Why did IKEA bring back inflatable furniture?

IKEA reengineered its inflatable chair

IKEA has unveiled a redesigned take on its inflatable furniture concept at Milan Design Week 2026. The chair is described as a “reengineered take” on an earlier inflatable staple—one that had previously felt “kitsch.” This time, IKEA is repositioning the format as a more serious piece of design rather than a novelty.

What likely changed (and why it matters)

The story doesn’t spell out engineering details, but the framing is clear: IKEA is treating inflatable furniture as an opportunity to rethink portability, storage, and modern design preferences. In practical terms, inflatable items tend to appeal because they can be:

• Lightweight and easier to transport
• More compact for storage
• Flexible for changing living situations

The relevance is bigger than one product. IKEA’s decision to spotlight an inflatable chair during a design-forward event like Milan Design Week suggests a strategy shift—testing whether consumers want novelty categories that still look contemporary and are easier to live with.

For renters, people in smaller spaces, or anyone who frequently rearranges rooms, “inflatable but better” could become part of the broader move toward modular and low-commitment home goods. The key is that the company isn’t just reviving an old idea—it’s presenting it as upgraded for modern styling and daily use.