Woman's Shout-Out to Retired IKEA Catalog Has People Feeling Nostalgic

For decades, retailers used to mail out colorful seasonal shopping catalogs in the hopes of firing up their customers for a shopping spree. But in recent years, physical catalogs have gone the way of the rotary phone and the VHS player into obsolescence. Perhaps it's for the best (I'm sure they weren't exactly great for the environment), but lots of people really miss the nostalgia of poring over paper catalogs!

Andrea, a professional interior designer, also misses the days of sitting down with an IKEA catalog in hand. Since IKEA no longer produces physical catalogs, though, she decided to inspire her fans by making her own "video catalog" of IKEA's new Fall 2024 finds!

What Andrea (aka @thedesignmorsels ) missed most about the old catalogs was getting to see brand-new items framed in colorful, creative panoramas without having to go to the store. Nowadays, you can still get inspired by IKEA's creative in-store "roomsets," but not everyone can just easily pop over to IKEA whenever they feel like it!

Related: IKEA's New Fall Furniture Drops Will Have People in Line

Andrea's ode to the obsolete IKEA catalog had her followers feeling nostalgic, too.

"I used to collect the IKEA catalog; it feels honestly bad that they don't even bother to do a digital version anymore," @littlefriendsof commiserated.

"Getting the new IKEA catalog every fall was such a treat," @agent__cooper agreed.

"I miss the catalog. It was so nice to sit with a tea and go through it and mark the pages with what I thought would look good in my home," @fromwherecarolinastands related.

A Video Catalog for Fall Finds

Unfortunately, Andrea couldn't bring back those classic catalogs, but she did the next best thing by documenting IKEA's newest seasonal drops on her quarterly run, detailing the look, feel, and build of each item to help her followers know what to expect before they committed to an IKEA trip. Andrea's full "video catalog" is really informative, but I did want to touch on a few of its highlights - and lowlights!

IKEA's Fall 2024 Catalog: The "Hots"

As a seasoned interior designer , Andrea knows not to judge a piece by its cover. Not only were these new seasonal releases appealing to the eye, but they also passed Andrea's muster in terms of comfort and quality. Here are a few of her faves:

• TOLKNING Rattan Storage Ottoman ($90): This one was Andrea's favorite. She loved its sizable drum shape, its ample storage capacity, and its appealing texture. While it's made from natural rattan fibers and has a lightweight look, it's strong enough to be sat on. We love furniture that's versatile!
• IDANÄS Cabinet with Bi-Folding Doors ($400): Though this cabinet is built from lightweight materials, Andrea didn't find it flimsy at all. Its small, space-saving bi-fold doors were a stylish and functional highlight as well!
• Comfy Chairs: Andrea had two particular faves - the cushy UPPLAND armchair ($479 in Kilanda white beige) and the modern, director's chair-inspired SJÄLSÖ armchair ($130). These were comfortable, sturdy, and had tons of DIY upholstery potential. Customizable IKEA furniture is always a hit with the DIY crowd!

IKEA's Fall 2024 Catalog: The "Nots"

While Andrea's video catalog was mostly positive, a few new items failed to impress her:

• ROCKSJÖN Armchair ($249 in Klovsta gray/white): Andrea was initially wooed over by its cute appearance, but it proved too uncomfortable to pass her "sit test."
• BERGMUND Upholstered Chair ($125): Same issues as the ROCKSJÖN - it looked great, but Andrea felt it was just too uncomfortable for practical use!
• The KUSTFYR Halloween Collection : OK, technically, there was nothing wrong with this collection; it's just that Andrea never got the chance to check it out for herself! Halloween decorations go fast, so check online to make sure your nearest IKEA still has them in stock before planning a trip!

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