IKEA Launches Virtual Reality Kitchen Experience

Ikea launched a pilot virtual reality experience called IKEA VR Experience. The app is available as a free-to-play HTC Vive game on Steam.

The IKEA VR Experience brings you a virtual IKEA kitchen in real world size.

Using an HTC Vive headset, you can choose from three different kitchen styles and customize it to your liking by changing the color of the cabinets and drawers.

You can walk around and interact with objects around you – open drawers, put a frying pan on the stove, place vegetable peelings in the waste sorting station.

IKEA’s virtual kitchen can also be viewed from different perspectives, imitating a 3.3 foot-tall child or a 6.4 foot-tall adult.

These features may help people understand how it feels to be in their customized kitchen and avoid any design issues.

Martin Enthed, IT manager for IKEA Communications said:

We also see the Ikea VR Experience as an opportunity to co-create with people all around the world. We hope that users will contribute to our virtual reality development by submitting ideas on how to use virtual reality and how to improve the virtual kitchen.

The pilot program Ikea VR Experience is aimed at gathering feedback and suggestions from users. Based on that, the company will be making improvements until August, when the pilot tests ends.

IKEA continues to explore VR technology possibilities. The IKEA VR Experience could replace showrooms by allowing customers to build and experience their dream house virtually in the future.