IKEA 2018 Catalog Sneak Peek: A Top 10 Countdown of Favorite New Products

True confession: I’ve been keeping something – a deep dark decorating secret – from you lovely people. Last week, IKEA sent me an advance copy of the new 2018 catalog. I’ve been carrying it from my desk to my bedside table and back again each day, sneaking peeks whenever I could. I’ve already taken the all-important steps of measuring potential placement spots and attaching post-its to the pages that require my further attention as possible buys (as you can see above!).

Yes, it’s that time of year — and honestly, at least to me, the new catalog truly is always a little bit of the “Christmas in July” thing — a big bunch of unlimited decorating possibilities, all in one neat little package.

The new paper catalog will be available in stores starting August 2nd (and you can request your copy now) and will be online on August 7th. The new content in the catalog app will also drop on the 7th and will feature videos and the fun-to-play-with augmented reality feature.

The theme of the 2018 catalog is all about “making room for life”. In a statement that feels very much in line with the Apartment Therapy mission (so I can definitely relate, big time), IKEA says…

Regardless of wallet size or living space, 2018 is about enabling you to make more room for the things you love in your life — to help you get a few steps closer to your dream home.

They go on to state…

It’s about looking beyond the walls of your home and not letting them determine what you want it to be. It prompts you to ask yourself what it is you want more room for in your life — whether it be friends and family, nature, relaxation, or maybe a bit extra room to do nothing at all.

I LOVE this new theme and overall attitude; embracing a healthy, realistic and positive way to think about home.

Peppered throughout the products in the 2018 catalog are special features, giving it an editorial slant which is an enjoyable new direction. The features include sections on decorating tips, ideas and how-tos on things like plant care and telling stories through vignettes. There is a special section on a super cool Parisian designer’s home in Copenhagen (wait until you see it — the color palette is dark, dramatic and very vintage-glam). A similar feature on a young British recent design graduate and his first apartment in Berlin is similarly intriguing; all about chic simplicity. Info on sustainability, reducing food waste and designer collaborations round out the magazine-like sections of the catalog.

And, finally, without further ado, to celebrate the 2018 catalog drop here is a totally subjective top 10 list of favorite new products from IKEA. They are a mix of those that are appearing in the catalog for the first time (marked “new” in the catalog and included here as scans) and super-brand new releases which were included in the August IKEA news blast which I received along with the catalog (included here as official IKEA product photography).

OK, HERE WE GO.

First up, a smart, stylish, sustainable and affordable new dining or side chair option…

This new chair is made of an innovative mix of wood and plastic. More than 50% of the plastic in the formula is recycled making it an even more environmentally sustainable choice. Designed with comfort and authenticity in mind, it features a curved bowl of a seat and visible wood grain. A result of an intentionally slow design process, prototypes were sit-tested throughout to develop a chair that is comfortable to a wide group of people. It’ll be available in dark blue, light brown and a creamy white color.