tech
‘Hallucinating inside a Scandinavian kindergarten’: my night alone in Ikea
About 5,000 hopefuls logged on for the chance to sleep over in the furniture store’s Sydney pop-up. Caitlin Cassidy scored a coveted stay, but could she keep her sanity?
TL;DR
- The writer stayed overnight in an Ikea showroom-style home in Sydney, part of a promotion for the new Ikea PS 2026 collection.
- The home was furnished with 105 Ikea items, featuring "playful functionality" and "progressive design," with limited edition pieces potentially gaining cult status.
- The experience was described as overwhelming due to the 'aggressively cheerful' colors and unusual designs, leading to feelings of discomfort and a sense of being in a constructed space.
- Despite the curated environment, essential items like the toilet and laundry detergent were not from Ikea, and some appliances were from other brands.
- The writer ultimately preferred their own familiar, albeit less stylish, home and even planned a trip to Ikea to buy a specific PS floor lamp.
- The promotion offered stays for $19.95 a night, a homage to the PS launch year, selling out rapidly with over 5,000 people in line.