Ikea Furniture

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Soldato
Joined
4 Sep 2005
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2,794
Hi guys, I know IKEA stuff is a bit like Marmite but I have seen a wardrobe I really like and am cutouts to know people's experiences with long term use of their gear. Does it stand the test of time well?

Was going for one of their Pax wardrobes, but will work out pretty expensive so would love some feedback.
 
The main thing to watch with Pax is if you have to move! I recently did exactly that. The Pax was too big to move assembled, so had to be dismantled - mainly removing the sliding doors and their rails so it could be split in two. It turned out to be too big to go up the stairs at the new place, and had to be rendered down to almost the individual pieces. One small trim piece got broken in transit, but otherwise it was fine. I've now had it a couple of years, and you can't tell. Other bits of my IKEA stuff are over ten years old, and barely show it either. Many have been through up to three moves - a thing which will normally kill poor furniture. The very cheap stuff can be a bit rickety, but even the low-mid range stuff is plenty strong enough to last. The only thing of theirs which has ever actually broken was a £10 floor-standing lamp.
 
Ikea stuff is mid range in terms of quality and longevity. There is also a bit of modding trend with people changing the way their furniture looks and adding to it. Have seen some quite nice results in the past. They also use some pine in their construction, rather than everything being chipboard.

The really cheap chipboard furniture (Argos etc) is a false economy, because although a wardrobe is only £100 or so, you will have to replace it every few years when the doors fall off. Whereas if you had just bought a decent one in the first place you'd have it for life. They use really thin boards for the carcass and the whole units rigidity relies on some thin hardboard at the back that is nailed on with little pins.
 
Pax are one of the few items from Ikea I'd recommend getting. I used to work there for around 4 years while at college and Uni.

In my parents house they have 4 double wardrobes and a couple of singles.
All the 236cm high ones (I think that was the height), all oak and all with plain oak doors.
They're fairly expensive when you include everything but they've lasted for around 5 years or so which isn't too bad.
They hold absolutely loads of stuff, we've got clothes and normal stuff in most of them, but in one of the singles we keep CDs, DVDs, games and all our old stuff.

I'd never hesitate to buy those again
 
They break if they are not assembled correctly because of the design of the joints, but if you do assemble them correctly then there is no reason why they shouldn't last for years.

Glue makes everything better, but then you can't take it apart.

Wardrobes need a level base, make sure this is perfect before anything else.
 
Just looked at the Pax stuff and it looks great, got to decide if I want to go fitted wardrobe from the developers who are building the new house or go free standing with the benefit of being able to take them when you move (both cost about the same).
 
I have Pax wardrobes and they are great. Good quality and all the storage options really make organization and storage easy. One thing i would say is make sure your ceiling is high enough, the 236cm ones may fit under your 240cm high ceiling, but you'll have to build it upright as you wont be able to tilt it if you build it flat.
 
Great until you need to move them, it's very easy to damage the veneer around the edges or loose the rigidity of the frame.
 
Moving Ikea stuff is fine as long as you're careful. if you're not careful then yes, it can break.

However other than th ebedroom furniture, I try not to touch the cheaper stuff there, as it just looks naff. Especially the Birch veneer one. if you're going for an inexpensive bedroom set that looks modern and a little classy then go for the Black-brown veneer every time.
 
No issues here - got loads of ikea stuff and it's decent value and very sturdy. Issues are as above if you decide to move or take it down - rebuilding can be a tough one but personally got no problems with the value/quality of the stuff.
 
King85 said:
For the money you're not going to get better quality than ikea tbh
Click to expand...

Disagree... you can get tons of amazing furniture at great prices in the UK. Debenhams have great sales that bring things down to Ikea Prices, as do John lewis, and there are a ton of online furniture stores that have sales all year round. You are definitely not lacking for choice.
 
Appreciate the replies all. Still a while before I am ready to commit but nice to read the positive feedback.
 
IMO the advent of Ikea Furniture is that if you want to re-decorate your gaff every 18 months or so, you can, quite inexpensively with this stuff..

I wouldn't buy an Ikea bed or couch like - but the other stuff is quite good...

I've been brought up with the folks spending pretty much all their money on decoration in John Lewis... this has swayed my opinion.. but like is said above, if you buy last seasons' JL stuff - you can save a fortune...
 
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