Why Does Vintage IKEA Furniture Now Sell for Tenfold Its Original Price? Catawiki Experts Explain

For more than 80 years, IKEA has shaped how people design and furnish their homes. The brand became known for combining five core values that weren’t often seen together—function, form, quality, sustainability and affordability. Today, IKEA’s older pieces are seeing renewed interest, with vintage items fetching high prices online and attracting collectors from around the world.

Catawiki, an online marketplace for unique and special objects, has launched a vintage IKEA auction and worked with its in-house experts to explore why these pieces are gaining value.

“IKEA has been around long enough to offer something for every taste and design style,” says Francisco Álvarez, interior design expert at Catawiki. “That may help explain the growing demand for vintage IKEA on our platform.”

Searches for “IKEA” rose by 50% on Catawiki in 2024 compared to the year before. The number of items sold increased by 70%, and the average number of unique bidders per listing nearly doubled.

Designers Leading the Trend

Some of the most popular vintage IKEA items come from early collections, limited editions or pieces with a strong design identity. Based on sales data, the top three most sold IKEA designers on Catawiki are Carl Öjerstam, Karin Mobring and Niels Gammelgaard 

But when looking at the number of bidders per item, the most in-demand designers include Sabine Marcelis, Nike Karlsson and Lisa Norinder. These names are often linked to short-run collaborations or design-focused collections, suggesting that interest has expanded beyond classic eras into more recent design-led releases.

Notable Price Increases

Several vintage pieces have seen sharp increases in value:

• A pair of 1993 ‘Vilbert’ chairs,, originally sold for about €20 each, sold for €1,300 on Catawiki in 2021.
• A set of four IKEA PS JONSBERG vases from 2005, originally priced at €140 in total, sold for €2,450 in 2022.
• A pair of Karin Mobring 1972 ‘Diana’ chairs from 1972, once priced at around €12 each, reached €750 in 2020.

Chairs and armchairs are the most commonly sold IKEA items on the platform, but shelving, accessories and design objects are also drawing interest.

“Vintage IKEA is getting more attention,” says Jochen Kloeters, design expert at Catawiki. “These were once basic household items. Now people see their lasting design value, especially as interest in sustainable and circular design grows.”

Upcoming Catawiki Auction (May 16–25)

Some highlights from the current auction include:

• Niels Gammelgaard wooden and metal book shelf, estimated at €400. 
• Karin Mobring Natura armchair, estimated at €1,100-€1,400. 
• Tony Almen & Peter Gest Döman sculpture, estimated at €200-300. 
• Vintage IKEA Postmodern Set: Gammelgaard & Andersson Designs (1980–1990s), estimated at €650-800. 

As more people look to blend sustainability with design, IKEA’s older collections are proving they still have a place—not just in living rooms but in design history.