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In a nod to the ever-evolving needs of gamers and their households, IKEA has proudly announced its latest collection: BRÄNNBOLL. Blending comfort, style and versatility, the new lineup boasts 20 distinct pieces designed to transform gaming setups into seamless extensions of home decor. The collection was first unveiled at Milan Design Week last month — marking the Swedish furniture brand’s second time at the esteemed fair — and hits stores this September.
As the global gaming community has skyrocketed to a staggering 3.3 billion people, gaming has transcended mere hobby status to become an integral part of daily life for millions. Recognizing this shift, IKEA stepped onto the scene with their new collection, offering smart solutions tailored not only for gaming aficionados but also for those seeking multifunctional furniture that effortlessly transitions between leisure and everyday living.
The IKEA team conducted extensive research, visiting hundreds of gamers’ homes to figure out what gaming looks like in reality and what holes still needed to be filled in the market. They found many.
“There are so many stereotypes associated with gaming and what gaming looks like and we really found out that it’s really, really diverse,” product design developer Philip Dilé told Variety about their process designing the collection. “They don’t want it to be an afterthought.”
At the heart of the collection lies an array of ergonomic seating options, meticulously crafted to accommodate various gaming postures and preferences. From inflatable chairs to versatile gaming stations equipped with storage solutions and cable management, each piece seamlessly marries form and function. Two of the best pieces are the inflatable chair ($79), which builds on previous attempts at introducing inflatable furniture, and the Easy Chair, which is essentially a “swinging” rocking chair.
“We wanted that motion,” Dilé says, adding that he and the team experimented with traditional rocking chairs at first but that they needed to find a way to construct a lighter version. “In this case, we wanted something light so it’s not too imposing. We wanted it to have really great movement, both for immersion into the game and ergonomics. So a lot of the bases are lightweight, and they’re sort of off the ground. They’re easy to move and perform double duty.”
Beyond seating, the collection includes storage solutions and decorative accents designed to complement and enhance a diverse range of modern homes. Pieces include a gaming station ($399), equipped with a foldable tabletop, integrated PC tower storage, cable management, that transforms effortlessly from a playground to a discreet storage unit. Adding to the collection are a number of storage solutions, such as a wall-mounted cabinet ($45), castors on wheels ($99) and side tables ($59).
One of Dilé’s favorite pieces is the multifunctional basket that doubles as a movable self-standing table ($49). “Here, we really wanted to make something that protected your gear when you’re not using it,” he says. “So it’s really sturdy but it’s also a soft surface so you don’t damage what’s inside, and there’s slots for cables for charging. And then the superpower is that it becomes a table. So let’s say you’re gaming on a Switch, you can even put it up here. Or, if you’re on the couch, you have everything very close now.”
Below, check out the best pieces from IKEA’s BRÄNNBOLL collection below, and shop the entire lineup online and in stores beginning September, 2024.
Source Agencies
