IKEA furniture

So while I'm familiar with IKEA, I'm not familiar with IKEA. We need to buy furniture (along with rugs and linens and all sorts of other household items!!) but I'm curious how their furniture holds up. I'm not expecting rock solid-pass along to your grandhchildren-quality...but something for the next 5-7 years or so...

What's your experience with their sofas and such been?

Bought a sofa from them in summer of 2006 (maybe earlier, but I think that's when it was). Survived move to different apartment in Atlanta and then to my dad's place this summer as I was moving to the UK. Very solid piece of furniture that I expect to reclaim from my dad when I get back. It was middle of the road in terms of pricing. I've had very good luck with their furniture that's made of real wood (as opposed to particle board).

We've got an Ektorp sofa and chair, bought 2 years ago.  I think it all depends on what you're expecting.  Both pieces are definitely sturdy, but could do with some replacement seat cushions -- they squashed down and lost their cushioning fairly quickly.  But considering the price, I can't complain too much.  I'm thinking about taking measurements and getting replacement seating foam cut to extend its life and make it more comfortable.  Both still look very nice, FWIW.  

We've also got some end/coffee tables, an entertainment center, and some bookcases and shelving and I have no complaints for the price.  

we bought mid range ikea beds in france, and they were very solid till we moved them to england.  the movers told us it ikea stuff is not made for moving...  here in the UK, we bought dressers and storage stuff, again mid range.  the drawer mechanisms don't seem to be something that would last 5-7 yrs.  we bought a high end, for ikea, desk and it has been the most rickety of anything we purchased.  it is beautiful, though...

I had Ikea sofas for 8 years! They both had washable covers and lasted for a long long time. I was happy with them, I bought DFS ones about 2 years ago and I preferred my Ikea ones!!!

We've got an Ikea sofa we inherited from hubby's brother.  It looks nice and has real leather covering, but it is very uncomfortable.  We are going to upgrade to much firmer cushions like Ophinky, but even so it's just not shaped for comfort if that makes sense. 

I bought and loooved an IKEA sofa back in the states. Not only was it beautiful, it was cushy in all the right places and had removable covers that I could pop in the wash. On top of that, it had a lot of sentimental value because my now-husband helped me pick it out (and put it together) on our third date.    I absolutely hated leaving it behind, especially because the same sofa costs nearly twice as much at IKEA UK. 

We currently have bookshelves, a coffee table, and a dresser from IKEA. The dresser looks great, but I don't expect it to survive more than one move. The rest is kind of the cheaper stuff--functional, ok, but going to get replaced in the future. Overall I totally recommend IKEA for the value.

We may need to venture to the evils of IKEA for storage and I have found that IKEA always holds up for longer than you expect and the 'temporary' of a few years becomes very much permanent of a lifetime, nearly whether one likes it or not! 

This thread reminded me, last weekend we attempted to move a Hemnes wardrobe and it literally powdered in our hands! I wanted to get rid of it anyway but it fell apart!

Unlocked.  Keep it on topic and nice-ish thanks!

I think the best thing about IKEA is that, for the price, you don't have to feel too guilty about getting rid of things if you decide you want to redecorate.

I rent a furnished flat and 99% of the furniture is IKEA.  It all looks nice and since I'm like the 5th tenant in 3 years, it's holding up really really well through the abuse of us renters.  So I'd say go for it!

I absolutely ADORE Ikea!  I fell in love when they built the one in San Diego about 9 years ago, bought furniture that held up very well through a half dozen moves!  They built one in the Austin, TX area not long after my girls were born and we were regulars there, too!

Now, we await the opening of the very first IKEA in Colorado!!  My DP jokes and said that they knew we were moving here and decided to build so I could spend my paycheck there, lol.

I haven't bought a sofa, but my home office, my step sons' bunkbeds, my foster son's crib (cot in the UK?), my TV cabinet and a bunch of other stuff over the years has held up beautifully.  My daughters have a Trofast storage system in their room and the bins have held up through the abuse of two very active 4 year olds!

Well priced, well made...go for it!!  Have a plate of Swedish meatballs for me, will ya?  Even in the Denver store were open, I still can't eat them yet! (gastric bypass, lol)

We have a few Ikea items, especially solid wood bookshelves.  I think the quality and price is quite good.

Never bought a sofa, though.

My Sister In Law has sofas from there that seem reasonably comfortable.  She's had them for almost five years now and they seemed to still look good when I was there in December.

I find some of their beds (Malm springs to mind) to be waaaay too low and their armchairs as well but that's just my taste. 

We've just installed some of their Besta storage range in our lounge and it looks great, as well as a new kitchen a few months ago.