LINDÅKRA: a multifunctional solution for contemporary living

The LINDÅKRA 2-seat sofa bed by IKEA embodies this shift, offering a harmonious blend of comfort, style, and practicality tailored for compact, ever-changing spaces. But what inspired this versatile design, and what insights shaped its development?

To uncover the story, we spoke with Juan Cardenal Baste, Product Design Developer for Range Area Seating at IKEA. In this exclusive interview, Juan shares the vision behind LINDÅKRA, exploring how evolving consumer needs, urbanization, and IKEA’s Democratic Design principles came together to create this innovative piece. From navigating design challenges to addressing the realities of small-space living, Juan provides a glimpse into the journey of designing furniture that not only fulfills expectations but transforms the way we live.

What input drove IKEA to design this solution? Which insights was it based on?

Juan Cardenal Baste:

“We know that more and more people around the world are looking at sofa beds as a solution to their home furnishing needs. Our research shows that the perception of the sofa bed, as well as its role in the home, has changed. Whereas before the sofa bed used to be a secondary space piece of furniture mainly for guests, today it’s a more present and natural part of people’s lives in what at IKEA we call the everyday room – a space in the home for everyone, guests included, that supports multiple activities, sometimes all at once, and can adapt as needs change. 

There is a growing demand for sofa beds as multifunctional furniture solution: 

Spaces are becoming smaller – more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas today – a share expected to grow to two-thirds by 2050. For most city dwellers, limited space and consequent high costs have turned small space living into the norm, and they must get creative to make their space functional and into a home. 

Many young adults want to be able to move on their own, with roommates or partners, and need solutions that fit their lifestyle but also their limited budget. 

Some people sleep on sofa beds in their living room every night – we know that in Poland, for example, 41% of people do so – and need a furnishing solution that will help them transition from sleeping quarters to living area, and vice versa, quickly and smoothly.”

The sofa integrates multiple functions into a single design. What were the primary challenges from a design standpoint?

Juan Cardenal Baste:

“The challenges were many, as it’s the case when you try to develop a piece of furniture that is highly functional (that can do so many things). If I had to pick a couple it would be finding the right balance between form and function at the right price. We wanted to challenge conventions with LINDÅKRA, make a sofa that had a relatively small footprint and could support all those activities effortlessly and in a very fluid way. So yes, I would say offer versatility and usability with a strong design language.”

LINDÅKRA was designed to make the most of limited space in smaller rooms. Given this focus, what features are “compromised” compared to a traditional sofa?

Juan Cardenal Baste:

“The whole idea of LINDÅKRA is that no features are compromised to make it truly multifunctional. We believe it is just as comfortable as any other sofa in its price range, and includes several added features (storage, chaise longue, puff chair, footstool, table, etc.)”

In recent years, modular sofa systems have become a notable trend. How does IKEA approach this design style within its sofa category?

Juan Cardenal Baste:

“At IKEA we work a bit differently. Our product design and development are based on people’s needs—that’s where it all starts. We try to understand people’s challenges at home and aim to develop solutions to those challenges. With LINDÅKRA, we saw that there was a need for more multifunctional sofa beds for small-space living, so we explored how we could bring that solution to life.”

When considering the design of Lindåkara, what key principles can be identified as guiding its development?

Juan Cardenal Baste:

“We design and develop all our products following our Democratic Design principles of form, function, quality, sustainability and low price. That’s the approach we took with LINDÅKRA as well. We always use Democratic Design as our guiding star; it is a very powerful tool to help us along the way of product development when we face challenges and all the decisions and crossroads that come along with them. The key is to find a strong, relevant balance between the five principles, then we know we are on the right path to achieve something worthwhile.”