Turns Out There’s a Reason Why IKEA Furniture Has Such Weird Names

You mean Arkelstorp actually means something?

If you’re like me, you’ve probably walked around IKEA and had a good laugh at some of the names they choose for their furniture.

Come on, you tell me Knutstorp ain’t funny?

My teenage immaturity aside, it turns out there is a special science to how IKEA names its furniture and it will blow you mind.

Javert: AND I AM JAVERT, DO NOT FORGET MY NAME
IKEA: got it pic.twitter.com/6Zmq88quRq

— Daihatsu Burger Tray (@villainmorris) September 11, 2017

IKEA’s naming system all goes back to its Swedish founder Ingvar Kamprad (cool name btw). According to Business Insider Kamprad has dyslexia so he needed a better way to simplify the item codes.

His solution? Name IKEA products after specific and categorised Swedish words. Genius. For example, rugs at IKEA are named after cities and towns in Denmark.

Here’s how it works:

• Beds, wardrobes = areas in Norway.
• Outdoor furniture = Scandinavian islands.
• Rugs = cities/towns in Denmark.
• Bedding = flowers and plants.
• Children’s furniture = mammals, birds and adjectives.
• Fabrics/curtains = female names.
• Bookcases = professional occupations and male names.

To make sure this isn’t some fake news, I put the system to the test, and it was bang on. The Tufjord double bed is indeed an area in Norway that I found on Google Maps, and the Ullvide bed sheet is the Swedish name of a plant also known as the Woolly Willow.

Side note: I want a Woolly Willow; it sounds so cool.

Seriously, once you've finished eating your swedish meatballs, give it a go for yourself. Just pick an item in the IKEA catalogue, search for the Swedish meaning and voila.

I know you probably think this is useless information, but I bet my house you will tell your mates.

Who am I kidding? I don’t have a house to bet, just smashed avo on toast.

If you’re really looking to jump down the IKEA rabbit hole, here’s a link to the unofficial IKEA dictionary. Massive respect to the person who created this, that’s dedication.

Oh, and Arkelstorp? It’s a town in Sweden.

Header Image: Francis Dean / Contributor via Getty Images