Ikea: worth it?

[Texasgal]

I am currently searching for some bookshelves. Over the last year my book collection has expanded to the point of having books stacked in a guest room.

My decor' is a bit whimsical, I have antiques LOTS of them that I have collected and been willed over the years. Wood grains are different etc.

I've looked at some antiques and I have looked at some furniture stores. I don't want anything too busy I just want something simple and clean looking.

Someone suggested Ikea. I've looked and found a few things that might work.

Does anyone have some insight on Ikea's quality? I realize that you "get what you pay for" kinda thing but the whole Ikea thing kinda intrigues me.

Anyone own any Ikea pieces? How do you feel about the quality? Was it what you expected? And finally... are their things hard to put together?

[yvr girl]

1. Ikea is good for book shelves

I don't think I would ever buy something like a sofa there, but it's a good source for utility or "fashion" pieces.

[Rising Phoenix]

2. Ikea is what homophobia looks like

went to buy an expensive bed with a partner of the same sex and we were treated horribly, I think the guy "helping us" was fired because of it.....and its a bitch to build their little things

[Texasgal]

4. How horrible!

That sucks that you had such an experience!

Good thing the asshole got fired!!!!!!

And thanks for the heads up on putting the stuff together, I really don't want to do that!

[Rising Phoenix]

5. glad I could help

[DeepBlueC]

36. it's not hard

I have put together 5 bookshelves and it is pretty simple. One tool: Allen key, which they supply. I've had mine for decades and they still look as good as the day I got them. Recommended. Also Ikea is great for kitchen stuff which is well designed and cheap. It's kind of fun to shop there. I always end up with tons more stuff than I was looking for.

[bicentennial_baby]

6. !!!

:rofl:

Sorry...Just wasn't expecting to read that. ;)

[begin_within]

39. That's strange, because a few years back Ikea was airing commercials showing same-sex couples

buying furniture together... it became a news story that they were doing that to reach the gay/lesbian market. I'm very surprised that that happened to you.

[Rising Phoenix]

42. it was quite forrifiac

the gentlemen was rude, vulgar, and very asshole....

[Deja Q]

52. Pandering and patronizing; the myth homosexuals have more wealth/disposable income

It's one (from a handful) of reasons why I don't go to "pride" festivals anymore; it's all about big companies claiming to support and showing off their latest warez.

And one or two of those companies, while waving the flag, happen to commit human rights violations in other countries. Coca Cola Company, anybody?

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/our_progress.html

http://www.mindfully.org/Industry/Coca-Cola-Human-Rights20jul01.htm
http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2005/cokechallenged.html
http://corporatewatchdogmedia.blogspot.com/2006/04/coca-cola-and-human-rights.html
http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2008/cokeolympics.html

Oh my.

Of course, it is possible to be non-homophobic but anti-worker, but whatever... it's just proof. Unless human rights doesn't equate to worker rights?

[Deja Q]

54. Advertised image vs the attitude of the employee/manager of the particular store

I am sorry you were treated like that; I'm glad the guy was fired. Rule 1 in customer service: Keep to the product and provide good service. Period. Treating customers horribly is wrong.

[SKKY]

3. I really like what they have as far as "storage" furnature...

...but I'm not a huge fan of their beds, sofas, chairs, etc. I have most of my office stuff from Ikea, plus my closet organizers, shelves, kitchen stuff. Most of where I keep things is in Ikea stuff, if that makes any sense.

[Texasgal]

7. Did y ou find it hard to assemble?

[yvr girl]

9. bookshelves are pretty straight-forward

Things with drawers etc. are more complicated.

Side note - don't assemble anything at 2 am. I was in a fit of giggles one night as I was trying desperately to be quiet while putting some shelves together (I live in an apartment.) It's not really possible to hammer nails in quietly.

[Texasgal]

12. heh!

I appreciate your wisdom! :)

[kwassa]

11. if you don't like to assemble, don't go to Ikea.

On the other hand, you will not find decent furniture cheaper anywhere.

Hint: buy a budget electric screwdriver, and avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. I got one for $12. We also use Ikea for storage-type furniture, and are about to buy toddler furniture, which is both good and cheap.

[SKKY]

41. Not at all. They've gotten much, much better with their instructions...

[GOPisEvil]

8. Look for solid wood.

Take someone (or a couple of someones) to help you lift the box containing the furniture pieces. Their stuff isn't hard to put together. You just have to be able to follow picture instructions

[Texasgal]

10. follow picture instructions...

whut?

:P

I think I may head over there in the morning, I've heard it's kind of an experience to shop there!

Are ya keepin' dry?

[sniffa]

13. I hope this helps

:hi:

[Texasgal]

15. HA!!

That's AWESOME!



filthy swedes! :rofl:

[XemaSab]

32. The people in that sketch look strangely familiar

Abe Lincoln and Andrew Jackson? With boobs? :shrug:

[Catshrink]

14. I have 8 of their bookcasesa and love them.

But I also bought a bed and nightstands. They look so cheesy. And the bed was a bitch to put together. Bookcases, fine. Other stuff? Watch out.

They also have a lot of other stuff that's way cool.

