Aussie shoppers queued outside IKEA stores before opening time as a colourful new homewares collection sparked a buying frenzy.
Customers lined up “before sunrise” on Thursday to get their hands on pieces from IKEA’s PS 2026 collection, with some of the most sought-after items already selling out in stores just hours after launch.
Staff at the Swedish retailer had to introduce a wristband queuing system and slap purchase limits on selected products to help more shoppers get a chance to secure in-demand items before shelves were stripped.
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The top-selling item was the red uplighter, with more than 500 snapped up in just the first four hours.
The $69.99 floor lamp is available in yellow, blue, or red and features three light settings — spotlight, reading light and uplight.
Another standout piece that had already gone viral on social media was the $159 inflatable Knäbäck chair.
IKEA staff said shoppers quickly swarmed in when the doors opened.
Influencers who have already got their hands on the item have called it “one of the coolest and lightest chairs ever made”.
It also rapidly sold, already selling out in some of IKEA’s 10 stores nationwide.
“We knew there was excitement around the PS 2026 collection, but the speed at which these pieces have been snapped up by customers today has taken us by surprise,” IKEA Australia and New Zealand home furnishing and retail design manager Ainslie Woodham said.
“If you missed out today on something in the PS collection, don’t worry, products are being replenished by our teams daily and will be back in stock very soon.”
The lamp on the right was the biggest seller of the day.
Shoppers have been particularly drawn to the range’s bold colours and affordable price points.
The collection features more than 40 products designed for flexible living spaces, starting at $5.
The rapid sell-outs highlight the growing appetite among Australians for affordable homewares that deliver a designer look without the luxury price tag — a trend that has fuelled demand for colourful statement pieces across social media in recent months.
What’s in IKEA’s 2026 PS Collection?
IKEA described the new range as onf it its “most experimental” yet, combining functon with “unexpected elements of playfulness”.
Here’s a look at some of the colourful pieces.
You can own a quirky clock that looks like a red periscope coming up from the ground for $59.99, as well as a bizarre green face wall decoration for just $4.99.
The lamps have already sold out, with shoppers keen to get their hands on the colourful range.
Those decorations also come in a three-pack for $12.99 that has different colours.
If mirrors are your thing, there’s one that comes in a strange shape for just $19.99.
There are some multicoloured pillow cases for $9.99, a pine shelving unit for $449, vases from $29.99, portable lamps for $49.99, a pine rocking bench for $199.99, and a pink glass-door cabinet for $299.99.
The collection will land in Aussie stores from June 4.
IKEA has a $119 pine stool with an adjustable height in a design you’ve probably never seen.
“It all but invites you to reach out and try the oversized ratchet lever to see what happens next,” the brand said.
You can check out the whole range here.
The collection won’t go on sale online until June 18.
There is a big collection of chairs in the 2026 range.
What’s the thought behind these IKEA designs?
One of the designers involved in the new collection, Lex Pott, said movement was a big element as it can help make an “object feel alive” and gives it “character”.
“When something is only playful, it risks becoming a gimmick. And when it’s only functional, it can lack joy,” he said.
Items, such as the wall prints, start at as little as $5.
“But when you marry function and play, that’s when it becomes interesting design.”
Colour was also a strong theme in the collection, but for those who prefer a neutral colour, there are still items available in greys, creams and woods.
Ainslie said the range features items that could be considered “liveable art”.
“Pieces that make a statement, while still working effortlessly in everyday life,” she said.
“What we have seen is that Australian homes have become highly functional after the past couple of years of needing to work harder than ever, but now there’s a growing shift back towards homes that are full of feeling, personality, and emotionally connected to the people living there.
“With IKEA PS, it’s not just about how each piece looks at first glance, but how it continues to reveal its purpose through use.
“These are pieces designed to remind us that good design doesn’t have to be serious to be smart.”
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