Should I confess that I have never even been to an IKEA before? Yes, it’s true!
However, after reading this post on 22 Items You Need to Look For at IKEA, I wanted to go just to check it out — because some of those prices were quite impressive.
Do you agree with this list? I’d love to hear what you feel like are bargains at IKEA and also what items you feel like are not worth buying there?
Stephanie says
An IKEA just opened up about 15 minutes away and we are thrilled! We are going to redecorate our family room in the basement this summer and line one full wall with IKEA shelving for our own personal library. I’ve purchased pillows, home decor, bowls, curtains, & wall art from IKEA. It’s really fun just to check it out even if you don’t buy anything because it’s so different from any other store you’ll ever go to.
Laura says
I would agree with what this article says. We lived in Chicago for awhile, and now are in the Denver area and IKEA is a huge hit in these bigger cities.
I totally agree with the author that looking first at thrift stores is the way to go. Slapping paint on some frames or a dresser can make all the difference in the world!
IKEA is great for those who have more contemporary style and aren’t looking for pieces to last forever. 🙂 I think the biggest thing to watch out for is that while some things are dirt cheap, other items right beside it will not be that great of a deal.
Love their displays, and like the author mentioned, inspiration! If you know what you want and don’t want to be persuaded to buy more, make sure to head straight down to the marketplace where you can pick up the actual items to purchase, versus walking through the show room which might sway you to buy more than you actually need.
Andrea says
I just got back from a vacation to Seattle where I drug my hubby to IKEA even though we live in Alaska and couldn’t get 99% of the stuff we saw! I’ve started doing the European duvet covers and confirtors for our family living in Alaska. It’s warm, simple, easy to update, and making the bed is east for anyone. So I got my son the sweetest twin duvet cover. I’ll be ordering the comfortor off of eBay from someone who buys seconds from the Company Store. I also got some simple bars and hooks for hanging and organizing craft things. And a few pillow covers. Down throw pillows were $5 and I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t promise my hubby that they’d fit in the suitcase. I also really wanted the chair cushions for our ugly bar stools, but not on this trip!
Sarah says
Agree with others on hangers, frames, dish towels, and candles. Other things toilet bowl cleaners, drawer organizers, holiday napkins, and a hanging closet organizer. Also we bought our baby crib. Solid wood and less than$120 rated better than lots of other cribs by consumer reports.
Alisha @ The Savvy Bump says
I practically grew up in Ikea! I love it there. They have really affordable baby and kid furniture and it lasts! My brother was still sleeping on his Ikea kid’s bed in his 20s. =) Haha!
Tina says
IKEA has the absolute BEST photo frames! They are super affordable and perfect for collages. I always stock up when we go there. They have black and white ones, but also a few colors.
We purchased Mini’s toddler bed there about 5 years ago. When we upgraded her to the bunk last summer, the bed went to the dogs (literally!).
I made my desk from 2 shelving units from Walmart and a table top from IKEA. I got the idea on Pinterest and love it!
They also have great storage options. I LOVE their boxes and bins. All are cheap price, but good quality.
You can pretty much find an IKEA item in every room of my house. My husband is so glad the store isn’t closer to our house 🙂
Julie@frugallyblonde says
We love ikea! We have one about two hours away and it makes a great one tank getaway. My favorite thing at ikea is the meatballs. 🙂 I redid my sons bedroom in ikea stuff for under $200. He loved it, it may not be the best quality but will easily last until he goes to college.
Need A Nap2 says
I went for the first time last year. We flew so I couldn’t buy much. Their kids’ cups are great, it doesn’t turn over in the dishwasher. I wish I’d gotten the bowls and silverware. 🙂 We bought a backpack for our son, his had broken, and so far so good on the backpack (he doesn’t use it much).
Jacky @ Joyful Savings says
I love all IKEA furniture but unfortunately they don’t have any store near by. There are a lot of great options on this list!
HokieKate says
I love IKEA. I just drove six hours each way to Dallas to buy new dressers for my girls. The solid wood dressers (Hemnes) I bought 10 years ago for myself and my husband are still going strong, and so I am hoping my girls’ dressers will last until they leave for college.
Beth says
So glad to see this! I just spoke with a lady who has bought 8’Hemnea dressers over the years (she has 2 homes) and she loves them. I think we are going to get one for my son’s room. You may have just sealed the deal! We are 3 hours from Ikea but we will head there soon.
RuthS says
Oh, so many cheap things. Candles, flower pots, kitchen utensils (best ice cream scoops ever), pillows (incredibly low prices).
