For modern design at an incredibly affordable price point, no one does it quite like Ikea. The Swedish megastore is known for its kid-friendly practices, from supervised play areas to shopping strollers, baby care areas to healthy, hearty children's meals at in-store bistros and restaurants. Here are 25 of our favorite Ikea finds for little ones — from kids room essentials to fun, affordable playthings.
Not only is Ikea a one-stop panacea of shopping, but it's also doing its part to make a difference this holiday season. A global initiative founded in 2003, the Ikea Soft Toys For Education Campaign helps customers realize every child's right to a quality education. For each soft toy sold at an Ikea store from Nov. 4 through Dec. 29, 2012, one Euro (or approximately $1.31 US) is split between Save the Children and UNICEF for use in education projects in almost 40 countries. The program has already raised over $61.75 million in donations, helping 8 million children.
This year Ikea has added a new collection of adorable soft toys that are fun and educational for little ones. The Klappar Cirkus line features cuddly creatures and fun soft play hats that are perfect for encouraging imaginary play and finger-puppet productions for hours of pretend play. Ranging in price from $1 to $20, the IKEA soft toys will make budget-friendly holiday gifts.
Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member Grace Hitchcock from the Su Casa group:
I recently took on an IKEA Hack project where I transformed two wooden boxes into cute chevron storage options that add character to any space. I started with an untreated PRANT box, which actually comes unassembled and can be used as a storage box or hung on the wall as a shelf. Check out my inspiration board on Pinterest!
As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with IKEA, Elka Karl and I have been thinking of ways to punch up basic Ikea products. You may have seen how I added block-printed ikat polka dots to this Asele lampshade ($15). Well, now I'm revisiting the same shade with an entirely different approach. Armed with some thin manila rope, a glue gun, and a Bran table lamp base ($20), I set out to create a nautical-inspired lamp with a modern twist.
Keep reading to discover how easy it was to create my rope lampshade!
As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with IKEA, Angela and I have been applying simple techniques to reenvision some of our favorite IKEA products. Today, I'm sharing another of my projects.
This BEKVAM stool ($15) from IKEA is made from solid wood and is very sturdy. However, it could definitely use a little personalization.
I thought it would be fun to add some glossy color to the stool. See what I did to refresh the look of this sturdy BEKVAM stool.
We love reinventing furniture and creating our own DIY projects by using IKEA products as the basis for our new designs. Now, we want to see how you would personalize your IKEA products and style your space. We're hosting a Pinterest contest giving you a chance to show us what IKEA products you would customize and what inspiration you would use to style it —think colorblocking, fabric swatches, metallics, wallpapers . . . the sky's the limit!
See the instructions below on how to build out a Pinterest board and show us how you would complete your project and style a new space in the place you call home. Our editors will then select their favorite board and give out a $500 gift card to IKEA to make those projects happen.
To Enter:
1. Follow CasaSugar on Pinterest
2. Create a Pinterest Board titled "Styled By" and build out your inspiration board
3. Make sure you pin one or more products from IKEA and design materials from CasaSugar that will help complete your project (minimum 20 pins, please)
4. Hashtag each of your pins with #styledby
5. Share the URL link to your "Styled By" board in the comments below
Be sure to enter by May 22. We're excited to see what inspires your project! Check out the official rules here.
If you don't have a Pinterest account yet, get an invitation here.
As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with IKEA, Angela and I have been applying simple techniques to reenvision some of our favorite IKEA products. Today, I'm sharing another of my projects.
These URSULA Cushion Covers ($13 each) are made from a rough-woven ramie fabric and feature a cute gray striped lining. They seem like a perfect option for adding floor seating for a Summer picnic or outdoor patio space. However, to really add pop to a Summer patio or picnic, they need a little personalization.
I haven't done any blockprinting since my high school art class, but I decided to try it for this project. I used a linoleum block that I picked up at an art supply store, and drew a simple design on the block. With a carving tool, I cut out the pattern.
Keep reading to see how it looks on fabric