[Texasgal]

17. Yeah, I'm thinking the bookshelves might be alright

I am so picky! :P

Thank you for your input!

[kentauros]

16. I think their stuff is great!

:)

I have quite a few sets of shelves from them, three of them from almost 20 years ago, still holding up fine.

Although I've never bought any other furniture from them, I do still want to get a certain TV cabinet, once I've cleared some room for it. And I've never had a problem putting their products together. It's all pictograms, no words, so some might have a problem with that. I'm graphically-minded, so it's far easier than figuring out home-electronics manuals!

The other thing that IKEA does that many might not be aware of is that they are environmentally conscious and will tell you the source of the materials that went into making the item and recyclability. I don't see that kind of mindfullness in other furniture stores.

Or research them a little more through TreeHugger.com - IKEA

[Texasgal]

19. Cool!

Thank you so much for your post!

[kentauros]

21. You're welcome :)

My brother and SIL used to drive from Austin to shop at the big store in Houston, before IKEA had a store in Austin. I haven't been to the Houston one since they remodeled, though. They increased it from 200,000 sq.ft. to 300,000 sq.ft.! You could get a pretty good workout walking through all that

[Texasgal]

23. Yeah, the store in Austin is waaaay

far from me...almost like driving to Houston!

LOL!!!

I'm kinda excited! I'm an Ikea VIRGIN!!! :rofl:

[Sebastian Doyle]

48. Why do you think they put a restaurant right in the middle of the damn place

If you don't eat some of those damn Swedish Meatballs, you might not have the strength to make the whole trip around. And as anyone who has been there knows, you have to walk all the damn way through.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

68. Hey there IKEA fans!!!

I have SUCH A DEAL for you!

My house in Houston is ONE EXIT from the IKEA store on I-10 at Antoine.

And it's for sale. Honest.

2,100 square feet, built in 1956. Brick ranch style.

[JVS]

18. Bookshelves should be fine from Ikea.

[crispini]

20. I have their plain pine ones. They came unstained, and I stained them,

and that was a PAIN IN THE ASS. I'd leave them unstained next time. I got them because they are very similar to the stuff I got at the Container Store which they don't carry anymore and which was double the price anyway.

[Texasgal]

22. Oh wow!

I had no idea that you could stain the stuff yourself! From what I've looked at it seemed that everything was already pre-stained.

HMMMM... this idea is getting better and better!

Thanks for your thoughts!

[crispini]

25. Ha. I just went to look at their website...

and I can't find what I just bought last year (unstained) which is annoying, because I was hoping to buy more of it soon. Ah, the joys of shelving. If they have discontinued it I'm going to be PISSED.
This will be the SECOND time that I've been all like, "Sure, let me invest in this shelving system which is expandable and I can buy more," and the store has been all like, Oh, no, you di'int! We're going to stop carrying it! Psyche!

At least there's always elfa. I should have just elfa'd my whole house from the beginning, but it's so damn spendy.

[Texasgal]

28. Yeah Elfa is WAAAAAAAAY

expensive.

My Mother bought me some Elfa shelving for my closet a few years ago. I went to expand and WHOA! I had severe sticker shock!

[Shakespeare]

24. IKEA's Billy bookcases are very well made, and a bargain at $89.

They're also a cinch to put together--you can have one assembled in 15-20 minutes, easily. They're nice wood veneer over high-quality compressed wood (more derisively known as particle board, but all particle board is not created equal, and is not necessarily a bad thing). My dad--who's a dealer for several high-end office furniture lines, says their bookcases are fantastic, and great for the price. I've used them for about 15 years now.

[Catshrink]

29. That's what I have.

I bought the doors so I'd have a place to hide office supplies. They are tremendous!

[Shakespeare]

31. I'm about to buy a few more this weekend.

I also like the extension shelf you can buy that adds another shelf on top, and maxes out shelf space (I always get those to go with the bookcases when I buy more).

[madinmaryland]

26. Try this. Instead of going to Ikea, go to the library!

Rather than buying crap that once you have read, you will never read again, GO TO THE LIBRARY.

I've told that to my wife and she keeps buying books and collecting them. :grr:

[Texasgal]

30. O.M.G!

That's HILARIOUS! My husband says the same damn thing!!! LOL!

[InvisibleTouch]

35. I finally got smart and started to do that too.

Sold a lot of my novels that I'd read once and knew I'd never read again, and I'm a big fan of the library now for those "read-once" books of any category. For reference books, now, which I know I'll refer to again and again, I'm still an unrepentant hoarder.

[jobycom]

43. Wow.

You're mad outside of Maryland, too. :rofl:

[applegrove]

27. I've had some ikea bookshelves all out of their boxes and ready to

put together for about 4 months now... now where was that screwdriver?

[1gobluedem]

33. I love my IKEA bedroom furniture

It's very solid. Of course, I didn't put it together, SO did so I can't comment on the assembly process. It only took him a week for four pieces which is pretty good for a chronic procrastinator.

[KitchenWitch]

34. IKEA is my happy place.

I have several storage unit type things from IKEA. Not hard to put together at all.

I actually should hire myself out to put together IKEA stuff, I love to build it.

