The first “Stockholm” collection debuted in 1984(Image credit: Emily Henderson) I knew I was a grown up the moment I switched out my IKEA mattress for a much more comfortable mattress I could invest in (and it was the best decision I ever made, but that's a different post for a different day). Still, there's a lot of great stuff to be found at the Swedish furniture giant. These nine pieces are tried and tested purchases that even grown-ups with grown-up money should consider snatching up for their homes. Based on how often they're spotted in tours and projects on home blogs (including right here on Apartment Therapy), here are the 9 Best Things to buy from IKEA. (Image credit: Emily Henderson) Pricey, for IKEA standards, but this black and white striped rug has been holding ground in some of my favorite spaces. (Image credit: Chris Gardner) Adjustable shelves and the ability to stack and layer pieces from the entire system makes this basic bookcase the most versatile storage in any home for any price.
It's so popular, it's also used as an economic measurement tool. Related Video: See how the iconic Billy bookcase is made! (Image credit: LeSueur Interiors) KALLAX Shelving Unit (formerly the EXPEDIT), $34.99-$169 Anything looks better stocked up in the perfectly square cubbies of this bookcase. This knockoff of the iconic Eero Tulip Table is just as modern and versatile, but way more affordable. (Image credit: Glitter and Goat Cheese) RIBBA Picture Ledge & Frames, $1.99-$19.99 The frames themselves are great basic frames for gallery walls. Solid and sturdy, use it to hold books, cords or, you know, pictures. (Image credit: The Everygirl) LACK Side Table, $9.99 One top, four legs, and a world of possibilities. They're literally everywhere and last forever. OK, they last long enough to save up ten bucks for a new one (or fifty). MALM Chests & Dressers, $49.99-$199 Whether three drawers or six is enough to stash stuff, the perfect dresser is out there.
The clean lines make it perfect for painting and customization. (Image credit: Southern Living) DALFRED Bar Stool, $39.99 A cool adjustable stool you'd see sitting at the desk in an architect's loft, but just the right price to buy a whole row of them to cozy up to a kitchen island. (Image credit: Kyle Freeman) MELLTORP Dining Table, $65 Whether used as a dining table or a desk, this melamine table comes in two sizes and works as a basic piece in any decor. And as a bonus... GLIMMA Unscented Tealights, $3.49 Four bucks for a hundred candles, and they take up, like, negative space almost. FRAKTA Shopping Bag, 99¢I buy one every time I go just to lug my haul to the car, then keep them around to have a supply of sturdy bags I don't mind leaving behind at a friend's house after an ambitious potluck or at my parents' house full of Christmas presents. Re-edited from a post originally published 5.15.14-NTIKEA is an incredible source for affordable furniture, but its affordability also often means that I see the same furniture everywhere I go.
But even with IKEAs most basic pieces, you can add your own DIY touch to customize hack your IKEA purchases into something completely unique.RELATED: 51 Clever IKEA Hacks for Kids’ Rooms & NurseriesI’ve scoured the web for the best IKEA hacks for the home and for families—check them out in the slideshow.Where can you find IKEA clearance furniture? Consumers can find IKEA clearance furniture at IKEA stores, which offer both last-chance and as-is furniture sales. The inventory for both categories of items changes on a regular basis and varies from one IKEA store to another. Where is Ikea furniture sold? Where can you purchase IKEA furniture in Canada? What are some examples of Galant furniture from Ikea? Last-chance IKEA purchases involve items for which the store no longer has room. During sunrise sales, IKEA sells last-chance merchandise under yellow banners to signal their lower prices.As-is clearance items are discounted because of defects in the workmanship or because of missing pieces.
IKEA discounts these items by as much as 75 percent and displays them in a special as-is section of the retail store. Customers who cannot locate discounted merchandise should ask an associate. Learn more about Furniture Is IKEA home office furniture positively reviewed? According to the Viewpoints website, furniture sold at IKEA is often seen as a good bargain, but can have its fair share of issues. The issues are mostly c... Does Ikea sell ready-to-assemble furniture? IKEA stores offer a self-serve shopping concept featuring ready-to-assemble products. This allows customers to take their furniture home the same day that ... What sorts of furniture can you find at a Kane's Furniture clearance sale? Kane's Furniture clearance sales feature living room furniture, bedroom furniture and dining room furniture. Individual pieces include sofas, loveseats, ch... What types of furniture does Taft put on clearance sales? Taft puts several types of furniture on clearance sales, including bedroom sets, sofas, TV stands, recliners and ottomans.
The store also offers dining fur... What furniture is found at Plummers Furniture? Does LG make stands for televisions? How do you take advantage of a cushion clearance sale? How do you build a garment rack? Where can you buy unfinished furniture kits? What are some ways to get free furniture removal in New York City?In the last few years, Ikea has shrugged off its false perception of a purveyor of cheap furniture and started selling some truly stunning stuff. For 2017, the Swedish flatpack furniture maker mixes classic and modern designs. But for every good-looking piece, there’s a terrible one that some poor college student is going to get tricked into buying. Of course, knowing what I know about the company and its shady history, I can’t help but wonder how some of this well designed home goods could be so cheap. I also can’t believe how utterly impractical some of them are. So here’s a breakdown of best and worst items coming to the new Ikea catalog.
And good luck trying to find them in the maze that is every Ikea store on the planet, starting this fall. If you like a little breathing room with your furniture, the modular design of the Vallentuna couch is just great. You can dance between color, materials, sitting room, or storage for whatever your space requires. There’s even a sofa bed module that will surely give your guests a good backache. With this wood countertop, the devil is in the details. Although it uses a solid wood on the outside, the rest is just a crappy particleboard core. Yeah, IKEA has more technologically equipped standing desks than the Knotten, but I just love this little guy. That may be because I live in a cramped apartment in desperate need of a desk of any kind. I’m all for cute, tiny spaces, but this kitchen is kind of impractical in almost every sense. I mean what could you really make in that kitchen? Maybe a salad...and a...I don’t know...a mean PB&J? It’s not all bad news.
For only $30, this simple little cart classes up your boozy parties on the cheap. This is IKEA overtly gunning for the Pottery Barn crowd. One plus is that the chair is probably ultra lightweight so you can pick it up and put it wherever, but for $250 it doesn’t really have much going for it. For voracious readers, lamplight is crucial. But if you have no room for an end table, IKEA’s clamp lights have always been great. The new brushed metal Varv also brings some much needed design chops to what have usually been pretty utilitarian fixtures. If there’s one thing I’m getting most definitely, it’s this guy (in silver). The more you look at this seemingly attractive storage thingie, the less sense it makes. All those holes mean you can’t put anything relatively small in there, and if you have a bunch of shit on the top, you have to take that all off to get to the stuff that’s in the basket. It’s also meant to display your storage, which is something I’ve never ever wanted to do.