IKEA Design Studio store opening in Mississauga

Mississauga is set to get its first small-format IKEA store, where customers can consult with experts on how to furnish a room.

An IKEA Design Studio concept store is slated to open at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga on Wednesday, Dec. 1. The Swedish furniture giant has been rolling out the concept across Southern Ontario in recent years.

The stores are much smaller than the familiar stand-alone big-box stores, and customers get to design and order complex home furnishing systems for the kitchen, bath, bedroom and living room by scheduling planning sessions with a trained IKEA design expert. They can also use a self-service planning station in a dedicated studio space.

Items are then shipped to the customer’s address.

IKEA only keeps a Design Studio store open for 12 to 18 months at a time. THe concept is among several steps the retailer has taken to be more energy- and space-efficient. Among other moves, they have begun serving a plant-based version of their signature Swedish meatballs and launched a cookbook in an effort to cut down on food waste. IKEA Canada has also stopped printing a catalogue.

An IKEA Design Studio store has also opened at Bramalea City Centre in Brampton. Another recently opened in St. Catharines, and an Oshawa location (419 King St. W.) opened in September.