Issue 4: a folding chair, an inflatable chair, a desk clock, and two non-PS surprises
Five picks for May 25–June 1, 2026 — the first week all four markets have confirmed pricing on every featured item. PS 2026 picks: the folding birch chair (pre-assembled, wall-mountable, $59 US); the inflatable easy chair (now live across all four markets, $199.99 US); and the periscope table clock (silent, no-assembly, $39.99 US). Non-PS picks: the LILLESÄTER swivel chair ($399 US, 90% recycled polyester) and the KLIPPBOK water leak sensor ($7.99 US, Matter over Thread, 85 dB alarm plus HomeKit push notification).
Issues 1–3 worked through the PS 2026 collection launch. This week is the first where US and UK prices are confirmed across everything featured — so for the first time, all four markets can buy on the same day. Two of this week's five picks are also outside PS 2026 entirely: a new swivel chair that Apartment Therapy called "designer-looking," and a water leak sensor at $7.99 that arrived in US stores Memorial Day weekend. The other three are PS 2026 items not covered in earlier issues.
Pick 1: PS 2026 folding birch chair — $59 / £50 / ¥10,000 / 479 SEK
Best for: Small apartments that need an extra seat on demand — one that stores flat on the wall when not in use
Ellen Hallström designed this chair around a constraint most small-apartment residents know well: there is no room for a spare chair that just sits there. The PS 2026 folding birch chair collapses flat and hangs on two wall hooks — invisible when guests aren't coming, ready in seconds when they are. 1
One US buyer described it as "Mondrian-esque" — the blue, black, and red painted birch panels do read like a Piet Mondrian composition once you see it. 1 It rated 5/5 in the US, with at least one Burbank store selling out the same morning it landed. 1
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US | $59.00 | Online now · Art. 106.178.94 |
| UK | £50 | Online now |
| Japan | ¥10,000 | Online now · Art. 20617959 |
| Sweden | 479 SEK | IKEA Family promo through Jun 21 (regular 599 SEK) |
Dimensions: 45 cm W × 51 cm D × 76 cm H (17 ¾" × 20 ⅛" × 29 ⅞") · Seat height: 46 cm (18 ⅛") · Weight: 3.7 kg
Assembly: None. The chair ships pre-assembled — open the box, hang it on two sturdy hooks, and it's ready. No tools, no instructions to follow. Max load: 110 kg (243 lb).
Pick 2: PS 2026 inflatable easy chair (Knäbäck) — $199.99 / £129 / ¥21,990 / 1,495 SEK
Best for: One-person living rooms that need a proper lounge chair without committing floor space to a heavyweight upholstered piece
The inflatable easy chair has been the most-discussed item in the PS 2026 collection since launch — it sat behind a regional availability wall until this week, when the US and UK sites both went live. Mikael Axelsson, the IKEA in-house designer behind it, built the concept around using air as a structural material: "I wanted to minimize the amount of material needed to make this chair and use air — something that is free and everywhere around us." 3
The seat and back each have two independent inflatable chambers, so you can tune firmness separately. A pump ships in the box. 3 One US buyer put it plainly: "Star of the PS 26 Collection... comfortable to sit in." 3 A separate US reviewer noted a chrome blemish on the frame — worth an in-store inspection before committing, if you have access. 3
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US | $199.99 | Online now · Art. 606.330.66 |
| UK | £129 | Online now · Art. 50623204 |
| Japan | ¥21,990 | Online now · Art. 70623203 |
| Sweden | 1,495 SEK | Online now · Art. 90623202 |
Dimensions: 73 cm W × 84 cm D × 70 cm H (28 ¾" × 33 ⅛" × 27 ½") · Seat height: 45 cm · Weight (packaged): 8.8 kg
Assembly: Required — attach the chromed steel frame and fit the cushion covers, then inflate using the included pump. Seat cover is machine-washable (cool water, no tumble dry). User rating: 4.6/5 across 16 US reviews. Max load: 110 kg.
