Ikea- your experience

If you have bought furniture from Ikea, what was it and how long did it last?

Re: Ikea- your experience

I have bought LOTS of furniture from Ikea -- TV stands, dressers, night stands, coffee tables, a filing cabinet. Most of it lasted awhile (5+ years.) The dressers have definitely had some problems with the drawers. One in my bedroom DH has had to fix a few times. The TV stands & coffee tables held up pretty well. I would buy shelves from there again, but if I want something to last, I'd stay away from the dressers (unless they're going in a guest room or someplace where they aren't used alot.)

Re: Ikea- your experience

It depends.....some things we bought were made super cheap and were kind of "disposable" furniture.

We did buy our kitchen table and chairs and the quality is excellent. Nobody can believe that we bought it at IKEA. We've had them 2+ years and they are still brand-new.

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I bought a head board and foot board from Ikea... we bought it about 5 years ago and it is still in great condition. We no longer use it, but we are keeping it for a guest room.

We also bought a table and chairs. The table is holding up well but the chairs not so much.

We just recently bought a small table (glass top) and chairs and LOVE IT! It's only about a month old but so far so good.

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I've been more than happy with their cube shelving, our glass computer desk (which is also advertised as a dining table) & my daughter's small table & chairs.

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I agree with SuzyQ - stay away from the dressers. We have one and it has taken a lot of use and it's falling apart at every joint. DH had to screw/nail everything back in but none of the drawers slide right and haven't before it started falling apart.

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That's funny, I have a dresser from there that's 8 years old and still works great. I have it inside my closet now since we got a new matching bedroom set when we moved into the house but I love that dresser.

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We bought a TV stand, 2 couches (wooden frame), and our current BR set, dressers and all from them. The TV stand and couches have moved with us 3 times over the last 7 years and are still in great shape.

Our BR set is almost 2 years old and still looks brand new. We haven't had any issues with the dressers at all. It's the Malm platform bed set.

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I bought a lot of stuff from them when I was younger and just furnishing an appt, etc.

We've had a couch, a club chair, a couple tables, a TV stand, and a few other things. It's okay but not the kind of stuff I would keep for the long term. The couch and chair held up decently, the tables would get loose occasionally.

I really like their textiles and gadgets though.

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First off, it totally depends on which pieces you are buying and from what "collection." Most of our stuff is from the Leksvik line and all of it has held up incredibly well. Have never had a problem with the dressers, tables, bookshelves or tv cabinets.

If you get the items that are made out of pine or other kinds of solid wood instead of the particle board stuff, it will last a long time.

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I have a few pieces from the Markor series- TV stand, and two bookshelves. They have held up wonderfully for almost four years.

Over the years I've had several pieces of furniture from there- I found that the particleboard pieces don't hold up as well compared to the stuff that's made of wood, but those pieces also cost less.

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I've bought furniture from them in the past. Bedroom furniture set. It lasted for quite a few years, probably about 5+years. But the dressers where falling apart a little. I couldn't have been that I had move about 3 times with the furniture, so all in all, it stood up well and for the money at the time, it worked out for me.

We just bought a table and chairs for our Family Room, so we haven't started to use those yet, but they are really nice looking. We also bought a sofa table.

I love IKEA! Great accessories!

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anything will drawers is a problem in my experience.

We bought our first bedroom set there. Bed lasted, bureaus were falling apart within 6 months. The boards buckle.


If you want something temporary, it's fine. But if you want furniture that will last, I would keep looking.


We had a computer desk that was decent.

Still have a bookshelf that is about 4 years old. Although it's pretty unsteady and the back particle board is coming off. But it looks nice :)

Message edited 9/3/2009 10:15:39 AM.

Re: Ikea- your experience

well, this is great info...

now, what about the people who bought KITCHEN CABINETS???

some people think they are great, no?

Re: Ikea- your experience

Re: Ikea- your experience

We have an ikea kitchen (cheap plain white) and it is great. Haven't had any problems in 4+ years. Like other posters have said the drawers in our malm dresser do fall apart but they are also over stuffed. I really love Ikea for the price.

Re: Ikea- your experience

Mixed reviews.

A sofa bed and arm chair lasted for years.

A dresser became wobbly over time and did not withstand moving.

I also had some bookshelves that were great, but when I had a flood in my apartment, the particle board soaked up the water and the shelves buckled.

Will buy stuff from Ikea in the future for areas that do not take a lot of abuse.

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I've had an entertainment center from when I first moved on my own 10 yrs ago and it's still in great condition. I also have two dressers that are about 7 years old and I have not had any issues with the drawers. We have 2 desks and bookselves that are also in good condition.

Many of these pieces have been through 2 moves and we haven't had any issues with them.

Message edited 9/3/2009 11:52:59 AM.

Re: Ikea- your experience

Re: Ikea- your experience

One of our main dressers in our bedroom is from IKEA. We've had it (and used it every single day) for 10+ years. Still looks and acts almost brand new.

We also have sink cabinet and medicine cabinet in the new bathroom. We have the wood items, not the compressed cardboard stuff, so that makes a huge difference. For the most part, I don't think it's the brand as much as the material.

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I agree with "it depends"

we have a lot from the markor and letsvik (I'm sure I got that wrong) and they are still going stong - some 5+ years later (with a cross country move and time in storage)


we bought a dresser when we moved back to NY - since we needed something immediately - the dresser itself is fine - the deep drawers keep losing the bottom and I have to pop it back in constantly

we bought a cheap white dresser for my son's room (since we are planning to move and will get something else then) and 1.5 years later - the drawers are crap.

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I bought my first couch from Ikea, and it lasted 7 years. I was very happy with it!

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Message edited 9/3/2009 2:48:56 PM.

Re: Ikea- your experience

ITA with the posters who said it depends on the material. Anything we have that is real wood has lasted nearly 10 years.

We just bought and installed hardwood flooring (Balk) for the nursery and it looks great. We will most likely be getting our new kitchen countertops from there as well as they now sell Corian, Silestone and granite countertops.

ETA: I forgot we bought a bunch of cabinets for our laundry/storage room when we re-did it about 4 years ago. Lots of wear and tear and they've held up great so far.

Message edited 9/3/2009 5:16:09 PM.

Re: Ikea- your experience

After college I purchased my first couch from Ikea, it held up for 10 years - even lasted at my brother's frat house for TWO years and still made it back in ok shape.