Old IKEA flatpacks 'could be worth a fortune' says expert, after spike at auctions

Retro items of flatpack IKEA furniture could reach up to £5,000, depending on how rare the piece is.

An exterior view of the Ikea store

An expert says your old flatpacks could be 'worth a fortune' (Image: Getty)

Flatpacked furniture from IKEA can often be found in homes up and down the country, but few will realise it could, in fact, be 'worth a fortune'.

The hunt for vintage furniture has seemingly seen a rise in popularity, with pieces from IKEA leading the charge.

According to trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson, searches for retro IKEA pieces on Etsy have seen a 34 percent spike year-on-year.

She says pieces like lamps, chairs, and coffee tables have seen the highest number of searches. 

Ikea Technology

IKEA lamps are among the most sought after pieces. (Image: Getty)

Dayna told Grazia Casa: "I anticipate that shoppers will continue to gravitate towards nostalgic styles and items that bring back memories and well-known trusted brands."

Retro IKEA pieces are also seeing a spike at auctions, with rare styles from the '60s, '70s, and '80s - reaching up to £12,000 at collectors' auctions.

Artist Harry Stayt capitalised on the IKEA boom eight years ago, launching his project BILLYFORSALE - named after an iconic IKEA bookcase.

Harry says he receives "a lot" of requests for the '90s Vajer chest of drawers, as Brits look to find that perfect storage piece.

IKEA

IKEA furniture can be worth a fortune for re-sale (Image: Getty)

And, as with many collectibles, there are some that become the "holy grail" for those chasing them.

He says IKEA's 1970s tube-frame sofa is amongst them, with most having been "thrown away".

Some gems Harry has managed to source include a Kromvik bed from the 80s - that can fetch around £5,000 - and an Impala chair - that currently has a market value between £4,000 and £5,000.

Harry says a 1980s IKEA collection called "Tomorrow" is among his favourites.

He added: "A lot of my favourite items I have sold are from this collection, including the Haftig clock, Krasen candlesticks and Sirlig chandelier." 

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