IKEA Wants to Charge Cool Gadgets with Even Cooler Furniture

We all know that IKEA furniture can match pretty much any décor, is insanely cheap, and can be put together without the need for many tools. However, did you also know that it can charge your portables and other cool gadgets? Soon, my friends, soon.

IKEA recently announced plans to put Qi wireless technology into a variety of different products, ranging from bedside tables to lamps to desks. All of the new pieces will be part of the company’s new Home Smart line. That’s not only convenient, but it can actually cut down on clutter that’s typically associated with so many of these cool gadgets. That’s because Qi is wireless, so you don’t have to worry about getting tangled in a wired mess.

The company is planning to launch a few of the first wireless charging home furnishings sometime this April. European and North American customers will get the goodies first, with a global rollout to follow shortly after.

If you aren’t handy or aren’t planning to upgrade your furniture situation anytime soon, Android Central says that IKEA is also planning a series of stand-alone Qi chargers. That basically means that you’ll be able to add a wireless charging station to existing tables, dressers or pretty much anything else currently furnishing your home.

“Through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess. They worry about not finding the charger and running out of power,” says Jeanette Skjelmose, IKEA’s business area manager of lighting and wireless charging. “Our new innovative solutions, which integrate wireless charging into home furnishings, will make life at home simpler.”

In case you didn’t know, Qi is actually a wireless power standard that’s currently available in 3,000 hotels, restaurants, airports and public locations worldwide. According to the Wireless Power Consortium, there are tons of Qi-enhanced cool gadgets currently available, including more than 80 Qi-enabled smartphones, 15 models of Qi-enabled cars, and countless Qi mobile accessories out now.