Five ways to style the IKEA BUSKBO chair – the chicest furnishing of the summer

While we have a not-so-secret love for much of IKEA’s furniture, there are several staple pieces that are shaping our summer interiors entirely – but none more so than the BUSKBO. 

This highly fashionable rattan chair plays into one of the most aesthetic trends of the season, escapism – or even more specifically – rattan – which we are candidly celebrating at every opportunity. So, when the Swedish house launched a rattan chair, we were naturally very excited. 

While it is easy to bring BUSKBO into any scheme, we’re always looking for styling ideas to accentuate its glorious good looks and make the chair the focal point of our interiors. Here, we’ve listed our five favorite IKEA hacks so you can give the BUSKBO the stylish setting it so deserves. But as a warning, you may not make it to the end without ordering a BUSKBO for yourself. 

1. Double-up your BUSKBO 

The only thing better than one BUSKBO is two BUSKBO’s, especially when they look as chic as this fashionable pair. In combining her chairs together, Nadi Anson has shaken up the chair’s status as a single statement piece and created an ultra-stylish zone that is drenched in the most sought-after material of the season. Can we ever have too much rattan? We’re starting to believe it’s not quite possible. 

2. An escapist BUSKBO 

If we were to pay homage to one decor craze for the rest of our lives, it would surely be the escapism interior trend. As the desire to indulge in faraway shores grows ever-increasingly, we are seeing a rise in escapism and home decor pieces that pay homage to nostalgic summers gone by – and rattan is the most effective way to achieve this look.

We’re taking notes from Kate Baxter, who exemplifies the chair's Scandifornian style by pairing the rattan with a flourishing elephant ear plant. ‘[I also] hung a wanderlust-inducing palm print (from Green Lili) above to create a much-needed little corner of escapism in my living room,’ Kate adds. The result is an unrivaled escapist utopia that celebrates the BUSKBO in its natural habitat. 

3. A Scandi-minimalist BUSKBO 

There is perhaps no more suitable environment for this Swedish masterpiece than in a monochromatic living room, which celebrates minimalist Nordic aesthetic and allows the BUSKBO to stand as an unrivaled focal point. 

For modern living room ideas, we’re recreating the ambiance of Yukiko Brandley, who blessed her subtly-hued space with the rich tones of her BUSKBO’s rattan. ‘We wanted to create a space that is airy and open, also inviting. I love this chair because it goes well with our neutral and boho-inspired decor,’ Yukiko shares.

4. Take your BUSKBO outside  

Any Livingetc enthusiasts among us will already know that the BUSKBO doubles as an outdoor furnishing after our Editor-in-Chief Pip McCormac chose the chair as his favorite outdoor IKEA furnishing for the summer. 

While this piece looks undeniably stylish amid our interiors, we recommend embracing the durability of this living material that could battle different climates and natural elements without wavering. We’re particularly lusting over this look by Hatice Tahsin, who styled the BUSKBO with a vibrant soft furnishing and surrounded the piece with cacti to create a plant-infused urban jungle. 

5. A BUSKBO for breakfast  

While we had to adapt to life without coffee shops temporarily, there is no reason why we can’t still recreate a private cafe in our own homes. These spaces can act as a therapeutic area for enjoying brunch and as zones of respite where one can escape their WFH schedule. However, alongside the coffee beans, there is one other crucial ingredient in creating this space – the BUSKBO. 

We’re stealing Tuğba Uçan’s modern furniture ideas by pairing the chair with a coffee table where we can mirror the allure of an indie coffee house in our homes. ‘The IKEA BUSKBO accompanies the peaceful ambiance on my terrace with its lines and comfort,’ Tuğba explains. We’re entirely inspired – and heading to IKEA at the earliest opportunity.