Why IKEA is Turning Your Couch into a Rental
Picture this: you’re sitting on a sofa that once belonged to a man named Joaquin from Bilbao, and you’re paying a small monthly fee for it. Sounds like a future dystopia? Nope, that’s the new reality IKEA is cooking up.
From “Got To Me” to “Got to Rent”
- In February, the furniture giant revealed it was thinking about leasing.
- This week, at its first “sustainable” shop in Kaarst, Germany, it officially announced the plan.
- “Leasing is a key part of our transformation strategy,” said Jesper Brodin, IKEA’s CEO. “Climate change and unsustainable consumption are the biggest challenges of our time.”
Why It Makes Sense (and Is Kind of Trendy)
Today’s youth are all about reducing their carbon footprint. They’re renting not just cars, but also clothes, even dorm rooms and rooms like pre‑tuned guitars! So why leave furniture behind?
IKEA’s classic model—flat‑pack, assemble-your-own—lacks the allure that the younger generation craves. Plus, online shopping is choking the big, half‑piled showroom sales. Renting gives them something to share and reuse before recycling.
Other Big Names Are Joining the Rental Trend
- Rent‑the‑Runway, once famous for designer dresses, is teaming up with West Elm to bring home décor rentals.
- IKEA isn’t just talking; it’s already testing rentals in the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and Poland.
IKEA’s Circular Plan Goes Full Circle
By 2030 all IKEA products will ship from renewable and recycled materials. They’re also committed to design furniture that can be reused, repaired, & recycled. Remember 2018’s record 1 million spare parts orders? That’s part of the picture.
How Rentals Will Roll Out
- In Sweden and Switzerland, companies will pay a subscription for furniture.
- In the Netherlands, students can rent furniture packages via a housing association partnership.
- The company plans to roll out these tests to all 30 markets in 2025.
So next time you’re browsing the IKEA catalog, remember—your sofa could be coming to life as a shared, sustainable piece. It’s one of the smartest ways the brand is tackling climate and consumer change.
