Northcote health worker Con Skordilis, 55, has spent the past decade building a collection of vintage IKEA furniture, witnessing firsthand a surge in demand for once-overlooked pieces, according to smh.com.au
“It’s becoming a bit more mainstream now,” Skordilis said to The Sydney Morning Herald, who favours post-modern IKEA designs. “People are realising how important it is and prices have gone up. It’s more difficult to find these days, whereas in the past people just used to throw things out.”
What was once discarded is now highly sought-after. Rare designs that previously ended up on the street are increasingly recognised as collectible items, with some fetching thousands.
Collectors often chase specific pieces, with Skordilis among those drawn to iconic designs like the 1970s Impala sofa by Gillis Lundgren. Interest in furniture from that era continues to grow, as early IKEA designs are appreciated for their experimentation and variety.
Experts note that prices are expected to keep rising as more people discover the value of vintage IKEA. At the same time, many rare items have yet to appear on the market, adding to the appeal for dedicated collectors.
For those starting out, the advice is simple: hold on to older IKEA pieces and stay alert to overlooked designs that may gain value over time.
As Skordilis’s experience shows, what was once considered disposable furniture is now part of a rapidly expanding collector’s market, where yesterday’s curbside finds are becoming tomorrow’s design treasures.
Source: smh.com.au
