Worthy Picks And Cart Regrets
IKEA: home to thousands of furniture pieces that match almost every interior style. A student hunting for a study desk will find one. So will a new mom searching for the perfect high chair. The options seem endless, but is everything worth adding to your cart? Here’s a look at 10 buys worth making and 10 that’ll have you Googling IKEA’s return policy.
1. POÄNG Armchair
With its curved birchwood frame and resilient cushioning, the POÄNG invites your spine to sit back and breathe. You’ll appreciate the ergonomic slope that cradles you without sinking. The secret lies in its built-in suspension, which is flexible yet stable. This is true comfort sculpted into furniture.
2. KALLAX Shelf Unit
Storage becomes stylish when you put your trust in KALLAX. Whether you slot in baskets, bins, or wine bottles, this cube-based system adapts to your habits. The idea is to allow you to curate the shelf to your needs. Its structure holds weight well and always looks intentional in any room.
Step By Step | KALLAX Shelf Unit IKEA Tutorial by Original Furniture Reviews
3. MALM Dresser
This drawer is a modern rite of passage. The MALM dresser, with its seamless glides and sleek silhouette, earns praise for practicality and longevity. Those deep drawers don’t lie; they’ll fit everything perfectly: socks, sweaters, innerwear, and seasonal clutter.
Assembling IKEA furniture - MALM - Chest of 6 drawers (6-drawer dresser) by Ultimate DIY
4. RÅSKOG Utility Cart
From bathroom towel caddy to mobile art supply trolley, RÅSKOG rolls into every corner of your home as it belongs. You can’t ignore its mobility with casters that glide smoothly and steel that takes a beating. Add one to your daily routine.
Everyone Has This IKEA Utility Cart. WHY? by Original Furniture Reviews
5. SKUBB Storage Boxes
Drawer chaos meets its match in SKUBB. These foldable fabric organizers turn piles into categories. They fit snugly into IKEA’s popular dressers and closets, and their handles make rotation a breeze. Label them, stack them, love them. Clean storage starts here.
Ikea Skubb box set of 6 by Unboxingexperience7
6. HEMNES Bed Frame
Sturdy pine construction and traditional lines give the HEMNES bed its enduring character. It looks handcrafted, like something that has been passed down. Yet it’s all IKEA. Pair it with vintage linens, and you’ve got old-world charm with a new-world price.
Classic IKEA Bed Frame. Is It Any Good? by Original Furniture Reviews
7. SNIGLAR Crib
Minimalist, safe, and surprisingly durable, the SNIGLAR crib is a budget-friendly hero for new parents. Made from solid beechwood, it avoids unnecessary frills but passes all safety checks. It fits snugly in small nurseries and makes crib-to-toddler-bed transitions smooth for under-slept grownups.
Baby Gear Review - IKEA Sniglar Crib by Baby Reviews Canada
8. VINDRIKTNING Air Quality Sensor
Affordable and effective, VINDRIKTNING quietly monitors your air quality without drowning you in data. With just a simple LED indicator and USB-C power, it tells you when it's time to crack a window or rethink your candle habits. Easy to use and impossible to ignore.
IKEA Debuts Smart Home Sensor to Detect Indoor Air Pollution - VINDSTYRKA by Global Update
9. LACK Side Table
Light as air but oddly dependable, the LACK table doesn’t pretend to be fancy. And that’s its genius. This piece supports everything from coffee mugs to record players to houseplants without a groan. The only catch is that you shouldn’t don’t step on it, or it’ll break.
IKEA Lack side table assembly - DETAILED! by activity10ccv
10. TRÅDFRI Smart Bulbs
Do you want smart lighting without draining your wallet? TRÅDFRI delivers. It syncs with major voice assistants, lets you control ambiance, and doesn’t cry when paired with third-party tech. Simple to install, satisfying to use. TRÅDFRI is proof that lighting finally caught up to your lifestyle.
Have you ever bought something from IKEA and months later regretted it? Many have, and we don’t want a repeat of that. Since you’ve seen the winners, now let’s explore the other side.
1. Malm Bed Frame With Slatted Base
The MALM bed frame looks elegant at first glance, but hidden beneath are slats that love to shift and creak. Once you sleep on it, the romance fades, and your bank account suffers. Here, stability takes a hit, especially during movement-heavy nights or with heavier mattresses.
2. LINNMON Desk Tabletop
That clean design is pretty to look at, but it hides a hollow interior prone to damage. Even a modest knock could cause edge chipping or top bowing. If you place heavy equipment, you might hear it protest by sagging. A desk should support you, but this one barely supports itself.
Budget Unboxing Table From IKEA | IKEA Linnmon Table Review + My Experience by Elementec
3. KNODD Trash Bin
Cute in a rustic way, but a pain in real life. KNODD’s metal lid clanks loudly enough to wake a household, and the handles heat up in sunny kitchens. It looks charming, but functions more like décor with a side of inconvenience.
IKEA KNODD Bin with lid by Unboxingexperience7
4. KLIPPAN Sofa
Short in stature and spare in support, KLIPPAN might suit a dorm room, but real living rooms demand more. Its boxy shape looks generic, and the seat depth barely accommodates lounging. Imagine trying to nap with knees bent and an unsupported back.
Assembling IKEA Klippan 2 Seat Sofa | Home Makeover for Christmas 2020 by Mommy Pholet Vlogs
5. LACK Wall Shelf
No wall-mounting kit saves this from poor performance. It sags under modest weight, leans without warning, and offers aesthetics over its actual shelf-life. Hang a few books or décor pieces? Risk a middle dip that makes everything slide toward doom.
Setting up IKEA Lack Shelves | From Start to Finish by Kim's Killing It - Kim Bitner
6. FEJKA Artificial Plants
From afar, they promise greenery without maintenance. Up close? They scream plastic. Some look dusty, even straight out of the box. Touch them, and you’ll feel the downgrade. In homes where texture matters, FEJKA becomes décor you’ll explain rather than enjoy.
IKEA Fejka Artificial Plant by Coouge
7. OFTAST Dishware
OFTAST gives elegance for pennies, but the price shows after use. The plates chip alarmingly fast, such that even a gentle tap in the sink can cost a rim. They are also lightweight to a fault, and they lack heft and warmth. Guests notice, and so does your dishwasher.
8. FJÄLLBO TV Stand
Rustic charm hides some serious flaws. The FJÄLLBO stand often arrives misaligned or wobbly, with metal frames that rust or scratch easily. Assembling it requires more patience than usual, and adjusting electronics in its narrow compartments quickly becomes an exercise in frustration. 
Easy To Follow IKEA Fjallbo TV Bench Tutorial by Original Furniture Reviews
9. BLECKA Hook Rack
Looks like it could hold the weight of winter coats, but barely manages a scarf without tilting. BLECKA installs easily, but the thin, shallow hooks make it nearly useless for bulky items. Expect it to sag, bend, or stay eternally underutilized in your hallway.
Unboxing Ikea Blecka | Calm & Soothing by pilahpilih
10. PLATSA Wardrobe System
This system tempts with customization until the doors don’t align, the panels warp slightly, or the fittings misbehave. What starts as a creative layout ends in assembly regret. It mimics built-ins but rarely delivers the polish. Misfits stack up fast here.
WARDROBE HACK IKEA PLATSA | DIY BUILT IN CLOSET by Katja Nordkvist
