IKEA revives inflatable furniture with PS 2026 Easy Chair at Milan Design Week

IKEA designer Mikael Axelsson developed the PS 2026 Easy Chair, an inflatable seat with a carbon steel frame, for the brand's latest PS collection. The chair features two green fabric cushions—a rectangular step and tubular backrest—inflated with a foot pump, containing separate air balloons for adjustable comfort. Axelsson conceived the idea in 2014, but IKEA initially rejected it due to fears stemming from the failed a.i.r inflatable range in the late 1990s. The new design addresses historical issues like excessive lightness and bouncing by enclosing the inflatable elements within a metal structure. Axelsson emphasized the chair's poetic use of air, reduced material consumption, flat-packability, and affordability as aligning with Scandinavian design principles. The PS 2026 collection also includes a transforming lamp by Dutch designer Lex Pott. Milan design week runs from 20 to 26 April 2026, where IKEA is additionally presenting food-focused domestic spaces with designers and chefs. Axelsson aimed to balance playfulness with serious furniture credentials, ensuring the chair doesn't appear gimmicky.