Ikea is a furniture giant from Sweden. They are known for their comprehensive showrooms and one-way layout, which encourage customers to immerse themselves in the environment and even test a product or two.

On a seemingly unrelated note, the Chinese get a lot of bad rep for their behaviour - to the extent that Japan had to come up with an etiquette handbook for Chinese tourists.

What happens, then, when the explicit trust the Swedish store places in their customers meets the indelicate manners of China?

Blog Living in Asia Ironically gives us a glimpse of how the mainlanders behave in their Ikea, and the results are just... homely.

While citizens of the West and other Asian countries usually just take a tour of the showrooms or do a quick test of the products, the Chinese would take product testing to the extreme and fall asleep on the beds.

Lounging around and socialising is also normal behaviour, and many can be seen using their phones and relaxing on the furniture.

The toilet displays, unfortunately, were not spared. They now come with signs advising customers on the nearest functioning toilets:

Ah well.

In 2015, there were media reports on a supposed plan to crackdown on customers who lounge in Ikea in Shanghai and Beijing by the authorities. The staff in Ikea, however, have no qualms about letting their customers have the full experience, as none of the customers are chased away.

Lack of privacy and space in their personal homes, the cosy and inviting nature of the showrooms in Ikea, as well as the unabashedly unreserved culture of the country can be seen as contributing factors to this phenomenon.

With China being the fastest growing market for Ikea, it seems that this phenomenon is here to stay in China as long as the customers keep coming back.

All images from Living in Asia Ironically unless otherwise stated.

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