It's 2025 and the local market's love for Scandinavian home decor hasn't waned. Just watch any interior design tour of Singaporean housing. Apart from a handful of outliers, our population of normies doesn't stray too far from the Nordic light.
For good reason, we should add. It's clean, it's classic. The very best of this isn't found in IKEA, but in its signature STOCKHOLM collection. Created to prove high quality doesn't have to come at an intimidating cost, the eighth edition commemorates four decades since its launch in 1985. It's also the largest.
“You’d think a collection called STOCKHOLM would just have a big city feeling. But we went outside the city, to the nature and islands around it. That shift was inspiring. One highlight was working with our Swedish pine supplier to source the highest-quality pine," says Nike Karlsson, one of the designers.
"People often think of pine as a budget material, but when you go for the best, its beauty is undeniable. The bench and sofa really show that. The sofa is our first foam-free design. It’s got a 100 percent cotton weave and is filled with coconut fibres and pocket springs. It makes this satisfying sound when you sit–that’s quality you can feel and hear.”
Give the copywriter a raise because that's a solid tagline for the ensemble of furnishing. So many, you say, mouth unglamorously agape at the sturdy wood, handwoven wool, mouth-blown glass, and handcrafted rattan. 80, to be exact, but we'll break it down for you. The pieces you like according to what it says about you. Keep in mind that personality quiz results are like horoscope readings: best taken with a pinch of salt.
THE GOODEST BOI
Neutral colours, neat lines, and symmetry are your holy grail. You probably have a Pinterest board titled “Minimalist Goals”. You’re all about holding spaces that feel welcoming, yet timeless. No fads here—only the tried-and-true. Some might call you predictable, but you prefer 'consistent'; because classics never goes out of style.
BIG P (PARTY) ENERGY
Bold patterns (Swedish birchwood, in this case) and unexpected touches complete you. Who needs boring beige walls when you can have a forest on your lamp? You’re not afraid to mix and match, creating vibrant rooms as exciting as your personality. Your motto is likely “If it sparks joy, it stays”.
MR FANCYPANTS
You’re the very definition of elegance. Your aesthetic is sophisticated and polished, like the traditional blown glass sculptures. Everything in your arena is painfully curated, because details make all the difference. Sometimes you're subtle, sometimes you're glossy. Ultimately, opulence is effortless.
BORDERLINE OCD
'Functional', 'optimised', and other keywords like 'storage solutions' turn you on. Maximised utility like the movable coffee table. Multifuctional like the super modular two-seater that transforms to accommodate as many as you'd like. Each item carries a purpose, and the result is an environment as sharp and savvy as your mind.
The STOCKHOLM collection is now progressively released online and in stores.
