This couch designed by Ikea will be able to fit in an envelope

Space10

If you’re a fan of the compact mattress-in-a-box trend, you’re going to love this one.

Ikea is working on creating a couch that you carry home in a big envelope. Not only that — but once you get it home, you’ll be able to put it together easily without any tools or hardware. (Apparently, Ikea has bugged my house and overheard the yelling that comes with assembling their furniture.)

This incredibly lightweight sofa is not something you can buy at present. But along with the research and design lab SPACE10, Ikea is working on producing a couch whose parts can be vacuum-sealed into the envelope, with the whole thing weighing in at around 22 pounds.

Here’s how SPACE10 describes it in a YouTube video:

“Couch in an Envelope is a machine-assisted exploration into how we can redesign a couch and the very concept of comfort,” explains the voiceover. “Today the archetype of the couch has become heavy, unsustainable and rigid. So, we used AI to liberate the couch from its established forms and iterations to make a couch that’s better for people and the planet.”

The couch would be modular and adjustable to meet your needs. As you can see below, you can easily turn it into a bed, too.

Space10

But perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Couch in an Envelope is its sustainability aspects. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 80% of furniture (including items like sofas, tables, chairs and mattresses) end up in landfills. And companies like Ikea and Wayfair have come under fire for providing Americans with “fast furniture,” which often needs to be replaced within five years. But to construct the Couch in an Envelope, designers will use 100% recyclable materials (like an aluminum frame and biodegradable, cellulose-based fabrics) and a minimum of components.

In other words, not only will it be easy to carry this couch home and put it together, but you’ll also be limiting damage to the planet. A win-win for everyone!

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About the Author
Jennifer Graham Kizer
Jennifer Graham Kizer has written features and essays for over a dozen magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Health, Parents, Parenting, Redbook and TV Guide. Visit Scripps News to see more of Jennifer's work.

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