Does IKEA offer cheap, crappy products or are they worth the purchase?

Question

The stuff on the site looks like it's made out of paper (toyish, too)
it's cheap, but it looks sweet as hell. opinions?

Answer 1

A little of both.

I'm a devoted Ikea shopper, and I've bought a lot of stuff there - formal and informal dining chairs, a futon mattress, shelves, artwork, kitchen stuff, plates, knick-knacks, lighting, curtains, baskets...and I'm going back next week for a coffee table (liatorp) and chaise lounge (ecktorp) and some more curtains.

I think in the furniture department, if you stay away from the really minimal cost stuff and be sure you "test drive" in the store the products you're considering (sit there awhile, lay on the beds, that sort of thing), you should be able to find furniture that you're happy with in the long run.

The other items are truly great bargains...except for lighting fixtures. The lighting fixtures are cool looking, but tend to get too hot for my comfort. I do have some little spotlights from Ikea mounted under my kitchen cabinets - they give off a bit of heat, but the lighting is great. Likewise, I have some up lights and a lamp in the bathroom...which also look great, but tend to scorch your fingers if you brush against them the wrong way after a bit of their being on.

The real downside to Ikea: pronouncing the names of stuff.

The upside: fresh, hot cinnamon rolls!

Answer 2

I love IKEA and they have some really good products. Of course they may sell some things that are not worth the price (as most companies do), but I love their furniture items and some of there more inventive items too. Also, if you have a chance to go to an actual store rather than shop online, you will like their products better (at least I do!).

Answer 3

I'm an interior designer and honestly IKEA has good and not so good product quality. For accesories, they are very practical and good. But when it comes to bigger things like table, wardrobes, etc, quality goes down as the price gets lower. So spend a little bit more if its for a long term use.

Answer 4

Everything you buy from IKEA has to be put together, everything!!!!! It is very cheap stuff. If it's for a home that doesn't get much use, then it's not a bad idea. But if the product is going to get used, I would buy from somewhere else.

Answer 5

I bought a large wooden closet from Ikea recently and I'm very satisfied with the color, design, and especially quality. I think you can hire people to set it up for you, but I installed it myself and the instructions were cute and simple. I had no problems. And I bought my bed frame from there too and I'll say the same thing I just did.

Answer 6

I purchased a wood futon from IKEA. One of the slats broke in a week and they didn't want to know anything. Their stuff is cheap junk,

Answer 7

you get what you pay for with most anything you buy when it comes to furniture. what their designers do is make a price point, then design a product around the price. so, when you buy something that is super cheap, super cheap materials were used to make it. same goes with most anywhere you buy things. the more you pay, usually the better the products.

Answer 8

I think its very overrated. Most things come in kit form and you have to build it yourself. Its not cheap and you can buy better quality stuff elsewhere for a better price.

Answer 9

According to Designer Chirsthoper Lowell, Its a very good brand. He says "made well, but very affordable.

Answer 10

i lean toward the cheap , crappy, thought, i have never bought anything there,but have friends who have and they were not too satisified with their purchases.