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IKEA has inspired both designers and the average homeowner. Here, one of the slipcovers designed by Bemz on an IKEA sofa. Photo: Bemz
One furniture giant inspires a slew of creative websites.
IKEA has helped many young college students and families get their homes furnished on the cheap. It's also helped us organize our offices, furnish our bedrooms, stock our kitchens and prepare for the real world. IKEA's catalog is a wonderland of visual inspiration and, for me, little Post-it bookmarks! Oh yeah, they also make great meatballs.
But IKEA -- and its loyal fans -- probably didn't expect that the brand would become so popular that it would become the catalyst for a number of websites and businesses. The spawn of IKEA, so to speak. Here are some of my favorite sites and products inspired by the Swedish furniture giant.
The Karlanda 3-seater gets a new Marimekko slipcover courtesy of Bemz. Photo: Bemz
Bemz creates custom pillow, chair and sofa slipcovers for standard IKEA designs, offering a level of customization not available for most pieces at the store. Since IKEA has become a very recognizable brand, it's sometimes hard to create a personal space when your furnishings can be found in many homes across the world. Bemz capitalized on the desire to make IKEA pieces unique by launching a line of slipcovers in fresh-feeling colors and prints. They even offer Marimekko fabric options, but watch out -- they can get pricey.
One fan posted this photo of his IKEA kitchen on IKEA Fans. Photo: IKEAFans
IKEA Fans is the ultimate IKEA groupie destination. For anyone who loves the affordable, assembly-required giant, this is the blog to read. Not only can you keep up to date with IKEA news, you can also interact with fellow fans, get a quick fix for a common problem or even share images of your own IKEA furnishings. It's an inspirational IKEA hot spot for someone looking to get ideas on creating their very own IKEA kitchen or bath.
This plain Billy bookshelf is now a cat-climbing jungle gym. Photo: IKEA Hacker
IKEA Hacker is dedicated to finding new and creative ways to customize and personalize your IKEA furniture. I mentioned that IKEA pieces have become quite recognizable, so this is the blog to read if you want to take your IKEA pieces beyond the box and make them into something unusual. There is even an accompanying Instructables group.
Silly Swedish names for me and ShelterPop, if they were furniture. Photos: Blogadilla
This is my favorite of the bunch because growing up I always thought IKEA's Swedish furniture naming system was funny. Now you can create your very own IKEA-style name. Although the results aren't really in Swedish and they're not officially associated with IKEA, this exercise is super fun and a great time-waster when you need a work break.
And that's not all we've got on IKEA...
Designer Nick Olsen turns an IKEA coffee table into a chic dining place
IKEA Coming to an iPhone Near You
Beyond IKEA: Where to Buy Modern Furniture