Remembering IKEA’s unhinged ‘bisexual couch’: The unofficial highlight of Pride Month 2021
In 2021, IKEA unveiled a new line of loveseats inspired by ten different LGBTQ+ flags. This includes couch designed after the bisexual flag, trans flag and others. (IKEA Canada)
It’s Bisexual Awareness Week 2024, so it seems like a good time to remember a true bisexual icon of yesteryear: IKEA’s bisexual couch.
Back in 2021, a polarising set of IKEA Pride sofas sent LGBTQ+ Twitter (ah, the good old days before it was known as X) into a collective frenzy.
It all started when furniture supremos IKEA, which as a company is a long time LGBTQ+ ally, unveiled a collection of 10 “loveseats” inspired by the flags of different LGBTQ+ identities.
According to a press release on IKEA’s website, the IKEA Pride sofas were “designed and created by artists active in the 2SLGBTQ+ community” and are a “platform to celebrate identity and share stories of love”.
As well as sofas inspired by the non-binary flag, transgender flag, pansexual flag and two-spirit flag – among other designs – was a bisexual-themed IKEA sofa that will haunt your dreams forever.
The bisexual loveseat is covered in hands. Terrifying, terrifying hands… including a pair of three-dimensional, detached extremities clutching desperately onto the couch’s arm.
The design also included pillows with the words “when you change or to and” and “nobody believes you”.
All 10 couches, which formed part of the IKEA Canada Pride Collection, featured unique and sometimes dysfunctional detailing. The Progress flag loveseat had an array of kaleidoscope flowers attached to it. The trans flag couch had a pastel rainbow with fluffy cloud detailing.
But, by far, the bisexual flag couch stole the show, and inspired some incredible memes.
Responses to the IKEA Pride sofas ranged from “when can I buy this?” (never, they aren’t for sale) to “how the F**K are you going to sit on this”.
According to IKEA, the terrifying bisexual couch was inspired by a line from a poem written and performed at a Canadian arts festival by man named Brian.
Brian, who features in an advert for the collection, said the poem was inspired by his ex-partner who did not accept his bisexuality. He also recited the same poem when he came out to his parents.
IKEA invited other people from the LGBTQ+ community to share their personal stories for the campaign. These people and their stories served as the inspiration behind each design.
It was certainly a good idea, and it made headlines – so much so that people are still googling “IKEA bisexual couch” three years later. Never forget…
How did this story make you feel?