[Fran Kubelik]

56. Same here

Love Ikea, love putting it together.

[Deja Q]

37. Well, I wouldn't use their furniture as any of the following:

* An item to put a TV in
* An item to put clothing in
* A substitute for a boat
* A cheap lamp (I'll cut my own milk bottles instead of buying the $30 DUDZERÖ or CRAPPA lamps)
* A prostitute

It's rubbish. Wal-mart has sold more solid stuff, and that ain't sayin' much.

[Shakespeare]

38. Bullshit.

Simply bullshit.

[Deja Q]

53. Ooh, a one-liner response! You are more intelligent than Einstein and Shakespeare combined!

:sarcasm:


Granted, I could have bypassed the human and tell some more in-depth stories as to why I think their products are flimsy... but I'd be preaching to choirs... under which circumstances it's then more fun just to say something silly. Ikea sells overpriced rubbish. Nothing bullshit about that. Been there, done that, moved on.

[Shakespeare]

61. No, your post was so absurd it didn't require a longer response.

Aside from the $20 super-budget stuff, their furniture is well-made. By way of example, a similar wood veneer bookcase from any other manufacture would run $250 or so, minimum. Having worked for several years at the family business (high-end office furniture), I know whereof I speak.

So, no, their furniture is not crap, and it's certainly not overpriced.

[RetroLounge]

65. He's either never been there, or owns Walmart Stock.

:eyes:

RL

[quakerboy]

44. I was with you untill you said walmart

Wallmart does not sell more solid stuff. Equally solid, perhaps. more, no.

[Deja Q]

50. I see your point and concede; you are correct.

:)

[quakerboy]

63. Its a technicality, I agree with you in spirit

My newest mother (I seem to gather them like some sort of really awesome collectible) started shopping at Ikea when it came to town. within a year everything she bought is thrashed. All the compressed wood stuff is superiorly wobbly. And the "real wood" is such soft wood that I leave hand prints, literal hand prints in the wood when I grasp it to move it. Not a fan of Ikea.

But then, wallmart, where the rest of her stuff from is not good either. Mostly anything you can buy for anything approaching reasonable is not worth buying. Which is why I have been delving into DIY as much as if feel capable. Made my desks, bed, and now I am contemplating some drawers.

[begin_within]

40. Ikea is worth it if you want to lose weight...

To buy one clothespin there, you have to walk 4.5 miles, through 27 bedrooms, 17 kitchens and 5 acres of cardboard magazine storage boxes, blue light bulbs and plastic dish drainers to get to the clothespins department. But oh, that clothespin - nothing like European styling!

[Orrex]

45. If you're furnishing a dormitory lounge, it's great

Otherwise, not so much.

[soleiri]

46. worth it.

I put together this bookcase on my own, no problem.




But then again I like putting together Ikea furniture.

:)

[JCMach1]

47. The only thing I like about IKEA is the Cafeteria... I HATE

the Ikea furniture our villa is furnished with. And, I am stuck with it as it is part of the contract.

It wore out after 2 years. Now, it has been 6 years. They will replace the lot this year with more CRAPPY IKEA. :grr:

I will be the one dissenter here, but I hate the stuff!!!


However, their grilled salmon is tasty.

[Lucian]

49. My feelings about Ikea are similar to Tyler Durden's feelings about Ikea.

Watch "Fight Club" if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

[ghostsofgiants]

57. Versatile solutions for modern living?

:P

[Lucian]

62. Okay, Ikea boy.

:P

[Betty88]

51. check out this site, Ikea hacker

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/

its projects people come up with using Ikea stuff

[Phentex]

55. some things are more sturdy than others...

My sister and I assembled (in one day) a large dining table, 8 chairs, a coffee table, bookcase, and buffet. Yes, we had a cordless screwdriver. We had one issue with a panel on the buffet. We were given two right pieces instead of a left and a right. But considering the number of things we put together, that's not too bad.

The table is very heavy and solid, as is the buffet. The chairs are decent but pretty lightweight so they don't feel as sturdy. The bar stools are very flimsy. But all of this was for my mom so it doesn't get a ton of use.

I would recommend their bookcases.

[MineralMan]

58. You do not have to walk through the Ikea store...

if you have the catalog. Pick out what you want, then go directly to the area where the boxed stuff is in the shelves and load up. I hate their display areas! Hate 'em! There's always a path through to the pickup area.

[NewJeffCT]

59. Good for bookcases and a few other things

and very easy to assemble. I'm about the least handy person I know, and most of the bookcases were very easy to assemble.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

60. The Billy bookcases look nice, hold a lot of books, and are very sturdy

They are also easy to put together.

[ulysses]

64. I have a bunch of Billys.

Love them so far.

[RetroLounge]

66. Their Cube shelves are really nice...

I have one against my livingroom wall. 5 cubes by 5 cubes. Well made, easily assembled, and are the perfect cube size for LP's and large books.

:hi:

RL

[hippywife]

67. I used to shop Ikea all the time.

It's fine if you want a few fun and inexpensive decorative accent pieces. But if you're thinking furniture, I wouldn't waste the money. Not really good quality stuff that will last a long time.