The first IKEA Christmas advert airs tonight and it's not what you'd expect

With a surprise cameo we never saw coming

This Christmas we've been treated to an extra special present as the first-ever IKEA Christmas advert is unveiled.

Related: The Aldi Christmas 2019 advert airs tonight – Kevin the Carrot is back putting on a show!!

The IKEA Christmas advert launches this evening during the Gogglebox break on Channel 4. If you were expecting a warming advert featuring an upbeat festive number – maybe with a sprinkling of Scandi Christmas style – you couldn't be more wrong.

The IKEA Christmas advert cuts through the noise of sentimental ads promoting yuletide spirit. IKEA instead brings us a couple racked with 'home shame', being taunted by their ornaments.

ikea christmas advertisement

(Image credit: IKEA)

It might sound a bit mean, but it is done with a song (sort off) and there's a happy ending!

The advert opens on a family in a small flat that has seen better days. The Mum's phone pings with a message from her friend asking if they're still on for dinner at her home that night.

As the woman anxiously glances around, the household ornaments transform into grime stars. Performing an original grime track voiced by legendary MC D Double E, they taunt her over the state of the home.

woman and man busy working on something

(Image credit: IKEA)

'I must confess this place ain't blessed, this place is a mess,' raps a teapot in the shape of a rabbit. 'Disgusting' chimes in the panda ornament. Them the toy T-Rex steals the show rapping 'this is very, very, very, very unacceptable.'

toy t-Rex steals the show rapping

(Image credit: IKEA)

But just as the T-Rex is about to deliver more devasting blows, the women's hand appears and tosses him into the toy chest. The critics are silenced as the family update the home with an IKEA mirror and table, and give their sofa a new lease of life with an IKEA cover.

The message of the advert is to 'silence the critics,' once and for all. 'Fresh and clean' the T-Rex quips before disappearing back into the toy box in the final seconds.

Watch the first-ever IKEA Christmas advert here

'Our first IKEA Christmas advert focuses on the phenomenon of "home shame" – encouraging people to overcome the negative voices in their head holding them back from open up their homes,' says Sarah Green, UK and Ireland County Marketing Manager.

'We believe that every home can and should be worthy of a get-together and that with a little imagination, some clever products and ideas, there’s no reason not to be proud to invite your nearest and dearest over,' Sarah explains. 'This campaign aims to inspire us all to get our homes party-ready and ‘Silence the Critics’, once and for all.'

ikea christmas with family in house

(Image credit: IKEA)

In the run-up to the festive season, IKEA will be hosting a series of in-store events showing you how to silence your inner critic and get your home party-ready. They'll be offering everything from virtual reality makeovers to 'Christmas Treetorials.

Related: It's back! Here's how to bag to a real IKEA Christmas tree for just £9

What do you think of the first IKEA Christmas advert?

Rebecca Knight
Deputy Editor, Digital

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.