Five ways to style the IKEA POÄNG armchair – the retro staple with an enduring appeal

When it comes to timelessness, IKEA leads the way. From the BILLY to the KALLAX, their minimalist pieces have delighted interior enthusiasts for years. Amongst these Swedish staples stands the POÄNG – a versatile icon that has filled the most stylish of homes since 1976. 

Of course, maintaining an appeal is tricky, but with the POÄNG's flexibility and Scandinavian aesthetic, its allure means no mystery. Whether left au naturel or redesigned in an IKEA hack, there is a POÄNG for every scheme. But how should you style yours? 

Here, we take a look at five of our favorites.

1.  A POÄNG for a jungle 

(Image credit: Ali Moon / @aligator33)

The only thing we love more than house plants? The POÄNG. Especially when the chair is used to enjoy the plants in all their organic goodness. 

This leafy sanctuary is the perfect spot for the Scandi-cool staple that injects an element of comfort into a verdant setting, where you can observe your greenery in all its glory. 

'I find comfort in my space paying tribute to pieces that were trailblazers in the modern world that I love so much, and I find them inspiring,' explains the designer behind the space, Ali Moon. 'The POÄNG chair design is no exception to the world of modern-home icons.'

'Additionally, I have this strange rule that the only color allowed is texture – that said, if it's not black, white, woodgrain, greenery, or leather, it doesn't fit in my space,' she adds. This is the modern home decor idea we can all get behind. 

2. A POÄNG for a gallery

(Image credit: Ingrid Opstad / @thatscandinavianfeeling)

While you may use your POÄNG to admire your botanics, it is equally perfect for a home gallery too. Here, Ingrid Opstad paired her neutral-toned piece alongside her art wall to balance the color scheme and maintain an effortless Nordic ambiance.  

'I decided to get the POÄNG armchair from IKEA as a nursing chair; it is such a classic design and also so comfortable and therefore the perfect little hygge spot,' Ingrid explains.

'The style I went for fits into my Scandinavian home with its minimal, simplistic style, light wood, and neural beige tone, and I love the fact that it is a timeless design chair for an affordable price,' she adds. 

3. A POÄNG for a nursery 

(Image credit: Rebecca Peel / @home_onthecrescent)

Perhaps one of the most memorable ways to style your POÄNG is by making it the staple of your nursery – as demonstrated by Rebecca Peel. 

In this space, Rebecca chose a beige POÄNG to coincide with the subtly hued mural. She then paired the piece with powder blue cushions to maintain the soft palette when the chair is not in use. The POÄNG is the stylish nursery idea we are keen to recreate. 

4. A POÄNG for a home bar 

(Image credit: Kathleen Barton O'Leary / @ katoleary)

IKEA may be minimalist masters, but Kathleen Barton O'Leary has unleashed their maximalist side in her rainbow-infused home bar and library. Originally, her POÄNG's had a dark leather cushion, but Kathleen revamped the exterior with a light gray covering.

'The light gray is a better fit with my overall aesthetic, which is sort of Mindy St. Claire's house from The Good Place meets the original My Little Pony,' Kathleen says. It's an eclectic combination we never saw coming. 

'I coveted the Studio Proba pillow for a long time before I pulled the trigger, and I love how it picks up the colors from my bookshelf. I have tried and failed at minimalism many times – the best I can do is maximalist yet serene.'

5. A monochromatic POÄNG 

(Image credit: Abby Samuels / @lifeofsamuels)

From a flamboyant setting to a monochromatic space – this is one versatile chair. For a stripped-back attitude to the POÄNG, follow Abby Samuels' minimalist palette and combine the chair with soothing black and white textiles for a chic comfort solution.

'I chose to style this room with black, white, and neutral colors, so the black POÄNG chair was a great fit aesthetically and is also the perfect chair to relax in. I added a throw blanket and pillows to bring in some textures and comfort,' Abby says. 

With these interior design ideas, we have a feeling the POÄNG is going to stick around for another 40 years to come.