This year, IKEA is celebrating a significant milestone, marking its 30th anniversary at Milan Design Week, an event that has become synonymous with cutting-edge design and innovation. In honor of this landmark occasion, the Swedish furniture giant has unveiled its most ambitious exhibit to date, titled 'Democratic Design.' This interactive installation draws inspiration from the findings of IKEA's annual Life at Home Report, aiming to translate valuable insights into a tangible experience that visitors can engage with and reflect upon.

The 2025 Life at Home Report reveals a fascinating statistic: 58% of individuals in the UK express a positive sentiment about their current living situation. Despite this encouraging figure, the report also highlights a paradoxmany people find it challenging to derive sufficient joy from their living spaces on a daily basis. However, the report reassures us that finding joy doesnt have to be complex; it can often be discovered in the simple, everyday moments of self-expression, comfort, and play that we cultivate within our homes.

As part of the Democratic Design exhibition, IKEA has spotlighted three core themes derived from the report: food, nature, and play. Each theme has been thoughtfully transformed into interactive and playful spaces that not only showcase their significance but also invite visitors to rethink their own living environments.

The 'food' section is particularly inviting, featuring a spacious communal table designed for visitors to sit down and enjoy a meal together. IKEA encapsulates the essence of this area by stating, Food brings people together. Tuesday night dinner. A big birthday. A bowl of ice cream on the sofa. A meal can be everything from a celebration to comfort food. And it makes everyday life at home a little bit better. This area emphasizes the role of shared meals as a vital element that can enhance daily life at home.

Transitioning to the 'nature' zone, this area is alive with greenery, showcasing a variety of plants and natural materials that foster a sense of tranquility. IKEA emphasizes that bringing nature into our homes creates a sense of balance and wellbeing. Plants, natural materials, fresh airnature boosts our mental health and simply makes home a more calming and relaxed place to be. This section encourages visitors to reflect on the importance of integrating elements of the natural world into their living spaces to promote overall wellbeing.

Finally, the 'play' area distinguishes itself with a vibrant atmosphere filled with retro game machines and football tables. IKEA reminds us that play isn't just for kids. It's a mindset. Getting lost in a hobby. Playing a game. Dancingwith the blinds up! It brings a sense of fun and creativity. But more than that, it brings joy into life at home. This highlights the notion that playfulness is an essential aspect of adult life and is crucial for nurturing our creativity and joy.

While the three focal points presented in the report are undoubtedly resonant, it is also striking to note what is absent from the exhibit. In an age dominated by 'smart home' technologies, the absence of a dedicated 'tech' section is particularly noteworthy. Instead, IKEA has chosen to emphasize natural and harmonious qualities that foster joy and comfort in the home.

The Democratic Design exhibit is located at Tenoha, Via Vigevano 18 in Milan, and is open to the public from April 7 to April 13. As Milan Design Week continues, audiences can look forward to further coverage and insights from the event, including our take on ASUS's innovative 'Ceraluminum' laptops showcased at the same venue.