And not cheap, but amazing, are my shoe cabinet and dining room chairs which are the most comfortable chairs ever.
Ashley Taylor says
We recently made this Lego table using two Ikea storage units. It does take up a bit of space but as much as our kids play with Legos we were willing to give them a workable space that isn’t the kitchen table. I love the bins; easy for the kid to use and help with Lego containment!
http://frugalfun4boys.com/2014/09/01/ikea-hack-lego-table/
Addy says
We live about 5 minutes from IKEA, so go there fairly often. We have gotten shower curtains, kitchen towels, shelves, beds & mattresses, pots & pans, children’s toys, Christmas decorations, candles, plants, vases….I don’t remember what all else. We purchase food in their grocery section and love to eat in their restaurant. We also grab the $0.99 ice cream cones! We also enjoy getting ideas from the model rooms, kitchens & apartments they have set up.
lyss says
Ikea is a really fun store. But keep in mind, you do get what you pay for, at least in the area of furniture. Some of their stuff is really good quality, but some of it is cheap…because it’s cheap! I know some people talk about ikea furniture being junk, but they’re talking about those super cheap tables or shelves made out of veneer/particle board or whatever it is. We have some ikea nightstands that are solid wood and good as new after 9 years, but they were about $60 each.
Kids stuff is worth looking for. Beds, mattresses, toys, organization, etc. Some of their kitchen stuff is great, too.
If you have one nearby, definitely go browse!
Susie says
I’m planning a trip soon to pick up a potty chair. They have their sturdy, simple one on sale for $3.99 right now, while the cheapest I’ve found (for a flimsy, plastic one) is $9.99 at Wal-Mart! We used to shop at IKEA when we lived in Africa and went on visa-renewal trips to Europe. Their wooden kids’ toys are great quality. Their high chairs served us well, too.
Susan in St. Louis says
Well, I have never been to Ikea in the States! Reports are that one is coming to STL, though, so that should change soon. 🙂 When I lived in Russia for a year, a trip to Ikea was a little culture break, as it felt much more familiar (Western) than my typical surroundings at the time.
Jessica says
We have one dresser, 3 shelves, several pillow shams, the kid’s step stool, and a few other things from there. We also got some nice baby bibs from there. I can’t wait till the one in Columbus opens next year!
Leigh says
Cribs. We love the solid wood Sniglar for $70.
Kids anything. They just get how kids work. We love their kids beds, metal cutlery, stuffed animals, kitchen, and cash register to name a few
Wrapping paper.
But not glassware, we break their stuff too quickly. Duralex for our house
And always check the as is section. I got a linen queen duvet cover for $8 last time.
Amy F;) says
We have the children’s step stools and are pleased with them…they are scuffed and dented a bit but have been through 3 boys. If I did it again I would come up with something in painted wood maybe.
Some of our ikea lighting has been fine and some of it didn’t last very long. We had to replace the part that plugs into the outlet on one set because it stopped working for no apparent reason.
I have an older ikea couch we got on craigslist from back when they used steel frames instead of just wood or wood pieces. The sucker is amazingly sturdy! The whole family has used it for impromptu gymnastics and it is still going strong.
I’m really pleased with their kitchen glass storage dishes, bath towels, and wooden children’s toys too.
Kim says
Ikea was my go to place when I had my in-home preschool. I totally forgot how much I love it there. Thanks for the inspiration. Our big summer project is to redo both of our boys rooms, so this comes at a perfect time!
Elise @frugalfarmwife.com says
I haven’t either! I’ve seen lots of Ikea “knockoff” tutorials that make me want to go though! 🙂
Ann says
They have cork board trivets that are WONDERFUL and flexible cutting boards that are cheap enough that I have no problem throwing them away as soon as they look scratched. I also like their 4×2 cubbies for storage. I wish there was one closer than three hours away!
Carolyn says
Ikea has the best kitchen dish towels at less than $1 each. I always grab several whenever we are there. I’ve gotten several picture frames for $1, and the $3 frother comes in very handy, not just for drinks but for scrambling eggs, mixing 1-person batches of pancake mix, etc. You cannot go wrong with the Billy bookshelves (there are 3 in our house), and my daughter loved the duvet and comforter insert that she got there before going to college so much, she got exact duplicates to have at home for when she is here on breaks. Ikea can be a budget-drainer if you have issues with impulse buying, but if you go with cash and a list, it can end up being a very frugal shopping trip. (Side note – the small complete apartments they have set up are awesome for small home living examples. The use of space is inspiring!)