Particle board and assemble-yourself were around way before IKEA made it to my town. I don't remember visiting IKEA until the early 2000s in the US. IKEA was ni

Particle board and assemble-yourself were around way before IKEA made it to my town. I don't remember visiting IKEA until the early 2000s in the US. IKEA was nice because things were flat-packed, with simpler assembly instructions, and modular enough that you could repair or add on. I also noticed the furniture was significantly lighter--not so much that it was functionally flimsy, but way easier to move place to place. I've bought non-IKEA furniture since and it's just like I remember it. Even pre-assembled stuff is all veneer, so when your kid bangs it up you can't really touch it up or buff it out. I'd love to get all solid wood stuff. (IKEA does have some solid-wood stuff. I have a bookshelf I've moved 4 or 5 times and have had for probably 10 years) I hear some parts of the world still readily sell solid wood furniture at reasonable prices--just not around me. One issue with solid wood furniture is the size and weight. Fitting it through a door, into a car, or up 3 flights of stairs doesn't make sense for a college dorm or a studio apartment.