your right.
The IKEA hotel is across the car park.
Ikea Älmhult Museum Map
Toadstool Rating: Almhult Ikea Museum
Looking for MORE Things to do in Småland with kids?
Smaland is in the south of Sweden, an area that lies between Stockholm in the North, and Malmo in the South.
It’s where the name of the IKEA kids play area came from!
Småland is a gorgeous part of Sweden and very family friendly.