Blog Design: Furniture #1 of 5... Shopping by Design IKEA

A Designer's Thoughts and Feedback: IKEA is what it is and should be utilized as such. Just a stroll through their retail center gives you a good feel for the culture and style that defines their brand. There is a tremendous amount of time, creativity and effort that goes into giving the consumer good, visually appealing design and then creating the goods at a low price point. I love some of the European designs that IKEA offers.

However, let's be real. Most people think of IKEA as throw away furniture. It's funny, I live in one of the most self-proclaimed socially and environmentally conscious cities in the world. Yet, there is a high amount of households that have IKEA furniture in this city...There are so many issues about being a throw away society that this blog will not tackle. I will tackle the fact that it is a waste of time, money and just adds to future frustrations when it falls apart and you have to decide how to get rid of it, what to replace it with and the initial investment that was a throw away as well, and could have been invested into a more solid piece that could actually move with you and last longer.

I won a room design from IKEA in 2006 for the use of IKEA furniture and IKEA fabrics in a room. I actually LOVE IKEA. I appreciate it for what it is and have very little expectations that it will ever be more. There are some things that you should spend your money on in their stores and some things that you should not be impulsive about....

Here are my thoughts:

I DON'T think that you should ever buy a sofa or mattress from IKEA. As a designer, I tell my clients that they should use their budgets wisely and invest in certain pieces that will wear well and last. Neither of those items are going to last much out of the gate. The materials that they use are such that they break down and decay very quickly. It will look good initially and then look like it should be in a dump heap within a very few months.... if it takes that long. I am being optimistic with that statement.

I DO think that it is a huge benefit that you can bring a box up a set of narrow stairs, into a space that you would have a difficult time maneuvering a piece of assembled furniture into, and turn a slim box into a fully functioning piece of furniture. There is a lot to be said for convenience too.

I DO think that it's acceptable in some cases to buy an accent chair like the Poang or Tullsta Chairs. They actually have very little upholstery, look good, are quite comfortable and sell for under $100. It has been my experience that these two chairs hold up quite well and have many options for slipcovers or replacement pads. That is a wise choice for an accent chair. Just mix it up with some quality pieces and call it a day. That is a good way to spread out your budget.

More info about this chair.......











I DON'T think that you should buy pieces of "wood" furniture that you will want to move to another location. The way that the pieces are assembled only give them strength and integrity if you put them

together and never move them. Not really even across the room. Movements breaks the joints down. I even add a bit of furniture glue when I assemble IKEA furniture. It helps a little... not a lot. Moving companies have an addendum in their contracts that specifically says that IKEA furniture will not be covered in any furniture insurance replacement claims. This is across the board and exists for a reason... Many national moving companies will just refuse to touch any piece of IKEA furniture.



I DO think there is TONS of Value in their PAX and Wardrobe systems just as long as you keep in mind their limitations and your expectations are realistic. The sizes and features that they offer are great! The modular systems are handy and you can get storage units into spaces that you would never be able to get traditional furniture into. Our country was built with a tax system that would count closets as rooms in our early days... That is one reason why there are little to no closets in older
homes. Being able to add storage after the fact with these units is one of the best selling features for IKEA. Just remember that the drawers don't work easily, the units don't hold up well when you put lots of weight in them and they shouldn't be moved once they are assembled. Keep those facts in mind and you will be fine.

As with anything else, including shopping at IKEA, when you know the rules of the road... You know how to maneuver through the space. That is all about the journey and making thing work for you ... or not. But, now you have a little more information to be an informed shopper. Accept IKEA for what it is and you can find some things that really work for you and add value to your shopping experience. Avoid the items that will only leave you feeling frustrated and empty later.

There are always variables to consider when buying furniture: cost, use, aesthetics, ease of getting it into your space.. to name a few. Convenience and Cost are huge factors for consumers. 

I do not want to come across as supporting or condemning any of the upcoming retailers that I will review. I am just sending out some food for thought. There are pluses and minuses to them all. I am always the devil's advocate for my clients, so that there is no buyers remorse, and they know exactly what they are getting and why they are getting it. Try not to purchase impulsively. You end up wasting money if you don't have a grand plan. That is one of the things that I work hard on setting up with clients: a direction to head before they spend money on anything.Everyone has a budget whether it is $500 or $500, 000.  Figure out what you want to spend your money on and what pieces you want to spend less for... That makes for a happier homeowner and in response a more comfortable environment to live in.

Kimberly R Lifestyle by Design 
Designing a life with grace and ease