IKEA - Swedish flat pack genius or college dorm room crap?

[elle13 15]

Ok so I just bought myself a KLIPPAN sofa because I absolutely love the clean lines. I hate the oversized or squashy sofa look. I think it looks tired and old. My new family and friends in land-rich California think IKEA is rubbish but I can't help myself! Having lived in congested cities like London and Singapore, I've always lived in small, modern apartments and can't seem to move away from that type of disposable IKEA-esque home decor. It's affordable, fresh and I'm addicted!

Do Americans generally think IKEA is #######?

[Marilyn. 340]

I have only been to Ikea a handful of times but whenever I go I always see a lot of people there buying stuff..

[dwinge 34]

The desk I am sitting at, and chair I'm sitting in came from IKEA (Orange County) I also have bookshelves I bought there, no complaints!

[Darnell 8,478]

I get some of the kitchen accessories and hanging accessories and use them in my workshop for non-intended purposes.

I dislike shopping there, that stuff is made in China.

I go more for the food, really.

[Marilyn. 340]

Today approximately 22% of our range is produced in China. IKEA is in control of the product development process and through our Trading areas we work closely together with our suppliers in place, which is an advantage when it comes to securing product quality. A product risk assessment is made during the development of the product. Tests and follow-ups are done both before we start the production and then on continues basis. We test our products according to our own requirements and applicable international standards/legislation at accredited internal and external test laboratories. IKEA products shall always be safe to use.　IKEA believe it's possible to produce safe high quality products to low prices in China.

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_JP/customer_service/faq/help/about_store/about_stores.html#11

we bought our tv stand from there. We like it and it looks well built..

[elle13 15]

I get some of the kitchen accessories and hanging accessories and use them in my workshop for non-intended purposes.

I dislike shopping there, that stuff is made in China.

I go more for the food, really.

I'm interested to know what these items and non-intended purposes are!

And gravlax and meatballs mmmmmm

[elle13 15]

The desk I am sitting at, and chair I'm sitting in came from IKEA (Orange County) I also have bookshelves I bought there, no complaints!

Another IKEA fan yay!! I almost went to the one in OC too.

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_JP/customer_service/faq/help/about_store/about_stores.html#11

we bought our tv stand from there. We like it and it looks well built..

I like their TV stands

[Darnell 8,478]

I'm interested to know what these items and non-intended purposes are!

Take a look at instructables.com sometime, and you'll get some idea ...

[Novembro 1,763]

The desk I am sitting at, and chair I'm sitting in came from IKEA (Orange County) I also have bookshelves I bought there, no complaints!

A load of our furniture is ikea. The most comfortable mattress I've ever owned...ikea.

I get some of the kitchen accessories and hanging accessories and use them in my workshop for non-intended purposes.

I dislike shopping there, that stuff is made in China.

I go more for the food, really.

Would prefer the slats be made in Swedish child sweatshops but what can ya do?

Food is good....

[NikLR 13,227]

I've had a few Ikea things that were awesome. I think the ####### stuff that people associate with flat pack comes more from rips offs like the cheapo stuff at Wal-mart etc... I have a $20 bookshelf from them that really is worth about $5. But I have some 9 cube things from closetmaid that seem to be pretty good, but still not Ikea quality.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I like IKEA okay, but a whole apartment of it starts to look tacky, to me. I do have some IKEA stuff and I like that if I need something cheap and easy they usually have something that works.

You mention you like clean lines, I thought I might mention that a lot of IKEA stuff is copied from real furniture. They especially copy mid-century modern designs (also called Danish modern), which emphasize clean lines. IKEA didn't come up with it. So the choice isn't squashy or IKEA.

The sofa you bought sort of looks like a copy of this, to me (which is also a copy of the real thing). http://www.kardiel.com/designers/le-corbusier/le-corbusier-petite-style-lc2-sofa-3-seat-white-aniline-leather/

Edited September 8, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Ryan H 3,812]

I have a couple of chairs and a small folding table from IKEA that have been fine. Otherwise, I would say IKEA is college dorm room #######..

[pro_star 52]

...half my house is ikea.

I feel no shame!

[elle13 15]

There's no shame indeed!

There's no shame indeed!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

I love IKEA. I don't care what other people think, at least not as long as Americans buy enough of their stuff to keep them in business so that I can get a taste of home too every once in a while.