November 14, 2026, 12:41 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Let’s be honest: Almost everyone in Germany has probably held an Ikea Allen wrench at some point. Whether it’s a Billy bookcase, sofa, kitchen, bed, mirror, or cutlery, the Swedish furniture giant now offers just about everything a home needs. Practical, relatively affordable, often quite stylish, and (at least in theory) easy to assemble yourself. You could easily furnish an entire house with Ikea. But an entire hotel? That too!
In Älmhult, Sweden, there’s actually a hotel where Ikea has contributed more than just a few pieces of furniture: everything revolves around the famous brand. So if you’ve never had the pleasure of sleeping in a completely Ikea-furnished student apartment, you can finally fulfill that dream here.
This unusual accommodation option isn’t entirely new, though. Its history dates back to 1964 and is closely tied to the place where Ikea first made its mark.
Even the First Furniture Store Had a Motel
The hotel’s story begins where Ikea’s journey also started. In 1958, Ingvar Kamprad opened the first Ikea store in Älmhult. The success, driven by affordable prices, attracted customers from far and wide. After a long day among furniture and home ideas, only one thing was missing: a place to eat, rest, and, for those with particularly long journeys home, to stay overnight.
Kamprad’s solution came in 1964: the “Motell IKEA” with just 25 rooms, a restaurant, and even a swimming pool. Today, it has become the Ikea Hotell with 254 rooms. Traces from the early years remain: the limestone floor and the open fireplace have been preserved, and the old copper roof was even transformed into today’s reception desk.
How You Sleep Today in the Ikea Hotel
When you enter a room in the Ikea Hotel, you’ll likely recognize a lot. The furniture, the lamps, the patterns, maybe even the bedding: it’s all furnished with Ikea, of course. The rooms are more simple and functional than extraordinary, but that’s what makes them feel familiar. Almost like your own home, except this time no one had to assemble the bed themselves.
In many ways, it feels more like a large home than a traditional hotel. There are two shared living rooms, a laundry room with washers and dryers, as well as a free gym and saunas. Bicycles can also be rented. And if, after a night among all the familiar furniture, you haven’t had enough of Ikea: hotel guests get free admission to the nearby Ikea Museum.
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Of Course, the Köttbullar Can’t Be Missing
What would a stay at Ikea be without the famous meatballs? Even the original motel was meant to offer travelers not just a bed after furniture shopping, but also something to eat. That hasn’t changed much to this day.
Breakfast is included with every overnight stay and is served at the Grillen restaurant across from the hotel. In addition to classic breakfast dishes, there are even Plantbullar (vegetarian Köttbullar) in the morning.
Later in the day, it remains Swedish, but a bit more adventurous than in the usual Ikea restaurant: at Grillen, ingredients and dishes from the Småland region are grilled. And at the in-house hot dog bar, even the Ikea hot dog is reimagined, including sausages from nearby Tingsryd or even a version with elk meat.
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The Place Älmhult: Where It All Began
The first store from 1958 is now home to the Ikea Museum. Old living environments and well-known furniture not only tell the story of the company but also a piece of Swedish living culture. And if you suddenly feel like decorating yourself, you don’t have to go far: there’s still an Ikea store in Älmhult today.
Beyond Ikea, Älmhult is quite idyllic. The town is part of Småland in southern Sweden, a region with dense forests, countless lakes, red wooden houses, and small villages. If you stay longer, you can hike, bike, or paddle here. It’s pretty much the Sweden many remember from children’s books. So on a trip through southern Sweden, a detour to Ikea’s hometown is definitely worthwhile.