I have a love-hate relationship with IKEA.
On the one hand, I love their decor and most of their furniture and have found that you can find some good quality pieces there. For example, we have an EKTORP sofa in our living room that is 14 years old and, for the most part, still looks pretty good.
Click on the photo for my take on what to splurge on and what to save on in your home!
Plus, they are experts at staging their store so that you really want to buy their products and live in a 300 square-foot space!
On the other hand, though, putting together the furniture with only stick figure guidance is often hair-pullingly (is that a word?) frustrating. And sometimes the quality of their furniture isn’t the best.
So, I don’t know if the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls intoxicates me into an IKEA-loving stupor, but there are just some things that I always buy there that I love.
Here are five things I always buy at IKEA:
1. Curtains
I love the MERETE curtains at IKEA. They are creamy white canvas curtains with grommets.
I started using them in the living room in our first house.
They’re in nearly every room in our home. To be honest, I did this after I read that Sarah Jessica Parker had them in every room of her home in the Hamptons! I thought, “If it’s good enough for SJP, it’s good enough for me!”
True story. Me and SJP are besties now.
(Kidding.)
Click on the photo for how I lightened my living room for spring.
The real reason I have them in nearly every room is:
- They’re washable! Perfect for a house with two messy kids and two big dogs.
- They block the light coming in and give us privacy when needed, but they’re light enough to let light in.
- I like the grommets. They make the curtains easy to slide along the rod to open or close them, and I love the industrial look of them.
- I like having a consistent look on the windows in each room. Having different patterned curtains in each room can be good, but it also can make the decor look busy. I like the calming look of the white curtains in each room. Plus, if I change the decor in the room, which I have been known to do from time to time, the curtains still go with whatever is there!
- They’re affordable – $40 for a pair! Can’t beat that!
2. Runners and (Some) Rugs
IKEA sells these sisal runners:
A 2’7″ x 7’10” runner is $40. Very affordable.
And I have them all over our home because, well, Hank Dog is 12. And we have hardwood floors throughout our home. And he slips sometimes. I don’t want him to break a hip, so I use these affordable, neutral-color runners throughout our home so that he’s comfortable.
I am such a sucker good dog parent.
But seriously, they look nice, they solve a problem, and they prevent my floors from being scratched by dog nails! Win-win.
IKEA has other nice-looking rugs, too, and they’re definitely affordable!
3. Picture Frames
Especially large picture frames! IKEA’s frames are affordable and look nice.
Click on the photo for five ways to decorate a big wall!
My favorite frames are the large RIBBA frames, because I like the square edges and they’re built well. I have both black and white RIBBA frames in my home.
4. Baskets
IKEA has baskets a go-go! Every size, shape, and material.
Click on the photo for how I used an IKEA basket to hide power cords!
I have them all over my house for pretty, affordable storage.
5. Spatulas and Dish Towels
Hands down: IKEA has the best spatulas. I know it is insane that I know this. Here’s how I know: My mother bought me some fancy silicone spatulas, and I didn’t love them. They were too thick to really scrape down bowls well. The cheap IKEA ones are thinner and that makes them the perfect scraper!
Also, IKEA has great dish towels that are dirt cheap! They’re soft and durable, and can be refreshed with a hot wash cycle with bleach. I have like 10 of them under my sink!
What are your favorite IKEA products? Share in the comments!
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Wondering what the five emotions of returning something to IKEA look like? Click here!
A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.
When we moved to our present home more than 10 years ago we called our house Ikea East since we bought so much from there. Ikea was new to Atlanta and we went nuts.
Everything we bought has held up and looks great- – mattresses, chairs, bookcases, curtains, rugs and even after years of weekly washing the bath towels still look good. And we, too, have kids and critters.
That being said, we only have to buy what we use up- – candles. Lots of white, unscented candles and we always have lunch there because the food is good!
People either love or hate Ikea; you can see where I fall!
I have IKEA envy! The closest IKEA to me is located 4 hours away in Massachusetts! I have been there when visiting family. I know there is the catalog, but being there is twice the fun! My daughter and son-in-law furnished their home with the same couch you have plus two matching upholstered chairs and ottoman, a dining table, and chairs, too, and of course, the same curtains throughout their home! I even put together an IKEA vanity for them for the IKEA bathroom sink they bought! It is a fun and affordable place! Maybe it’s a good thing I live so far away….said my husband! : ) Enjoyed your Friday Five!
My mom and I recently bought a great little place. It’s perfect but our furnishings for it really were not. Thus started our Ikea adventure.
There was some crazy confusion about which sofa/chaise combination we bought, and what was shipped to us, and we still don’t have covers for our armrests. Other than that madness, I have 2 beautiful desks, lamps, bedside tables, bed, and TV stand. Wonderful. Will last forever. And even though Ikea looks best in a room full of Ikea, everything has blended very well.
I like their bed linens, towels, food, vases,glassware, most of their kitchen things, plants (real or faux) frames, art, rugs,small storage, and pillows. But at least for now, I’m not getting anything else that needs assembly or can’t be put in the back of my Honda Element.
I like how IKEA stuff blends with other furnishings. I think that mix of new/IKEA can work well in a room with some vintage or antique pieces in it. And, you’re right, their kitchen stuff rocks! Thanks, Kim!