Pick 3: PS 2026 table clock — $39.99 / £25 / ¥4,999 / 399 SEK
Best for: WFH desks that need a clock that doesn't tick, doesn't take up much shelf depth, and can double as a sculptural object
At 14 cm wide and 38 cm tall, this clock fits where most clocks don't — upright on a narrow desk shelf, squeezed between a monitor and a wall. Marta Krupińska (who also designed the PS 2026 rocking bench) based the form on a periscope. The body is aluminum and steel; the base is solid concrete for stability. The quartz movement is silent. 5
A UK reviewer who bought it summed it up: "Function first — the clock works well and it's silent. Then the reason I really bought it — it's a statement piece, an iconic design that makes you smile and it will add a pop of colour wherever it goes." 5
One detail worth knowing: the clock face is a removable plastic panel, which means the hollow frame interior is accessible for small storage. 5
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US | $39.99 | Online now · Art. 806.227.88 |
| UK | £25 | Online now |
| Japan | ¥4,999 | Online now · Art. 006.227.87 |
| Sweden | 399 SEK | Online now |
Dimensions: 14 cm W × 22 cm D × 38 cm H · Runs on 1 AA battery (not included; IKEA's own LADDA rechargeable works)
Assembly: None. Place it, put in a battery, set the time. No tools required.
Pick 4: LILLESÄTER swivel chair — $399 / £229 / ¥24,990
Best for: Small living rooms that want one accent chair that can rotate to face the desk, the TV, or a conversation — without buying a $1,000+ designer piece
The LILLESÄTER (pronounced lil-EH-sate-er) swivel chair is the newest member of the LILLESÄTER series, which also includes sofas and loveseats. Matilda Lindstam Nilsson designed it. 7 Apartment Therapy covered it on May 27, calling it a "durable, statement-making chair with a cozy, wool-like texture." 8
The fabric is 100% polyester (minimum 90% recycled), dope-dyed with a mélange two-tone effect that reads as wool to the eye. 7 The seat is pocket springs over cold-molded foam — medium-firm, not the soft-sink you get in most budget chairs. Two colors: Gunnared dark blue and Axvall off-white. Cover is non-removable; clean with a vacuum or damp cloth. 7
One verified buyer wrote: "It simply doesn't get any better than this. Far below the average price for comparable armchairs. It can be swiveled, is water-repellent and upholstery which is even washable." 7
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US | $399.00 | Art. 506.184.91 · Gunnared dark blue or Axvall off-white |
| UK | £229 | — |
| Japan | ¥24,990 | — |
Dimensions: 70 cm W × 79 cm D × 71 cm H · Seat height: 42 cm · Seat depth: 53 cm · Weight (packaged): 28.8 kg
Assembly: Minimal — attach the swivel base to the seat. Abrasion resistance: 55,000 cycles. 10-year limited warranty. 3 early reviews average 3.7/5.
Pick 5: KLIPPBOK water leak sensor — $7.99
Best for: Anyone in a rental apartment who has ever come home to water under the washing machine, under the refrigerator, or pooling from a slow pipe — and wants an 85 dB alarm plus a phone notification for $8
The KLIPPBOK (Swedish: "cut book") water leak sensor is part of IKEA's Matter-compatible smart home line, announced in November 2025. 9 It arrived in US stores around Memorial Day weekend. At $7.99, it costs roughly one-third of comparable leak sensors from other brands. 10
Paul Thurrott at Thurrott.com tested it: "Immediately, all hell broke loose. The KLIPPBOK flashed a white light and emitted an ear-piercing siren. My iPhone lit up with an Apple Home notification alerting me to the leak." 10 He confirmed it works well with Apple HomeKit. Google Home users report connectivity issues — if your setup is Google-based, check the reviews before buying. 10
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US | $7.99 | Art. 506.177.69 · In stores and online now |
| UK / Japan / Sweden | Not confirmed | — |
Dimensions: 7.6 × 5.1 × 2.5 cm · Weight: 28 g · Runs on 2 AAA batteries (sold separately)
Setup: Uses Matter over Thread protocol. Works as a standalone local alarm out of the box (no hub required for the 85 dB siren). For smartphone push notifications, you need a Thread Border Router — IKEA's DIRIGERA hub ($69.99) works, as does an Apple HomePod mini. Place on the floor near appliances or pipes; the sensor contacts sit on the bottom face and trigger on contact with water. 135 US reviews average 3.5/5. 9
Pricing confirmed as of June 1, 2026. Sweden IKEA Family price for the folding birch chair runs through June 21. KLIPPBOK pricing outside the US is not yet confirmed across other markets. 24
Cover image: PS 2026 folding birch chair. Image from IKEA US product page
References
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8The IKEA LILLESÄTER Swivel Chair Looks Designer — Apartment Therapy
apartmenttherapy.com
- 9
- 10
This story was produced automatically by a channel. One sentence is all it takes for Neodrop to keep producing for you.