IKEA Museum i Älmhult - fascinerande om ett varuhus

Writer: Helena Bergström

The IKEA Museum tells the story of the huge furniture store that was founded in 1943 as a mail order company by the then 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad in Småland. The story is fascinating, so of course we wanted to check out the museum!

Table of contents

IKEA Museum

The IKEA Museum is located where the first IKEA store opened in 1958, in Älmhult, Småland. The name IKEA stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. Elmataryd is an older spelling of the farm Älmtaryd where Ingvar grew up. The farm in turn was in the parish of Agunnaryd, near Ljungby.

The IKEA Museum is located in the centre of Älmhult in Småland, just over 20 miles southwest of Växjö.

The story of IKEA

The museum's main exhibition, 'The Story of IKEA', takes you from the start at the farm in Agunnaryd where Ingvar Kamprad grew up, to the first store in Älmhult and on to the world.

The first part of the exhibition, 'Our Roots', tells the story of the poor farming community in Småland in the past. Here you can get a small glimpse into the world where Ingvar Kamprad grew up, and perhaps understand how the combination of striving, entrepreneurial spirit and modernism led to... IKEA.

The next part of the exhibition, 'IKEA through the ages', tells an exciting and sometimes rebellious story of the store's development. One of Ingvar Kamprad's key principles was to make good design accessible to the general public. This was made possible through flat packs, smart distribution, large editions and creative production solutions.

Here are some highlights of the story:

1958: The world's first IKEA store opens in Älmhult.
1960: IKEA introduces the Allen key.
1970: Scandinavian product names are conquering the world.
1980: IKEA stores will be yellow and blue.

Of course, there is also a meatball on display at the IKEA Museum! Meatballs is IKEA's number 1 dish, and has been served at the store since 1979.

The last part of the exhibition is about 'The many sides of Ingvar Kamprad'. Here you can learn more about the entrepreneur's family, his charity work, early business ventures, setbacks and much more.

Making your own IKEA cover

At the IKEA Museum, you can create your own cover for an IKEA catalogue, and we wanted to! You can choose between the 2021 and 1973 covers. When you see us in that cosy bed, don't you want to go shopping for the Songesand bed frame?

More and temporary exhibitions

In addition to the main exhibition, there are also other exhibitions. At the moment, you could see an exhibition on the IKEA catalogue through the ages and an exhibition on Hagberg + Hagberg (31 May 2021 - 9 January 2022).

Visiting the IKEA Museum

So, what did we think? It is really fascinating to follow the story of the entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad, and therefore this is also an interesting museum. Perhaps we felt that some parts could have been presented in a more fun way, but a visit here is interesting nonetheless.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

If you want to see and experience more in the neighbourhood of IKEA Museum, you can go to Huseby mill or Car cemetery Kyrkö mosse. You can also go to Växjö and, for example, see the beautiful Teleborg Castle.

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Facts about IKEA Museum

Landscape: Småland
County: Kronoberg County
Municipality: Älmhult
Address: Ikeagatan 5, Älmhult
Read more: You can find more information at the museum's website.

Tours and activities

Guided tour: On weekends, at specific times, there are guided tours with knowledgeable guides.
Create your own IKEA cover: By entering the studio at IKEA, you can be on the cover of the 2021 catalogue or the 1973 catalogue.
Exhibitions: In addition to the main exhibition, there are various temporary exhibitions.

Services and practical information

Opening hours: Every day 10-18 (2021). Some public holidays may have shorter opening hours. The restaurant is closed on certain public holidays.
Prices: Adults 60 SEK, 60+ 50 SEK and children under 18 free (2021).
Accessibility: The museum is accessible to people using a wheelchair or walker, or pushing a pram. Accessible toilets are available on several floors. There is a hearing loop in the education room.
Rules: Dogs and other pets are not allowed, with the exception of guide or service dogs.
Accommodation: The IKEA Hotel is across the street from the museum.
Food service: Restaurant KÖKET serves meatballs, plant balls, cod and salmon balls and more.
Shop: The museum shop offers gifts, nostalgic products and more.

READ MORE: Holidays in Sweden - your guide to Sweden's best destinations
READ MORE: Things to do in Småland - tips, sights and experiences
READ MORE: Svenska Museievägen - FREEDOMtravel Themed roads

9 Comments

Add yours →

Solan says:

We made a cover when the museum had just opened. Friends in Stuttgart thought it was real and congratulated us!
As expected, a clever idea from Ikea...

15 September 2021 - 8:41

Ama de casa says:

What a fun cover! 🙂
The history of IKEA is truly fascinating. In a strange way, I feel a sense of pride when I see IKEA stores around the world. This is despite the fact that I haven't contributed to its development at all - except possibly by buying a lot of stuff from IKEA over the years 😉.

15 September 2021 - 9:35

Lisa says:

Very nice and gives an insight into how we furnished our homes through the time that Ikea existed. Gives a sense of nostalgia. We also made an Ikea cover when we were there that we framed.
Then there was also an Ikea outlet there that we heard has been closed. There we bought yellow shoe boxes that we screwed to the wheelhouse's garage door and store our extra shoes in.

15 September 2021 - 11:10

Veiken says:

It's just as fascinating to read about the history of IKEA every time you see it.
We have good friends in Älmhult and have visited IKEA there a number of times. A little curiosity about Kamprad's grandchildren. Many years ago we were told that the grandchildren were not allowed to take part in school cards or public events at school. There was no information about which school they were in. All because of the risk of kidnapping! They have been adults for a long time now!
Great post again from you!

15 September 2021 - 14:46

- Monica says:
  
  So fun that you were there too and very nice cover😅what a fun idea. And the whole Ikea is fascinating with its history. And seeing the blue and yellow department stores in other countries is so fun. It makes you happy. I used to be careful not to have a single piece of Ikea furniture but changed my mind😌.
  Have not been to the museum but would like to. Visited Ljungby a lot and it is also interesting with the artists who worked there.
  
  15 September 2021 - 19:16
  
- Bara brittiskt says:
  
  But for himself, he wandered around local clothing sales and bought cheap shirts.
  
  12 December 2021 - 14:27
  
BP says:

I guess 98 per cent of the Swedish population has at least one piece of furniture from IKEA, probably the Billy bookcase. The IKEA museum is fascinating and I know that Ingvar "bought up" original furniture from 1958 for the exhibition. The couple who sold the living room got to switch to state-of-the-art living room furniture at no cost.
I think IKEA has become much better in the last ten years at having the right number of items in their flat packs. So yeah, we have different bookshelves from IKEA?

15 September 2021 - 19:47

4000mil says:

Fun with the catalogue cover. Worth a visit just for that maybe. 🙂

21 September 2021 - 6:33

Bara brittiskt says:

Here I must add that you have forgotten Älmhult's other great world-famous attraction among the excursion tips. Of course you go to Linnaeus Råshult. It's best in the summer, with its green walkway, hops and kitchen garden, but just seeing his birthplace is interesting and the café has plenty of plants and local produce. Midsummer's Day is normally a big celebration.

12 December 2021 - 14:26

IKEA Museum in Älmhult - fascinating about a department store

Writer: Helena Bergström

IKEA Museum

The story of IKEA

Making your own IKEA cover

More and temporary exhibitions

Visiting the IKEA Museum

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Facts about IKEA Museum

Tours and activities

Services and practical information

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9 Comments

Solan says:

Ama de casa says:

Lisa says:

Veiken says:

Monica says:

Bara brittiskt says:

BP says:

4000mil says:

Bara brittiskt says:

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