Small Space Living Challenge

[ O p p o r t u n i t y ]

As mentioned above, the goal was to create a space under 100 square feet and complete them by January 1, 2026. We thoroughly reviewed the overall layout of the showroom to identify the area of opportunity. Few options were brought up, but the first block of the first department in the showroom stood out as the strongest candidate for this challenge for multiple reasons. 

First, this location allowed us to showcase all four IKEA style expressions, living situation, long term priorities, and price points—the IKEA way of designing. Second, it gave us the opportunity to not only add a new room but also reduce the size of the existing the lowest-priced room, which always has been a problem in terms of commercial perspective. Adding a small space room in this specific location not only fulfilled the area market manager's request, but it also addressed the existing issue within the store.

[ M o o d b o a r d ]

The existing room featuring the lowest-priced solution reflected a clean, modern Scandinavian expression. To better showcase the breadth of IKEA’s style offerings, we designed the newly added room with a rustic, more traditional expression, creating a clear contrast and highlighting the diversity of design possibilities within the same footprint.

[ P l a n n i n g ]

After creating a mood board, I had dived into planning phase, where I get to ideate and create actual solutions for the new room. This phase is divided into three steps, which are rough planning, fine planning, and detailed planning.

 Although the two rooms shared a similar footprint, their bubble diagrams differed significantly, as each addressed different customer needs. One focused on demonstrating maximum storage solutions for small-space living, while the other emphasized delivering the lowest possible price point for a functional living room. 

After we decided on the main product and our preferred option, I moved into the fine planning phase. During this phase, I developed more detailed solutions for each function bubble created earlier. I also researched finishes and materials for the room in greater depth and prepared the carpentry and electrical requests to ensure the room was ready for implementation. After creating all the necessary documents, I proceeded to produce realistic 3D perspectives to share with the departments partnering with us on this project. 

[ F i n a l   P h o t o s ]