Ikea’s 2008 catalog was a welcome surprise in my mailbox last Friday. The colorful cover image promised warm, lively designs. And the contents delivered. Ikea continues to take note of the trend towards a more ornate decorating style. This year’s offerings include more pieces with simple, stylish flourishes, and updated colors that exude bold warmth and chic femininity. Here’s my list of standout designs:

Finally, an Ikea leather sofa with a back high enough to support your neck. Short sofas are gorgeous, but sitting on them is about as comfortable as trying to balance books on your head. My only gripe: very visible seaming on the pillows and frame. The Stockholm Sofa, $1499.

This rocker has a lot of charm. The Lillberg Rocker in black, $159.

I’m not much of a girly-girl, but my future fantasy office would be accented with pretty pink furnishings like this. There’s just something soothing about this bubble-gum hue. The Lack side table in light pink, $12.99.

I see this simple desk chair in all of the home decorating magazines. The Jules Swivel Chair in pink, $49.99.

I’m having trouble getting a good read on the color of this Hemnes bed. It looks dull on the site, but in the catalog it’s a bright yellow. It’s certainly worth a closer look in-store. The Hemnes four-poster bed in yellow, $299.

Looking for an inexpensive center piece? These modular tealight holders are full of possibilities. PS tealight holders, $6.99 for 12.

This desk has a little bit of Brocade Home in it. It would look fabulous with the Jules swivel chair in pink.  Vikka Hyttan / Vika Fintorp table, $139.

In keeping with this fall’s typography trend, is this Glasholm table top. I wish the text were more interesting, but the look is nice. Vika Glasholm / Vika Artur table, $140.