I'm an interior designer. Here are 6 things I'd buy at Ikea and 6 I'd probably skip.
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Paynter Rhed
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- I'm an interior designer, and there are some things I'd buy and a few items I'd skip at Ikea.
- I like Ikea's aesthetically pleasing photo frames, simple dressers, and outdoor decking.
- The store's selection of outdoor paper lanterns, bedding, and mirrors doesn't impress me much.
As an interior designer, I know pieces don't need to cost a lot to make a space feel fantastic. However, sometimes you get the look you pay for.
When it comes to Ikea, some of the Swedish retailer's low-cost and minimalist pieces feel like fantastic value, while others won't be making it to my cart.
After visiting, here are a few things I'd buy at Ikea and which I'd pass on from the chain.
Its plant section was great and easy to navigate.Paynter Rhed
Plants are something I always struggle with as a designer. I love bringing nature inside, but I have the opposite of a green thumb — I feel like if I so much as look at a plant, it starts to wilt.
However, Ikea pleasantly surprised me with its selection of easy-to-handle plants that require little-to-no sunlight and minimal watering.
Each plant had an easy-to-read sticker with pictures showing how much light and water it needs. Plus, I found a range of small and large plants, along with lots of cute planters to put them in.
Ikea has an impressive selection of frames.Use the same color frames in every room of the house.Paynter Rhed
Good frames are hard to find, and when you do, they're usually overpriced. However, I appreciate that Ikea offers decent-quality frames in a multitude of sizes and colors.
Ikea has a great variety, from polished-brass to matte-black frames.
Using frames in the same colors throughout your home helps create a sense of continuity in your space. You can also scatter the frames throughout the home to create a flow in your space's design.
I'm a fan of the basic dressers at Ikea.I loved the dresser with white-stained drawers and contrasting black knobs because of its clean lines and neutral palette.Paynter Rhed
There are so many TikTok and YouTube videos about upgrading basic dressers, and luckily, Ikea carries the perfect starting point for those inspirational tutorials.
The natural-wood dressers I saw at Ikea were super affordable and seemed very easy to personalize with paint, stain, new knobs, or even wallpaper.
I even saw multiple dressers styled in different ways throughout the store, and most people probably wouldn't have even recognized that they were the same piece of furniture.
I really liked the closet systems at the store.The white Pax wardrobe with doors was my favorite.Paynter Rhed
Ikea's Pax closet system really impressed me. It's so customizable and comes in so many finish options.
If I saw this closet system in someone's house, I'd think it was high-end custom casework. In reality, all of the parts together were in the $3,000 range, which is impressive for a closet system of this size.
I also liked the doors on this collection, as they could minimize the appearance of clutter and maintain cleanliness throughout a space.
The chandeliers I saw at Ikea were stunning.The tiered-chandelier display was particularly stunning.Paynter Rhed
I'm quite skeptical of the quality of a $30 lampshade. However, the more I looked at it, the more Ikea's Älvstarr lampshade pulled me in and surprised me.
The light in the showroom was stunningly arranged in a tiered style, but it could also be displayed as floating nightstand lights or hung independently.
This light could fit with a variety of design styles and still create an artistic statement at a very reasonable price.
Honestly, I'd come back to Ikea next time I'm looking for a fun light fixture for an indoor space.
Ikea's outdoor decking was eye-catching and fairly affordable.Paynter Rhed
It seems many patios, porches, and front steps could use a quick facelift, especially in the summer. Luckily, Ikea's selection of outdoor decking seemed extremely affordable and appealing.
I especially loved the tone of the natural-wood option, which looked like treated teak. It came in a variety of colorways that could elevate your outdoor space with texture and warmth.
On the other hand, the mirrors seemed off to me.I thought the mirrors distorted the overall image reflected throughout the space.Paynter Rhed
Though many of Ikea's mirrors seemed nice, the closer I looked, the more negatives I noticed. It seemed that no matter the price or size, the reflection was distorted from a distance.
As a designer, distortion always irritates me. My biggest personal gripe is that this can distort a selfie taken in a mirror. I'd probably buy my mirrors somewhere else.
I'd skip the small metal tables and get a different nightstand.I'd worry something would easily fall off the metal tables I saw at Ikea.Paynter Rhed
Having a lightweight nightstand can be a plus for mobility, but I think there are far better options on the market than the ones I saw at Ikea.
The quality seemed a little cheap compared to other metal tables I've seen, almost to the point where I'd be afraid to set anything of value on the table.
The outdoor lanterns didn't seem very durable to me.Paynter Rhed
Though I love the idea of outdoor lanterns, the ones at Ikea didn't seem like they'd last a Midwest weekend outside, let alone a whole season.
The lanterns looked nice but appeared to be made of thin paper, which isn't very desirable for outdoor lighting.
I could see these lights on a screened-in porch or covered patio, but honestly, I'd suggest going a different route altogether.
Paper lanterns can give a unique look when done right, but I'd save time and money by opting for different, sturdier ones.
A basic poster or canvas from Ikea may not add much personality to a space.I think art should be more unique than displaying a poster one in every 10 people has in their home.Paynter Rhed
Ikea is known for offering mass-produced items at affordable prices — so it's not exactly the best place to buy art.
My issue with Ikea's canvases and printed posters wasn't the quality, which was better than I expected — I just think the art hung in one's home should be more personal than reprinted stock photos.
I did purchase a couple of Ikea's clearance canvases to repaint and give new life to, though, because it was cheaper than buying new ones from an art store.
Unless you have a similar plan, I'd recommend avoiding the mass-printed canvases at Ikea and seeking out more personal designs for your home.
The bamboo shelf units look nice, but I wouldn't trust them to hold anything breakable.Paynter Rhed
I really appreciate the look and idea of bamboo shelves, especially for elevating small spaces like a bathroom. The ones I saw at Ikea seemed nice, but I wasn't as impressed after a closer look.
In my opinion, they didn't seem super stable or able to hold much weight. I'd want a shelf that seemed sturdier for a bathroom where breakable canisters or liquids would be set on it.
I didn't find the bedding at Ikea to be all that desirable once I felt it.Paynter Rhed
I wouldn't always generalize a whole department of a store as something I'd skip over, but, in my opinion, the bedding at Ikea is not very desirable.
The sheets, comforters, pillows, and blankets I came across weren't the quality I look for in bedding. Some of the styles were super current and aesthetically pleasing, but once I laid my hands on the fabric, it was an instant "no."
Bedding should be a high-quality investment — something you should look forward to touching and wrapping yourself in. Since most people spend lots of time in bed, shoppers should consider purchases like these carefully.
This story was originally published on August 1, 2023, and most recently updated on March 2, 2026.
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