I used to buy a lot of Ikea furniture (and take a lot of free Ikea furniture that ends up on curbs in big cities around moving season). Then I learned how much

I used to buy a lot of Ikea furniture (and take a lot of free Ikea furniture that ends up on curbs in big cities around moving season). Then I learned how much cheaper, modular, and more robust your furniture can be if you invest in some hand tools and built it yourself. You have a higher initial outlay, but the results last longer, can be repaired much easier, as well as broken down and repurposed. Most furniture can be assembled with a cheap hand saw and chisels, or if you're lazy, skilsaw, drill, drill bit set, and screws. I don't know that i'll ever buy a piece of furniture again unless it's second-hand and deeply discounted. There's so much good shit out there already.