Ikea shopping may become a virtual reality

♦ It is known as a shopping trip highly likely to result in an argument, but the days of traipsing around Ikea could soon be over.

The Swedish furniture chain is working on a virtual reality headset which could transform shopping and eventually negate the need for visiting stores at all.

Detailing his plans for the next three years, Jesper Brodin, its chief executive, told the Financial Times: “More than ever, we are exploring… we are going to test and try. [Augmented and virtual reality] will be things we are curious about. It offers people a chance to see how this product will work for ‘me’.”

Shoppers in Västerås, 100km west of Stockholm, can now don a virtual reality headset and walk around their potential new kitchen. Through the headset parents can even view rooms from the perspective of young children.