5 IKEA PS 2026 picks for small apartments and WFH setups

Nine years between drops is a long time to build anticipation. The IKEA PS 2026 collection launched in US stores on May 14 — 44 pieces designed explicitly around "playful functionality," with small and flexible living at the center of the brief. We went through the full range and picked the five that actually earn space in a compact apartment.

What it is: A 72" steel floor lamp with adjustable joints at multiple points, designed by Lex Pott. Each joint lets you bend or twist the neck to angle light exactly where you want: reading over your shoulder, bounced off the ceiling as fill, or splashed across a wall.

Small-apartment case: Replaces both a dedicated desk lamp and an ambient lamp with one cord. The narrow base (11" diameter) fits behind a sofa or beside a standing desk without claiming floor real estate. Works as IKEA smart home-compatible if you add a TRÅDFRI GU10 bulb ($9.99 for wireless dimming from your phone). 2

Assembly: One package, 14 lb. Multiple reviewers note it's quick to assemble — the only snag is confirming cord routing before snapping the joints into final position.

Colors: Blue, dark red, yellow.

What it is: A foldable metal side table (dark red) designed for one-hand carry and instant deployment. The frame snaps open and closed; the top wipes clean.

Small-apartment case: This is the table that lives leaned against the wall until you need it. Coffee table overflow during dinner. Extra prep surface when your kitchen counter runs out of room. Laptop stand when you move your work to the couch. At 15 lb and priced at $39.99, it's cheap enough to own two. 3

Assembly: No tools. Unfold and use.

What it is: A solid pine bedside table at 11¾" × 11¾" × 19⅝" — roughly the footprint of a large book — with a flip-down front panel and a cable-routing hole in the back corner. Designed by Ola Wihlborg; the birdhouse aesthetic is intentional.

Small-apartment case: Most studio apartments have exactly zero clearance beside the bed. This table's square footprint fits a 12" gap between bed frame and wall. The hidden interior shelf tidies a phone, a charger, and whatever you're currently reading in a single sealed compartment, so your nightstand doesn't double as visual clutter. Pine ages into its own character — it's not going to look worse after a few years. 4

Assembly: One package, 15 lb. Standard IKEA flat-pack; no power tools.

What it is: A 15" periscope-shaped aluminum desk clock designed by Marta Krupińska. Silent quartz movement (no ticking). Red powder-coated steel and aluminum body. Runs on a single AA battery.

WFH case: A mute clock on your desk is a productivity tool you don't consciously notice until it's gone. This one takes up 5½" × 8½" of desk footprint — less than a standard keyboard — and doubles as the kind of object that registers when you're on a video call. Reviewers call it a "statement piece that makes you smile." No assembly whatsoever: drop in the battery, set the hands. 5

Assembly: Zero. Battery not included (1×AA).

What it is: A chrome-frame chair with an inflatable seat and back cushion. The outer fabric cover is machine-washable and removable. Designed by Mikael Axelsson. Available in cobalt blue and green.

Small-apartment case: This is the seating option that stores in a cabinet when you don't need it. Deflate the cushion, remove the cover, fold the frame: it goes flat. For a studio where floor space triples as living room, dining room, and home office, an extra chair that can disappear is genuinely different from an extra chair that takes up permanent square footage. The inflatable structure also lets you dial the seat firmness — a practical feature often missing from budget chairs. 16

Assembly: Attach frame, insert cushions, inflate to preferred firmness. No tools.

Where to buy: In US stores from May 14. Online availability starts May 28. 1 The collection is limited — if something sells out online, check the IKEA PS 2026 collection page for restocks.