IKEA’s New Collection Transports You to a Functional, Playful Wonderland (A Bench That Rocks! A Vase with Ears!)

I love IKEA’s kids-centric GREJSIMOJS collection; its furry chairs and fantastically colorful floor cushions seem to have been made to spill out of the playroom and into the rest of a whimsical, colorful home. So when I saw the Swedish retailer’s newest PS series collection, which goes live online today, I immediately saw a connection: The latest line, while designed with grownups in mind, has a similar vibe to GREJSIMOJS — it’s as if the playroom packed up its most delightfully quirky little details and scattered them throughout the rest of the house.

Among the 42 new items are design-forward finds like a delicate glass vase with oversized rounded handles that resemble ears, a glossy cherry-red clock with a submarine periscope-like silhouette, and an asymmetrical mirror that pairs an organic shape with bold primary colors for an artsy look at an approachable price point. Furniture pieces — including an emerald-hued inflatable (yes, inflatable!) armchair wrapped in chrome tubing with a retro feel, a smart folding dining table, a rattan ottoman with a removable top for storage, and a cotton-candy pink glass-door cabinet — each balance practicality with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.

And then there are the following standouts, which I think would shine in every family-friendly corner of the house. Each one puts the “fun” in functional.

The collection’s four-level utility cart is a wheeled trolley option that can roll from playroom to kitchen to living room depending on where you need easily accessible storage the most. It’s also available in a neutral beige, but I much prefer the airy sky-blue shade for an unexpected, but not-clashing, pop of color.

This solid wood nightstand is giving adorable birdhouse. It’s got a round opening and fold-down front that allows kids (or adults) to easily grab books or other items tucked inside, plus an interior shelf with a hole for cables. It’s finished pine, so you can’t paint it, but the natural look stands up on its own.

Who doesn’t need extra hooks? I currently have an embarrassing array of removable plastic hooks doing duty for my kids’ many coats in the entryway —  functional, but not chic. I’d love to replace them with this five-hook rack. The blue hooks are retractable, and the design is a cheeky update on the much loved Shaker peg rail design. 

Bench meets rocking chair in this solid pine piece that rocks gently from side to side. Bonus points for the felt strips to protect floors and a clear lacquered finish, to keep it in good condition for as long as possible. 

This cheerful green chair (also available in a Cookie Monster shade of bright blue) features a “backrest” with a cylindrical silhouette that channels just the right level of playfulness, while still feeling polished enough to work around a dining room table. I put “backrest” in quote marks because the chair is designed to sit in from multiple angles — you could also sit backward and use the cylinder as an elbow rest while doing homework, or sit sideways and hang out while the cylinder acts as an armrest.