In this podcast, you’ll learn about the furniture and home improvement store IKEA. Whether you’re a huge fan of shopping there or you’ve never heard of IKEA, you’ll learn lots of new vocabulary.
Many thanks yet again to Carmen from Malaga for the idea for today’s podcast.
DIY and Home Improvement: https://inglespodcast.com/182
IKEA
As of 2025, there are approximately 483 IKEA stores operating in 63 countries. But in case you’ve never heard of it, here is a short description.
IKEA is a big multinational company that sells ready-to-assemble furniture and and kitchen appliances at affordable prices. It started in Sweden in 1943 and has since expanded worldwide. IKEA stores are designed as large warehouses with a showroom where customers can see furniture setups, get inspiration, and then pick up products like beds, tables, chairs, lights, and kitchen tools. In the store, you can see room displays, pick up the items yourself, and even eat Swedish food, like meatballs and cinnamon rolls in the cafeteria.
They have not always been squeaky clean, (and some of the woodwork can also sound squeaky if, like us, you don’t assemble it properly!) They admitted to sub-contracting out some production to prison camps in the now defunct Communist East Germany during the Cold War era, despite knowing that forced labour was used in the production. They recognised that this might not have been wise and have pledged funds to compensate victims of the former dictatorship.
But it would be hasty to label Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA’s founder, as a Communist sympathiser. During WWII he had been a very active member of the Swedish Nazi Party, still even supporting far-right anti-semitic politicians for a while after the war.
Vocabulary
Furniture (uncountable noun)
Flat-packed furniture (not pre-assembled) (reduce the transport cost. Consumers become attached to the things they put effort into making (the IKEA effect).
Ready-to-assemble
DIY (Do-It-Yourself)
Screws, screwdriver, nuts and bolts, washers, spanners, Allen key, hammers, nails,
Warehouse
Showroom
Layout
retailer/wholesaler
Have you been to an IKEA store? Do you enjoy shopping there?
The floor plan is a winding path through the store like a maze. Why is that?
Furniture Features and Design
Minimalist – A simple and clean design style.
Functional – Designed for practical use.
Compact – Small and space-saving.
Modular – Made of separate pieces that can be combined in different ways.
Ergonomic – Designed for comfort and efficiency.
Discussion
Are you keen on assembling your own furniture or would you prefer for furniture to be sent to your house pre-assembled and ready to use?
IKEA is known for its minimalist and functional designs. Do you like this style, or do you prefer something different?
Have you ever tried to assemble furniture by yourself? Was it easy or difficult? What advice would you give to someone doing it for the first time?
Reza’s advice: buy whatever you like from IKEA, as I have myself. But not their beds and mattresses, if I were you – they’re incredibly uncomfortable! Sleep is one area where it’s better to splash out on comfort!
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English.
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In next week’s episode: Mild swear words that won’t offend too much
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The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’