Inside the Designer’s Den: 12 IKEA Essentials Owned by the Man Who Invented Your Living Room

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Published on June 22, 2026

Inside the Designer’s Den: 12 IKEA Essentials Owned by the Man Who Invented Your Living Room

Walking into the home of Johan Ejdemo, IKEA’s Global Design Manager, you might expect a museum of experimental prototypes or perhaps a minimalist void. Instead, you find a space that is lived-in, deeply intentional, and surprisingly attainable. Ejdemo doesn’t just design the Swedish giant’s future; he lives with its present.

For anyone looking for the perfect gift or a home refresh, there is no better endorsement than the personal inventory of the man who oversees the world’s most influential design lab. But among the stacks of sketches and Scandinavian wood, one specific item stands above the rest as his all-time favorite. It isn’t the ubiquitous Billy bookcase, nor is it a flashy new tech gadget. We’ll get to that legacy-defining piece shortly, but first, let’s look at the twelve items that actually made the cut for his own four walls.

The Foundation: For the New Homeowner

Every home needs a starting point, and Ejdemo’s choices for foundational pieces focus on modularity and longevity.

  1. The IVAR Shelving System Ejdemo relies on the IVAR for its raw, unfinished potential. It’s the ultimate blank canvas for someone moving into a new space. Insider Design Tip: To elevate IVAR from garage-chic to living room-ready, treat the solid pine with white-pigmented oil. It preserves the light Nordic look while protecting the wood from the yellowing effects of UV light.

  2. IKEA 365+ Carafe with Cork Stopper This is the workhorse of his kitchen. It’s simple, ergonomic, and fits perfectly in a fridge door. Insider Design Tip: Don’t just use it for water. Use it as a decanter for affordable wine to let it breathe, or fill it with dried lentils in the pantry for a cohesive, organized look.

  3. KUNGSBACKA Kitchen Fronts These sleek, matte black cabinets represent the intersection of style and sustainability, as they are made from recycled wood and plastic bottles. Insider Design Tip: Matte surfaces can be fingerprint magnets. Clean them with a microfiber cloth and a drop of dish soap—never use abrasive cleaners which can buff out the matte finish into a permanent shiny spot.

The Aesthetic: For the Minimalist

Minimalism isn’t about owning nothing; it’s about owning things that serve a dual purpose of utility and beauty.

  1. ODGER Chair Ejdemo’s choice for seating is the ODGER, a chair made from a mix of wood fiber and recycled plastic. It has a bowl-shaped seat that is surprisingly comfortable for long dinner conversations. Insider Design Tip: The wood-flecked texture of the ODGER is its best feature. Pair these with a high-contrast white table to make the silhouette and material pop.

  2. STOCKHOLM 2017 Rug This hand-woven wool rug is a staple in the Ejdemo household for its durability and classic striped pattern. Insider Design Tip: To ensure even wear and prevent "sun-fading" paths, rotate the rug 180 degrees every six months. Wool rugs shed initially; don’t panic, just vacuum regularly without the beater bar.

  3. SAMMANHANG Glass Boxes Ejdemo uses these to display small personal treasures rather than hiding them in drawers. It’s minimalism that still allows for personality. Insider Design Tip: Group items in odd numbers (three or five) inside the boxes. This creates a visual "anchor" that looks curated rather than cluttered.

The Innovator: For the Tech Enthusiast

Even in a design-forward home, technology needs to feel integrated, not invasive. Ejdemo’s favorites here focus on "hidden" tech.

  1. SYMFONISK WiFi Speakers A collaboration with Sonos, these speakers are disguised as lamps or picture frames. Ejdemo values how they clear up "visual noise" by removing the need for bulky equipment. Insider Design Tip: Use the lamp version as a bedside light. It frees up nightstand space and allows you to set a "gentle wake-up" playlist that gradually increases in volume.

  2. DELAKTIG Sofa and Bed Designed with Tom Dixon, this "platform for living" is meant to be hacked and changed as life evolves. Insider Design Tip: This is the ultimate "forever" piece because of its aluminum frame. If you get bored with the look, don’t replace the sofa—just swap the modular backrests or add a side table attachment to refresh the layout.

  3. YPPERLIG Table This collaboration with HAY is a masterclass in industrial design, featuring a solid wood base and a sleek, easy-to-clean top. Insider Design Tip: The YPPERLIG table is incredibly sturdy but light. If you’re using it as a desk, use cable management sleeves along the legs to keep the clean lines of the HAY design uninterrupted by wires.

The Icon: For the Design Nerd

These items are the "greatest hits" that Ejdemo keeps around for their historical significance and pure design language.

  1. POÄNG Chair It’s been in the catalog for decades, and the design chief still keeps one. Why? Because the cantilevered frame offers a bounce that no four-legged chair can replicate. Insider Design Tip: The POÄNG looks modern or traditional based entirely on the cover. For a high-end "Design Chief" look, opt for the leather covers—they age beautifully and develop a patina that fabric can’t match.

  2. FRAKTA Blue Bag Yes, even the head of design uses the blue bag. He views it as the most functional piece of industrial design IKEA has ever produced. Insider Design Tip: Beyond laundry and moving, keep a few in the trunk of your car. They are waterproof and virtually indestructible, making them the perfect "boot liner" for muddy hiking boots or grocery spills.

  3. The All-Time Favorite: LÖVBACKEN Side Table

We’ve teased it throughout, and here it is. While the Billy bookcase might be the most famous, the LÖVBACKEN (originally launched as LÖVET in 1956) is Johan Ejdemo’s personal pinnacle of IKEA design.

This three-legged, leaf-shaped table isn't just a piece of furniture; it is the origin story of the company. It was the very first product IKEA ever sold in a flat pack after a designer sawed off its legs to fit it into his car. For Ejdemo, this table represents the "Why" behind everything they do: solving a problem with a beautiful, simple, and transportable solution.

Insider Design Tip: Because it only has three legs, it’s exceptionally stable on uneven floors (three points always find a plane). Style it as a standalone accent piece in a reading nook rather than crowding it next to a large sofa. Its mid-century silhouette needs breathing room to be appreciated.

Final Thoughts from the Home Tour

What we learn from Johan Ejdemo’s home is that good design isn't about the price tag; it’s about how a product solves a lifestyle friction point. Whether it’s a cabinet made from trash or a table born from a sawed-off leg, the best items in our homes are the ones that tell a story of innovation and personal utility.

Next time you’re wandering the blue-and-yellow aisles, ask yourself: Does this solve a problem, or is it just filling space? If you follow Ejdemo’s lead, you’ll choose the former every time.

Inside the Designer’s Den: 12 IKEA Essentials Owned by the Man Who Invented Your Living Room | Gimmie