Ikea furniture

[j]

I hate my couch and I want to get a new one. After watching craigslist religiously I am thinking I may give up on trying to find one I like used and buy one new. Ikea has one I like, and it is very comfortable: Sofa. It is available with a charcoal wool cover that looks really nice and very manly, though I don't know how it would be to lounge on it when it gets up in the 90s here. I could buy a cloth cover for it for the summer, though, if necessary. The problem I have is that I have the feeling it will not hold up well. I don't have access to an old one to see how durable they are, but for so little money they have to cut costs somewhere. Either the frame is somewhat weak or the cushions will get smushed down, or something. If I am going to spend this much money on a durable item, I want it to be really durable. I'm not hard on furniture, but I don't want to have to be careful around it either. Does anyone have any experience with Ikea cushioned furniture (sofas/loveseats)? In my experience, some of their stuff is great and some is crap. So...? Thanks.

 

[Fabienne]

I have a couple of pieces (armchairs) that have resisted two cats and a toddler for the past 10 years or so. Maybe you go to the store and see if "your" sofa is the one being punched repeatedly?

 

[drizzt3117]

I wouldn't spend $800 on an Ikea couch. We have a few of their couches at the office, and they aren't holding up so particularly well. You should be able to get at least decent leather stuff for that price, much less cloth...

 

[PHV]

I hate my couch and I want to get a new one. After watching craigslist religiously I am thinking I may give up on trying to find one I like used and buy one new. Ikea has one I like, and it is very comfortable: Sofa. It is available with a charcoal wool cover that looks really nice and very manly, though I don't know how it would be to lounge on it when it gets up in the 90s here. I could buy a cloth cover for it for the summer, though, if necessary. The problem I have is that I have the feeling it will not hold up well. I don't have access to an old one to see how durable they are, but for so little money they have to cut costs somewhere. Either the frame is somewhat weak or the cushions will get smushed down, or something. If I am going to spend this much money on a durable item, I want it to be really durable. I'm not hard on furniture, but I don't want to have to be careful around it either. Does anyone have any experience with Ikea cushioned furniture (sofas/loveseats)? In my experience, some of their stuff is great and some is crap. So...? Thanks.

I have this one in my apartment, it's not bad at all. http://www.ikea.com/webapp....4*10296

 

[j]

I wouldn't spend $800 on an Ikea couch.  We have a few of their couches at the office, and they aren't holding up so particularly well.  You should be able to get at least decent leather stuff for that price, much less cloth...

Wow, you would hate my mother. She regularly puts sofas in clients' homes (covered in cloth.) that total out in the 5000+ range. But even in the real world, 800 for leather? 800 bucks worth of good upholstery leather wouldn't be enough to cover a sofa, let alone include the frame.

Personally, I see the value of paying $1000 or more for a good quality, non-trendy piece that will last a really long time. I may go for it if I get fed up with this POS and nothing amazing comes along on craigslist. Thanks for the input, everyone.

BTW drizzt, do you happen to know what model those office couches are?

 

[drizzt3117]

No, I gotta look at them to find the model #s, but I got a quite nice leather couch from a local furniture store for $600 (of course, on major discount, I think MSRP was $2500 or so)

I'm not saying spending $1000 on a couch is a bad idea, I have custom leather furniture in my place that is nice and quite expensive, I just think that those from Ikea are pretty low quality is all.

 

[PHV]

No, I gotta look at them to find the model #s, but I got a quite nice leather couch from a local furniture store for $600 (of course, on major discount, I think MSRP was $2500 or so)  

I'm not saying spending $1000 on a couch is a bad idea, I have custom leather furniture in my place that is nice and quite expensive, I just think that those from Ikea are pretty low quality is all.

I definately agree. I see a big difference between the italian leather couches and the ikea couch I have.

 

[BjornH]

We have used Ikea for many of our short term solutions. We have one of those italian $5000 leather sofas in our living room, but when we needed a fold-out couch/sofa for the guest room we went to Ikea.

Much of their stuff is excellent but I would look at an Ikea sofa in my living room as a way to put off an expensive purchase untill I had the money to buy what I really want. It will look good for a while but it's future is perhaps uncertain. When you finally have the money to buy something nice, you can throw it away without feeling guilty.

B

 

[Roy]

I haven't had a single good experience with Ikea furniture.

 

[johnapril]

Perhaps you could be sold on a futon: modern, simple lines, cheap, durable, versatile, easy to "reupholster."

 

[globetrotter]

all of my furniture, except for the couch, is ikea. when we lived in israel I had two couches from ikea (the day my son was born I went to buy 2 couches, and threw out the futon I had had for 10 years). those couches lasted less than 2 years- they looked fine, but they were very uncomfortable. I got a very good couch for $800 or so, from a large chain, the fun part was spending 3 saturdays looking at couches with my wife and son

 

[j]

Perhaps you could be sold on a futon: modern, simple lines, cheap, durable, versatile, easy to "reupholster."

Not a chance, but thanks for the suggestion. I have never liked futons.

Based on responses, I think I will probably hold out for a good deal on a sofa that can be upholstered and use my mother's contacts to get a reasonable deal on that. I worked it out with her and it should cost me about $6-700 delivered plus the cost of the sofa, and it will end up being much closer to exactly what I want, and if I get a good one, will last a lot longer. I do see them from time to time in the thrifts. Thanks everyone.

 

[Mike C.]

Ikea is fine if you take it for what it's worth. I consider it disposable furniture. All the dressers, desks, and shelving units I've seen/had, basically break down and get real unsturdy and shakey when you move them. Build it in the exact spot where you intend to use the piece, and never move it, you should be fine.

 

[Roy]

Ikea is fine if you take it for what it's worth. I consider it disposable furniture. All the dressers, desks, and shelving units I've seen/had, basically break down and get real unsturdy and shakey when you move them. Build it in the exact spot where you intend to use the piece, and never move it, you should be fine.

It's the Swatch among furniture

 

[Fabienne]

Quote:

(Mike C. @ Feb. 08 2005,19:07) Ikea is fine if you take it for what it's worth. I consider it disposable furniture. All the dressers, desks, and shelving units I've seen/had, basically break down and get real unsturdy and shakey when you move them. Build it in the exact spot where you intend to use the piece, and never move it, you should be fine.
It's the Swatch among furniture

Next time you come to the US, pay a visit to the local "Value City Furniture". You'll see why Americans with some taste but little money may think Ikea is a style savior.