an experience now possible in Belgium

There was a time in Europe when the big fashion was to be locked in an Ikea store and sleep there until the doors opened the next day. A challenge that made a lot of noise at the time when videos with tens of thousands of views were circulating on social networks, in which people encapsulated their nocturnal trip to Ikea. In 2016, the Swedish giant counted more than 1,300 illegal overnight stays in its various stores around the world. Today, if this fashion has passed, many people have already wondered what it would be like to spend a night in the decor of one of the famous Swedish house’s stores. Two Belgian establishments make the experience possible. Indeed, the YUST hotel chain, which combines hotel, restaurant and co-working, is offering two rooms decorated in IKEA colors, in retro style, until June 30.

In video, zoom on the IMC method:

The two hotels in question are one in Berchem, just ten minutes by tram from Antwerp Central Station; the other in Wallonia, in Liège, a few steps from Guillemins station. For our part, we opted for the suite for two people in the Flemish establishment, furnished in green, blue and black tones, in Berchem.

And the experience was quite nice: firstly, because yes, we live well in a Swedish decor with furniture and decorative objects from the house. But above all because here, there is no risk of being caught by security guards, as was the case for those who had taken the risk of trying this kind of experience in an Ikea store at the ‘era. Beyond that, what we especially liked was the dive back in time because the pieces chosen come from a collection (Nytillverkad) inspired by the 70s. Added to this are some elements of decoration from other sources: wallpaper and vinyls in particular, but also pieces of tableware and decoration from the Belgian house Serax, among others.

^{Good to know: both hotels also offer a family room, which can accommodate up to 6 people, furnished in orange and brown tones.}

Verdict?

We enjoyed this evening in retro mode, with modern comfort. And, let’s not be fooled, the objective is obviously also promotional: on site, via a QR code, we can in fact directly access the catalog and information on the pieces on display. And we admit it: we fell for one of them: a vintage armchair. A choice motivated in part by the fact that we had the opportunity to test it for longer and in situ, in any case, more than we would have given it in the store!