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Designers Can't Ignore These 12 IKEA Home Goods, and Neither Should You
Some of them are under $25.
Move over, Swedish meatballs. Interior designers are winding through the IKEA labyrinth and finding true-and-tried home decor staples and furniture that can serve you beyond your first apartment. "IKEA has a reputation as 'beginner' furniture that isn't meant to last long, but among all the budget-friendly affordable items there are absolute gems whose value and quality vastly outweigh their price points," says Noz Nozawa, an interior designer in San Francisco who owns a few pieces herself. "I am grateful for how they've helped balance my own high-low spending over the years."
Much like Target and HomeGoods, the budget-friendly retailer is known for pieces with a bit of character that won't take a big bite out of your wallet. And anyone with a knack for DIY knows that IKEA furniture is a go-to for hacks. All you have to do is search for #ikeahack on Instagram and you'll find almost 700K projects, including reincarnations of the Billy bookcase and Malm dresser, for instance. When you team up with vendors on Etsy, the design possibilities are practically endless.
Designers love to shop at IKEA, and not only for their clients. Our experts have completely transformed their own IKEA kitchen cabinets and found luxe floor mirrors. See what else they find at this Swedish spot.
Outdoor Furniture
Nozawa likes the simple but boxy Jutholmen modular outdoor sofa, which she dresses up in her own way. "The amazing price point on the frame allows me to splurge on custom cushions," she says. "When the sofa frame is this minimal, all the aesthetic interest comes from the cushions." She used Quay fabric from Kelly Wearstler's collection for Lee Jofa to outfit a Jutholmen for her own deck, seen here.
When shopping for any sofa, Nozawa specifically looks for boxy arms, meaning the arms are the same height as the back. (Some people call this a shelter sofa.) The pitch of the arms on the corner pieces makes it perfect for lounging.
"IKEA has some of the best quality mirrors for the price," Nozawa says. "The Hovet mirror is an unbeatable bargain per square foot at nearly seven feet tall." The clean, minimalist frame (available in aluminum or black) makes this IKEA mirror versatile to work across different design styles and types of spaces, from dining rooms to home gyms. Nozawa even has one in her own bedroom, leaning against a hand-painted mural.
Look no further than the Buskbo armchair if you're curating a modern coastal vibe. Anna Maria, Florida–based interior designer Emily Moss loves "the natural allure and breezy charm" of this piece and has used it in an entryway.
Kitchen Cabinets
Fresh paint and some snazzy hardware can transform a basic IKEA kitchen, as proven by Austin-based interior designer Lizzie Pincoffs. "I bought my house during the real estate craze in 2020. I was working with a small budget and knew these Sektion kitchen cabinets were structurally awesome," she says. In her kitchen, seen here, she had her cabinet makers leave the existing cabinet shells and refaced the doors, then Pincoffs repainted them in Sherwin-Williams Quixotic Plum and added antique brass hardware from Signature Hardware.
The Sällskaplig is a top seller, and you should definitely pick some up for the holiday season (but really any party for that matter). "These sophisticated Champagne coupes feature heirloom details without the high price point," says Cecile Gottlich of Studio Cecile in Austin and Corpus Christi, Texas.
Gottlich is all about the Regnskur/Sunneby light that reminds her of famous midcentury cocoon pendants. At $56, it will "add a bang without a lot of buck," she says. Plus, the collapsible lamp shade is machine washable, so you don't have to worry about it inevitably getting dusty.
Jacksonville, Florida, interior designer Lindsey Waters is all about the Kallax shelf unit with Knipsa seagrass baskets, which she uses to store samples in her office. "The units' simple design and white color keep my office feeling orderly and bright," Waters says. "This is also an excellent option for toy storage in a children's playroom to keep clutter at bay."
Nina Grauer, principal designer at Dekay & Tate, which has offices in Palm Beach and Denver, loves IKEA basics like the Besta storage system. "The simplest additions like spectacular hardware and some funky furniture legs turn this standard cabinet into a one-of-a-kind credenza," Grauer says.
IKEA is definitely a gold mine for affordable storage and organization tools. Grauer loves the Lack shelves for shoe storage in particular. Whether you get one long piece for a sleek addition or go with the shelf unit seen here, you won't be disappointed. "These look fantastic as a shoe display in a closet," Grauer says.
Woven Stools
The handcrafted Alseda stool–with its unique flat but rounded shape woven of banana leaves–is an eye-catching seating solution. Use it as an accent piece in a living room as seen in this one designed by Moss, who loves that it adapts to any decor style and can be conveniently tucked away. She also uses it in kids' spaces.
When high-end midcentury Scandinavian design isn't within reach, Grauer recommends the Ekenäset armchair (made of solid wood), which can go from standard to striking when you upholster the cushions in a favorite fabric.
Gottlich embraces dopamine decor with Jamnmod scented candles in a funky curved glass. Once the candle burns out, use the groovy container as a decorative piece or add LED tea lights for some ambiance.
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