IKEA IMAGINES LIFE AT HOME IN 2030

IKEA Retail (Ingka Group) is on an AI-fueled journey to the future to predict what the next chapter of domestic living might look like. In their recently unveiled 10th edition of the IKEA Life at Home Report, the company presents three potential scenarios for the next decade. Utilizing AI-generated imagery in partnership with art director Per Eriksson, the project vividly depicts the lives of three fictional individuals, Jin, Angela, and Jamie, as they navigate different possible home-living futures. The scenarios introduce intriguing narratives, such as holographic house parties bringing together friends from afar, bio-solar wallpaper harnessing algae to generate electricity from sunlight, and chairs crafted by 3D printers using a mushroom compound.

Angela’s home, all images by IKEA

THREE FUTURE SCENARIOS OF LIVING

IKEA‘s 2030 vision is a playful kaleidoscope of possibilities, exploring sustainable solutions for the evolving needs of individuals and families. The collection (see more here) encompasses themes such as Home on the Go, Resilient Communities, and A Nurtured Home, encouraging a reconsideration of future family gatherings and interior design choices. ‘These possible futures were created by digging into what we call ‘early signals of change’, allowing us to understand potential future trajectories. By building multiple futures scenarios, we can explore emerging needs and ensure that IKEA can continue to be a relevant partner for life, making everyday that little bit better for the many people, today and tomorrow,’ shares Maria Jeansson, Global Foresight Lead for Life at Home Report.

In this future scenario called Home on the Go, people adapt to a lifestyle of constant movement. Jin, the protagonist of this tale, adopts a highly adaptable lifestyle, furnishing his home to promote well-being. Currently residing in a pod within a high-rise apartment in central Seoul, Jin experiences the need for temporary evacuation from the lowlands due to climate reports. Despite this, he plans to return to the coast soon to prepare his home for an upcoming graduation party. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies, such as holographic meetings, provides a level of flexibility that enables access to homes from any location and at any time. This future scenario emphasizes individual progress, privacy, and the pursuit of new experiences.

Home on the Go, Jin’s home

In the future scenario of Resilient Communities, the global population is decentralized, living in distinct communities with limited connections. People choose to reside with those who share similar political views, parenting styles, or cultural preferences. Jamie, a non-binary primary school teacher, embodies this lifestyle in a small township north of Uppsala, Sweden. Living with two partners and children, their home is equipped with self-cleaning surfaces and cloud-based meal planning. Despite technological conveniences, Jamie values hands-on work on their adjacent land for the well-being benefits, while the whole family adorns the home with self-crafted 3D printed mushroom furniture. Life at home in this scenario centers around a sense of communal belonging, stability, and the efficient use of available resources.

In the scenario of A Nurtured Home, where the future is shaped by the impacts of the planet’s climate crisis and interconnected eco-initiatives, Angela is a resident who embodies the shift towards sustainable living. Angela lives with Patricia, and both share a passion for sustainable interior design. Together, they install bio-solar wallpaper using algae to generate electricity, reflecting the community’s commitment to environmental consciousness. International policies have led to interconnected eco-initiatives, and smart home systems are widely adopted to promote resource efficiency. In this scenario, transparent behaviors regarding resource consumption become more prevalent. People acknowledge the consequences and connections between their lifestyles, homes, communities, and the natural environment. In this future, homes become more responsive to external forces, incorporating both technology and nature into their design. Life at home emphasizes individual control, allowing people to explore new experiences by aligning more with nature through technology.

Home on the Go