Try before you buy: new Ikea app uses Apple's latest augmented reality technology to revolutionise furniture shopping

Mustering up the courage to go to Ikea is something most of us force ourselves to do at least once a year. Lured by the promise of stylish and good-value furniture we navigate the aisles and tills full of arguing families, cram everything into the car like a game of Tetris and finally get home to painstakingly assemble our new furniture... only to discover that it doesn't quite fit the space or match the colour scheme as we imagined.

But soon this comedy of errors could be a thing of the past, as the Swedish furniture giant promises their new cutting-edge app will enable buyers to try before they buy from the comfort of their sofa.

Ikea Place makes use of augmented reality technology embedded into Apple's upcoming iOS11 software update, which allows digital images to be superimposed onto a view of the real world through the device's camera.

It's said the much-hyped feature will let people preview how an item will look in their home with dazzling accuracy. Sizing will be to scale as figured out by the camera, and users will even be able to see where its shadow will fall (and then buy more lighting accordingly...).

The app will not only be for unfurnished new homes, either - virtual furniture can apparently be dropped onto existing pieces for those looking to replace items.

Ikea's existing catalogue app does this to a limited extent at the moment - overlaying an item over whatever the camera is pointing at - but Ikea Place will apparently be much more accurate.

Buyers will be able to examine how the furniture looks from every angle and even zoom in to see the grain of the fabric. Photos of the mock-up room can then be sent to friends and family for a second opinion.

Customers should eventually be able to order through the app, but to start with it will purely be used to inform buying decisions.

Ikea Place marks an "important milestone in its digital transformation story", aiming to let buyers "confidently experience, experiment and share how good design transforms space [...] breaking down the barriers to imagining what is possible and making the possibilities real".

Ikea is looking to complement rather than replace its almost 400 stores, but tech is playing an increasingly key part in its business model.

Michael Valdsgaard, Ikea's digital transformation manager, has called Ikea Place a "complete game changer".

Ikea Place is expected to be made publicly available for iPhone and iPad users when iOS11 launches later this month. Up to 600 items should be ready to view in 3D by the launch, with new products to be given priority.