Affordable decor-lovers and furniture hacking [1] aficionados have always held Ikea in high regard, though this opinion hasn't always been shared by the high-brow shoppers of the world. But it looks like that's changing. A New York Times article [2] has just been published on the behemoth Scandinavian home store [3], known for its low prices, stylishly streamlined (if often particleboard) pieces, and convenient flatpack packaging. It argues that while Ikea's pieces may have long been considered temporary — to be outgrown and replaced after a certain period of life — they needn't be. The company's shrewd research into how people live [4], collaborations with design innovators [5], and top-notch head of design have served to elevate Ikea's design to better stand the test of time.

Whether you agree or disagree with what the article has to say [6], we're betting you'll be blown away by the stats it puts forth, which demonstrate that Ikea is even bigger and more influential that you could've imagined.

• There are 387 Ikea stores in 48 countries
• Ikea sells a set of its Billy bookcases every 10 seconds
• One in 10 Europeans are said to have been conceived in an Ikea bed
• About 884 million people visited Ikea stores last year (for reference, that's more than twice the population of the US)