1950 IKEA Catalog

The 1950 IKEA Catalog marks the initial foray of IKEA into printed marketing, offering a fascinating snapshot of the company's early identity. Unlike today’s colorful and furniture-focused publications, the 1950 edition was not in full color and resembled a classic mail-order catalog, featuring a surprisingly broad array of products. Alongside early home furnishings, it included items such as nylon stockings, face powder, jewelry, razors, pipes, and briefcases—reflecting IKEA’s origins as a general goods mail-order business. Only a portion of the pages featured furniture, but by 1951, IKEA would fully shift its focus to home furnishings, setting the stage for its future as a global design leader. The 1950 catalog stands as a rare and nostalgic collectible, providing a unique glimpse into the everyday consumer culture and design sensibilities of post-war Sweden.