Spring News from IKEA

My favourite Swedish furniture store is releasing a flurry of new designs, ideas and products this spring - so much so that it's almost hard to keep up.

Here are some of the things that have caught my eye recently:

This neat rectangular tray with a playful design by Olle Eksell is part of his ÖNSKEDRÖM collection for IKEA which will launch on April 10th (I love the fact that the tray has a green reverse).

Possibly the most exciting news is the collection of lamps, furniture and decorative items which feature integrated wireless chargers for smartphones. Not only that, they all come with USB ports for charging camera batteries etc. Chargers are some of the most uninspiring objects but here they are turned into practical and discreet features on beautiful, simple pieces for the home. My two favourites are these:

RIGGAD desk lamp

NORDMÄRKE 'charger plate'

Then there is ESBJÖRN, a seductively simple chair with a smart quilted seat cover (non-slip!). Somehow the cover reminds me of something much more expensive... It's the kind of piece I wish we had room & need for, it's so good looking.

And to remind us of birds returning from colder climes, OLUNDA framed art print by London-based illustrator Jenny Capon