When I first spotted IKEA’s STARKVIND side table, I was taken with the simplicity of the design and impressed with what I thought was a storage drawer. As a tidy-home freak, I love multi-functional furniture that offers storage, so you can clear away your clutter to create clean lines without visual noise.
However, it wasn’t until I looked closer that I realized what I first thought was a storage drawer was, in fact, an air purifier in disguise. What a genius idea! A side table that I can rest my book and coffee cup on, while it works to clean the air in my home.
IKEA’s STARKVIND Air Purifying Table, $249 at IKEA, is a real game-changer. It transforms how we perceive air purifiers, from being appliances to objects with a stylish aesthetic.
Could IKEA’s air-purifying table compete with big-name brands like the BlueAir Blue Signature air purifier, which tops our buying guide? I’m not so sure, but it does make you consider how air purifiers can be integrated into other household items.
What does IKEA's table with an air purifier offer?
IKEA’s STARKVIND Air Purifying Table comes in two colorways — stained oak veneer in dark brown or white — and measures 22 (H) x 21 (D) inches. It’s designed to purify air in spaces up to 215 sq. ft. and to remove 99.5% of small airborne particles, including PM2.5, dust, and pollen.
You can take control of the air purifier by choosing among five fan speeds, or opt for auto mode to let the appliance do the thinking. You can even connect it to IKEA’s GIRIGERA hub, allowing all of your IKEA appliances to be run from IKEA’s Home smart app, giving you the option to control it when you are at home or away. Through IKEA’s app, you can also set it up to use a voice assistant and connect to Amazon, Alexa, Apple Home or Google Home.
Is this the air purifying solution for compact homes?
Owners of small homes are always struggling with where to place new appliances, and when to store them when they are not in use, so could IKEA’s table with an air purifier become the new norm for those living in compact spaces? It’s bound to be of interest to those who want to invest in an air purifier but are short on space.
How does it compare?
IKEA’s air purifying table is unlikely to be your choice if you’re looking for a top-performing air purifier with an HEPA filter that removes at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other airborne particles, but it can still be effective in providing cleaner, healthier air by removing dust and odors in your home.
Get the most out of IKEA’s STARKVIND Air Purifying Table
To ensure the air purifier’s efficiency, the table should be placed where airflow is not blocked by other objects. And to keep it working at optimal efficiency, an LED light illuminates when it’s time to check or replace your filters, with IKEA recommending they be replaced every six months.
You can also upgrade its cleaning power by using the STARKVIND Filter for gas cleaning, $35 at IKEA. This filter will remove gas pollutants, such as formaldehyde found in cleaning products, and cooking odors that may be present in your home.
I'm impressed with IKEA's take on combining a functional piece of furniture with an appliance, and it will be interesting to see how popular this table with an air purifier becomes.
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