From Ball Pits to ‘Klunka’: Why IKEA’s Swedish Names Make Shopping Fun

It's Day 7 of July 2025's UBC, and today we're going to IKEA 😊

This Swedish series wouldn't be complete without a post about its most iconic retail store, agreed?

Growing up, IKEA was more than just a furniture store for me. The very first IKEA in Switzerland was just a few bus stops away from where my grandparents lived, and I remember how my Grandma often took me there; not for shopping, but so I could enjoy the ball pit. As a kid, that ball pit was pure magic. 

Later, as a young adult, I might have picked up the odd piece of furniture there, and I’m pretty sure I had the classic IKEA couple’s disagreement or two; right there in the store! (I believe that’s a universal truth, right?)

When I moved to the U.S., I even applied for a job at IKEA San Diego as a recruiter. I got really close to landing it, but then 9/11 happened, and plans changed. Still, my affection for IKEA stayed strong.

Fast forward to when my son Colin was old enough, and he too got his dose of IKEA fun. He loved Småland - the supervised play area - although I think he preferred watching cartoons on the big screen there more than the ball pit itself. Many times, while I chased after the inevitable scented candles or potted plants, he happily stayed in Småland.

And no IKEA trip was complete without a stop at the restaurant for those iconic Swedish köttbullar, meatballs served with creamy mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce, a comforting taste of Sweden no matter where you are in the world.

One of the quirkiest things about IKEA - and one that always fascinates me - is their product naming system. IKEA names almost all of its products with unique Swedish words that often have fun or meaningful backstories.

For example, the children’s art range is called Måla, which means “to paint.” This name covers everything from felt-tip pens and chalk to protective aprons and easels, creating a consistent, recognizable brand for all your little artist’s needs.

Then there’s Klunka, the laundry basket. At first, you might wonder why a laundry basket would have such a name, but in Swedish, klunka means “to gulp” or “to swig.” It’s as if the basket gulps down your laundry in one big satisfying mouthful. I love how this playful imagery adds personality to a simple household item; it’s classic IKEA charm.

Other popular IKEA product names include:

• Billy — the ever-reliable bookcase, named after a common Swedish male name

• Poäng — the comfy, curved armchair whose name means “point” or “score”

• Malm — a sleek bedroom furniture line named after a Swedish town

• Lack — a minimalist side table named after the Swedish word for “lacquer”

IKEA even follows fun naming “rules”: Beds and wardrobes are often named after Swedish places, chairs and desks get men’s or women’s names, storage items get descriptive Swedish words, and rugs take inspiration from nature or locations.

So a few years ago this meme popped up that asked IKEA to put together its own birthday cake, and here are the ingredients:

Kind of a revenge for all the unsuccessful attempts to put together the seemingly simplest things!

As I was saying, the ball pit is always on my mind when visiting IKEA.

Introducing...

The sliding into the ball pit cake!

Complete with our LEGO man who got a job as a furniture carpenter

And Swedish Shopping @ IKEA Barbie

For me, shopping at IKEA is more than just buying furniture, it’s a mini cultural trip to Sweden, full of punny wordplays and hidden meanings that make everyday items feel special. So next time you pick up a Klunka laundry basket or a Måla marker, remember you’re bringing a little Swedish whimsy into your home.

What’s the quirkiest or most memorable product name you’ve come across at IKEA? Have you ever stopped to wonder what it actually means?