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Moving from one apartment to the next on your own is no easy feat. I’ve been there personally (there being on a hot subway train with a framed painting awkwardly wedged underneath one arm and three over-stuffed tote bags slung over the other) and I’ve seen plenty of city dwellers doing the same. Sometimes, the only way to get a dining chair from point A to point B is to lug it there yourself. Leave it to IKEA to make such solo moves less stressful.
Portability was the starting point for the Swedish retailer’s newest collection. Dubbed Kompishäng, the August 15 launch consists of 11 pieces that are all designed to be carried in convenient ways, often using your back or shoulders so your hands remain free. The items are also meant to get you settled in your new spot fast. For instance, there’s a solid pine desk that requires no tools to assemble: two pulls, two clicks, and—voila!—you can get to work. That same piece has a built-in handle under the tabletop, so you can haul it from one room to another.
“Weight was definitely an important consideration throughout the design process,” says Ina Tidbeck Sjöblom, the creative leader behind Kompishäng. “The products have been designed to be manageable to carry and move, while still feeling like proper furniture.” You don’t have to search hard for the thoughtful details. There’s a small groove in the mirror frame where you can set pictures and postcards; the plant pot’s hidden cover can be pulled up to protect it during transit; and the hanging wardrobe includes straps so you can wear it as a backpack. Our pick? The stools, which stack on top of each other like puzzle pieces, forming a multi-tier stand for greenery, books, and the like.
Unsurprisingly, the pieces are the definition of rental-friendly. The red metal bookshelf doesn’t require an open wall to keep titles upright and presentable. In fact, it looks cool sitting on the floor. Two door hanger options, attached using straps instead of screws, offer even more landlord-approved storage. During the prototyping stage, IKEA intern designer Constance Thiessoz tested the canvas version by stashing shoes, accessories, and small gadgets inside the pockets, but the possibilities for corralling everyday clutter—cooking utensils! kids’ toys!—are endless.
While Kompishäng will speak to design-loving nomads, the pieces are made to stick with you long-term. As Tidbeck Sjöblom points out, the textiles can be washed when they show wear and the wood furniture can be sanded and refreshed with paint down the road. “A dream would be if these pieces were passed from one person to another,” she says, “staying in use for as long as possible.” says.