Invest it Wisely’s guest post “Going for quality is the frugal way…“ spawned an Ikea conversation. There are definitely two Ikea camps. Those who agree it’s cheap but feel that they get enough years out of the items to make it worth their while. This group includes: Buck Inspire, Shannyn at Frugal Beautiful, and the Car Negotiation Coach are fans.
The naysayers include: Beating the Index, No Debt MBA, Kelly at Texas Type A Mom, and Krantcents. They are willing to spend more on furniture. Posters who appeared impartial to Ikea include: Southern Country Girl, Ginger at Frugal Student, and Forest at Frugal Zeitgeist. There is one outlier…Money Reasons whose only impression of Ikea has been seen in the context of the movie Fight Club.
Kevin mentions that he purchased Ikea furniture but felt that he got his money out of it. Ikea is not just furniture. It includes textiles, food, toys, kitchen remodels, appliances…
How do you Ikea?
Do you just purchase furniture? Go there for a cheap dinner? Kitchen gadgets? I have purchased tons of items from Ikea over the last 10 years. Here are my top picks:
10. LACK coffee table. Unassuming, dirt cheap…and yes, it broke. I have three sons and it lasted longer than I anticipated. Definite ROI here.
9. FABLER KROKODIL also known as Nate and Jojo. Nate the super long crocodile has doubled as a fire hose in our house. While Jojo, the baby has kept an infant happy. (no longer available at IKEA)
8. .50 all beef hot dogs How can you go wrong with a .50 hot dog? It makes the McValue Menu look like an extravagant expense.
7. ANTILOP high chair This high chair is about $20 and easy to clean…besides how long do you use a high chair?
6. BUMERANG wooden hangers You will have these hangers until the day you die. They are sturdy and provide order to your closet.
5. EKTORP loveseat cover was $11, now $39 I purchased the loveseat when it was $250 about 2 years ago and 3 covers when the covers were $11. No need to worry about white for $11 a piece. I used to own a Pottery Barn loveseat. The difference between the two is minimal in my opinion.
4. STEFAN chair We have purchased this chair at least 12 times in the last 6 years. At $19.99 you cannot fret if it breaks. Also, I have learned that a black sharpie marker quickly covers any nicks in the wood. We have kept “back up chairs” disassembled and in the box just in case company comes and we need more seating.
3. TROMSO bunk bed The pail silver metal makes decorating with the TROMSO line easy. Any style of bedding can work with it. Currently, we just use the full sized bed without the bunk…we discovered that a certain two year old could climb up the latter. It doesn’t look “perfect” without the bunk on top, but it is so minimal, that I am probably the only one who notices.
2. EKTORP sectional For $799 we purchased this sectional. Mr. Super Frugalette thinks it is more comfortable than he anticipated. We like space and thus we have our own “spots” on the sectional… I am in love with the fact that a replacement slip cover is only $99.
1. BILLY bookcase I did not love it at first but my love grew. When I purchased this bookcase, I knew that I could not get it into my apartment without help. I was new to Baltimore, but luckily, I lived in an fairly decent sized apartment complex. I decided that I would flash my warmest smile to the first able bodied male that exited the elevator and ask for his assistance with the bookcase. Within 3 minutes, a guy in great shape headed out of the elevator. I asked him for help and he gladly assisted….Mr. Super Frugalette was very helpful and kind that day, 1o years later we still have the bookcase.
Ikea Fails:
3. Duvet…I purchased an Ikea duvet cover about 5 years ago. I should have known better. The vast majority of Ikea duvets are under 200 thread count. I believe mine was 180 and you can definitely tell the difference. I dislike anything under 300…it is just to scratchy. (no longer available at IKEA)
2. Jennylund chair. I loved the pricepoint but the seat is 18″ wide. It is completely impractical. I am so happy I saw this in person before I placed a major online order.
1. Green Wardrobe. It looked great in color and design. It was deep so it held tons of clothes. My in-laws purchased the same one and used it to house their television. However, ours barely survived an across town move…it did not make it to its 2 year birthday. It had to be trashed. (no longer available at IKEA)
How I Ikea…
My last encounter with Ikea was this past fall when we placed a nearly 2k online order including some of the products mentioned above. Our new place needed furniture. If I make it to the Financial Blogger Conference in Chicago…I am going to have to make an Ikea visit. There are not just 1, but 2 Ikeas in the Chicago area…just the thought of getting a .50 hot dog gives me warm fuzzies.
I am really satisfied in general with the Ikea quality and even if I was supremely wealthy…I would probably still shop Ikea.
Do you Ikea? If so, what’s your story?
I do Ikea, my wife swears by it, most of our carpets, dishes and lamps are from Ikea, lucky to have one within 3 miles in Sunrise, FL.
We do like there cinnamon roll !
Haven’t had the cinnamon roll….but sounds yummy.
try once, you’ll love it
LOL. I just posted on your Facebook wall that I was staying over an extra day at the Financial Blogger Conference just so I can experience an Ikea store.
I am so excited for you. The Swedish meatballs are great…don’t forget your hotdog!
I still have a Billy bookcase, even in my condo! You just can’t beat the price, and I think it actually looks pretty nice the way I have it set up. It fits just right in the corner…
Thanks for mentioning the post, and this was a neat post idea to wrap up the different sites like that!
Thanks for noticing my “wrap up” approach.
I like Ikea, but it is a dangerous place for me so I never go; have only been there once.
That is funny…one time I went with my husband before we married and he purchased an unnecessary plant…I wondered how does a store make you cave into plants….that is genius!
We don’t Ikea now, but have in the past – there’s no Ikea in our town, or if there is, don’t know where it is. Most of our house is furnished with rehabilitated and reupholstered used, vintage and antique pieces, picked up here and there. I do like their somewhat goofy product names.
I bet your house is quite charming. I love re-purposing.
When my husband and I were younger and were just starting out, we purchased quite a few pieces from Ikea. Now that we’re older, we really only purchase quality furniture items after a lot of research. We have two pieces of Ikea left; two small shelves/end tables that are being used in my husband’s closet to shelf our Roombas.
I had to Google Roomba….might be something worth investigating when the kids are no longer a threat to the vacuum.
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Ikea stuff for a young person is great. My DH had the bed from years ago and all we have had to replace in the $40 bed slates. For someone moving a lot it is great because you can break it down, however you need to be good at putting them together. A friend put together a piece of furniture from there, it lasted years. I put together a piece and since I did not know what I was doing, I did a bad job. Even when it was put together, it did not seem to stay together well. I think ikea has it’s place but it is not the end all to be all.
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