Ikea has launched a second-hand marketplace in Ireland for its own furniture and homewares. A tight budget doesn’t mean you can’t spruce up your house!

The Swedish retailer is attempting to be more sustainable, as the new system is designed to allow customers to buy and sell pre-owned Ikea furniture directly with one another as their needs and homes change.

Customers can list current or previously sold IKEA home furnishing products on the marketplace with the exception of mattresses, appliances and food.

You can scan an eligible item to create a listing. The platform provides descriptions, assembly instructions and care information, giving prospective buyers useful details before they make contact. Sellers can choose to receive their proceeds as cash or receive a 15% top-up on an IKEA digital refund card.

Just like Ikea’s furniture, the app is designed to be easy for the user. Sellers can scan eligible items to instantly generate listings complete with original photos, dimensions, care instructions, and assembly guides to make buying and selling hassle-free.

The platform is an extension of Ikea’s Buy Back scheme launched in 2021 to enable customers to sell certain products back to the retailer in exchange for store credit.

Ikea believes ‘the way people furnish their homes has changed,’ according to Greg Lucas, sustainability manager at Ikea UK and Ireland.

‘Whether they are moving, redecorating or looking for a particular piece, more customers are considering pre-owned furniture alongside new and are actively searching for items that can help create a home that feels personal to them,’ he said.

‘Ikea products are designed to be used, maintained and enjoyed over time, and the second-hand marketplace, as well as our in-store buyback service, gives people a straightforward way to pass on items as their needs change, with the practical information they need to buy and sell with confidence.’