Stay at the Sydney Ikea, courtesy of Airbnb

By David Nield August 23, 2014

ikea malm dresser recall design solutions — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ever wanted to stay the night in a spotless furniture showroom? If you’re an Airbnb user and you live in Sydney, you just might be in luck — the accommodation booking service has joined with Ikea to offer three groups of guests the chance to lodge overnight at the Swedish firm’s Sydney store.

To throw your name into the hat you’ll need to be registered on Airbnb and complete a 25-word tiebreaker on why you deserve the chance to sleep in an Ikea store. You can take your kids along with you — as long as they’re six or older — and there will be a communal dinner, entertainment and a demonstration of ways in which you can make your own pad “Airbnb friendly” before bedtime.

Related: Airbnb’s new ad campaign aims to convince New Yorkers it’s good for their city

Three groups of up to four guests can be accommodated and Airbnb is promising a “remarkable” wake-up call in the morning. There’s nothing to pay except a AUS$11 admin fee (about US$10) but this is a one-night only deal scheduled for August 31.

“Located close to the airport and with city views, complete with elevator and escalator access, Scandinavian influence and an adjacent kitchen diner, the IKEA Tempe store will be the most distinctive destination for a one-off Sydney overnighter,” says Airbnb’s press release. “The evening promises guests an inspirational evening, with tips and tricks on how to maximise their homes, not just for them but those looking for accommodation options.”

Fresh from a recent rebranding exercise, Airbnb will be hoping that the stunt helps to boost its profile. The company currently operates across more than 34,000 cities in over 190 countries. “Mixing authentic Airbnb hospitality with the design expertise of Ikea is sure to thrill any guest,” commented Eva Ross, Local Operations Lead at Airbnb.

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Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…

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