When the LÖVET, a graceful, leaf-shaped coffee table was launched in 1956, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad described it as “a lovely little thing, in ultra-modern design”. It had jacaranda in the top and three brass-covered feet. However, it was slightly too large to fit in a tiny IKEA coworker‘s car who was tasked to deliver a table to a photo studio to be shot for the catalog. He then saw the legs of the table off and reattached them later. The rest is history.
The table was available until 1962, and then took a long break until 2013. Back to 2000s, a lot of people were interested in these design classics so decision was made to recreate some – one of them was the iconic LÖVET table. An important difference with the reproduced coffee table was that IKEA no longer used jacaranda, a tropical wood species that, today, has to be protected from logging. IKEA chose more sustainable species – these are sawn in a way so they look just like the original. These days it's called LÖVBACKEN and it still may be brought home same way as before – packed into flat package.
The effects of flatpacks
So many things that you might associate with IKEA sprang from that moment. The idea that it would be easier and more affordable for people to transport their new flat packed furniture home themselves and then assemble it themselves, was born. IKEA flat packs have revolutionized furniture-making and home furnishing history. Today, most IKEA products come in flat packs.Use of flat packaging idea was highly appreciated by consumers too as prices of furniture from the range have reached an all-time low in the industry. Ease of transport and convenient moving products by ourselves is just another effect consumers loved. Less trucks on the road means less CO2 and lastly, IKEA flatpacks encouraged designers to take the challenge of creating functional products that are also clean in design and minimalistic.