IKEA plans to introduce a new small-format store concept across Canada, with the first location set to open in London, Ont.

The new format is designed to make affordable, functional home furnishings more accessible by focusing on convenience, everyday essentials and quick visits, bringing the retailer closer to where people live, work and shop, said the company. The London store will be located at White Oaks Mall, a long-standing retail destination in the city.

IKEA already operates different types of small-concept stores in Canada, including city-centre outlets in urban cores and plan-and-order points in which the retailer’s experts help customers design their home-furnishing layouts.

“This new type of small store takes a different approach to establishing and operating to complement our other physical and digital customer meeting points, strengthen the omnichannel experience, and give customers more ways to shop with IKEA,” said Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and chief sustainability officer for IKEA Canada. “By being faster and more cost-effective to operationalize, these stores enable us to be present in more communities.” 

The future London compact store will span about 43,000 square feet—roughly one-fifth the size of an IKEA location in Burlington, Ont.—and will offer more than 2,000 home essentials and seasonal products available for immediate purchase. Customers will also be able to order from the full IKEA range with delivery and pick-up options, access planning services from staff, and purchase a selection of Swedish food items.

The new concept builds on IKEA’s broader strategy to expand its omnichannel presence and adapt to changing consumer preferences, with smaller stores intended to be faster and more cost-effective to establish while reaching more communities, said the company.

The London market has been a focus for the retailer, which opened a plan-and-order point in the city in March 2024 offering consultation services for home-furnishing projects.

The new store rollout aligns with plans by Ingka Group to open 20 additional IKEA locations globally, including in Canada, as part of efforts to integrate stores more closely into customers’ daily lives. London is currently the only confirmed Canadian location for the new format.

In October 2025, IKEA announced plans to close its small-format city-centre store in Toronto’s Scarborough district in early 2026. IKEA attributed its decision to a rapidly changing retail landscape and shifting consumer behaviour.

The Swedish retail giant is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Canada.

Photo: CNW Group/IKEA Canada