Working Ikea In
10 ideas for using pieces from the Swedish superstore to turn your room into a superstar
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel... More »
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I adore Ikea. It has been a boon for thrifty design hounds, and there is no better place for finding pieces to furnish a small space. It has timeless basics and a constant supply of new designs (and don't even get me started on the frozen yogurt).
But it is not without its drawbacks. Horrible instructions, mazelike stores and particleboard notwithstanding, Ikea can get, well, awfully Ikea-looking — that is, cheap and unimaginative. Like hot sauce or men's cologne, it should be used sparingly and with good judgment.
But when it works, it really works. Here are 10 ways to use Ikea to its best advantage.
But it is not without its drawbacks. Horrible instructions, mazelike stores and particleboard notwithstanding, Ikea can get, well, awfully Ikea-looking — that is, cheap and unimaginative. Like hot sauce or men's cologne, it should be used sparingly and with good judgment.
But when it works, it really works. Here are 10 ways to use Ikea to its best advantage.
| The hidden piece. This is an original room with a ton of personality and color. The white horizontal Expedit bookcase is from Ikea, but that's not what you'd notice upon entering. |
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The kids' basic. Almost everyone I know with kids has this Lusy Blom rug. It screams Ikea, but it also screams fun and childhood. Plus, if there were ever a place to scrimp, it would be a rug in the kids' room. That thing takes a real beating (not to mention heavy sprinkles of glue and glitter).
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The little touch. Ikea has great textiles. These curtains are made from Ikea fabric but are masquerading as true originals.
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| The mash-up. This is my house. Much of the furniture is vintage. The dining room chairs were salvaged off the street, and the Tranetorp table and Sigurd bench are pure Ikea. Mixing eras and styles keeps things from looking too mono. |
by Restyled Home
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The statement piece. The PS Maskros lamp is a recognizable Ikea item, but it has enough design chops to hold its own.
See more ways of how to use the Maskros lamp.
See more ways of how to use the Maskros lamp.
| The perfect shelving. Ikea makes great shelves. It might even be what the company does best. And shelves are basic enough to blend. As long as the rest of the room isn't pure Ikea, go crazy with the shelving. |
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| The copy. The acrylic Tobias chair is very high style and much, much lower in price than the Ghost Chair, to whom it owes its fame. |
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The Ikea hack. This cabinet is tricked out with upholstery nails. It looks like a Hollywood regency designer piece.
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The basic piece. This Malm platform bed is muted and completely unflashy. It works because it lets the rest of the room speak.
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by SFGIRLBYBAY
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| The little tweak. This white sideboard is a Lack shelf with castors added to the bottom. One little change can equal a big design improvement. More: I Love Ikea |
Ideabook updated on March 2, 2012.
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Knobs were updated via Anthropologie, the vanity stools are a custom cover I had my mother-in-law make, and ) the doll bunk bed was painted and attached by a dowel.
My old kitchen table and chairs were from Ikea and they stood the test of time and I was even able to sell them after I was done with them, so yes, you have to pick the right items but Ikea seems to be getting better and better in terms of durability. The only thing I don't like about Ikea is, when I buy multiple items, I always get something that has a defect and I have to go back to return it. Their return policy is good but it's still a hassle.
We've been very happy with our Ikea wardrobes. Trimming out with crown moulding gave them a bit more custom look and adding our vintage pieces to the room keeps it from looking like an ikea showroom.