Ikea Launches Photo-Sharing Site, Blog

August 16, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Social Media on August 17, 2011 Home furnishings retail giant Ikea has launched a new community photo-sharing Web site called "Share Space".

The site gives users a platform to upload photos of their living spaces to easily find and share inspiration with one another. The site also houses a new blog, "Design by Ikea". The bloggers, led by Janice Simonsen, Ikea design spokesperson, will share their expertise with home design tips, inspiration, and trends. Other contributors will include additional Ikea design experts as well as influential personalities in the design world.

These new online tools, along with the recently launched Ikea Twitter handle (@DesignByIKEA) are part of Ikea's effort to help consumers improve their lives at home by further inspiring and engaging fans and design enthusiast alike.

"Design inspiration can come from anywhere, and we wanted to facilitate and encourage an ongoing dialogue on design, with the ultimate goal of helping consumers make the most of their own personal space," said Leontyne Green, marketing manager for Ikea U.S.

Ikea Share Space allows people to share photos of their own living spaces, from living rooms to kitchens to workspaces, and to highlight their personal solutions to design challenges at home.  In addition to sharing their photos, users have the ability to browse and comment on others' spaces and save photos of the rooms they like best.  They can also tag Ikea products, save them in a personalized wish list, and click on links to the Ikea homepage for further product information. Similarly, sharing favorite photos with friends on social networks is just one click away.

IKEA design experts will select one room each week as the "Pick of the Week," based on creative use of design elements such as color, furniture arrangement, innovative ideas for increasing functionality of rooms, and big looks on a small budget. The winning room will be displayed on the Share Space homepage and the user will receive a "Pick of the Week" badge as well as a feature about their photo by an IKEA design expert on the blog. Fans who actively contribute and participate on Share Space can unlock a variety of "Kudos" including:
* Space Sharer: A user who upload 3 or more distinct rooms.
* Ikea Fan: A user who tags five Ikea products their photo collection.
* Ikea Super Fan: A user who tags 25 IKEA products in their photo collection.
* Admired Space: A room is saved by five other users.
* Exceptional Space: A room is saved by 25 users.