4 ms·

It did used to last a lifetime though, my parents bought some items in the 1970s which they still use today (stools, shelves and the odd table), it still looks

by itsnot2020 6y ago

It did used to last a lifetime though, my parents bought some items in the 1970s which they still use today (stools, shelves and the odd table), it still looks good as well.

chpatrick 6y ago
They still have hardwood furniture though. No one's forcing anyone to buy the cheap plywood ones.
- bpicolo 6y ago
  What hard wood do they have other than the basic acacia pieces?
- zucked 6y ago
  They definitely have solid wood furniture - I have some of it. But the solid wood furniture pieces I've seen are all pine. Pine is not a hardwood. Edit: ah, they've got some acacia pieces (dining room pieces, mostly).
addicted 6y ago
They have classic designs which last forever. IKEA is almost universally made with cheap materials, but not everything needs high quality materials to last.
leokennis 6y ago
IKEA has several “tranches” of cheap furniture. Some of it is solely designed to hit a price point (“a $10 chair”) and is made of cheap plywood, cheaply connected. Some of it is more the “can we pick some low hanging design fruit, apply massive scale, and create a decent chair for 20% of the price it would normally cost” variety. That furniture normally lasts a long time.
- killtimeatwork 6y ago
  > Some of it is solely designed to hit a price point (“a $10 chair”) and is made of cheap plywood Isn't plywood actually stronger than real wood? It's even used for aircraft construction.
  - bmitc 6y ago
    I have found that a little wood glue on the joints goes a long way in the IKEA furniture I have.
    - gregmac 6y ago
      That's a great idea, I'll definitely be doing that in the future! I've added L-brackets to key spots on Ikea furniture before, and it often increases how sturdy it feels by an order of magnitude. Just the other day I fixed a 5 year old Billy bookshelf (that I broke while moving it, while partly loaded with books) by securing the cardboard back with screws instead of finishing nails and adding a couple metal brackets to the bottom. Cosmetically, despite being (ab)used by my kid, it still looks fine, and now feels even more sturdy than before. Wish I had thought of adding some glue (or maybe No More Nails) to secure the back even more.
      - bmitc 6y ago
        I only started doing it because I have a bunch of the Regissor line. It actually has a screwless assembly process, only being held by friction joints. Over time and after being moved a lot, the coffee table started to loosen. So I took it apart and reassembled it with wood glue in the joints, and now it’s as solid as a rock. I mainly buy the “higher-end” IKEA stuff with real wood or at least stronger particle or plywood or whatever it is except for the Kallax line, so that helps as well. I just like IKEA so much because they have well designed stuff for good prices, even their more expensive things relative to their cheaper stuff. And with mild care and tweaks during assembly, it can be quite solid. I wish I had thought of the wood glue sooner as well because I’m too lazy to redo my bookshelves.
  - Xylakant 6y ago
- agloeregrets 6y ago
  Bingo. Maybe people don't realize that Ikea makes both low-end and mid-range products. They will gladly sell you a $25 entertainment center (Lack-based) and a $500 entertainment center. The expensive items last and many classic designs remain at steeply discounted prices from original manufacture date. (For example, the Pöang originally costing ~$300 adjusted is now $79.)
nvarsj 6y ago
Their architect lamps are still good and last for ages. They cost £10 - the designer ones cost over a hundred pounds.

It did used to last a lifetime though, my parents bought some items in the 1970s which they still use today (stools, shelves and the odd table), it still looks good as well.

chpatrick 6y ago

They still have hardwood furniture though. No one's forcing anyone to buy the cheap plywood ones.

bpicolo 6y ago
What hard wood do they have other than the basic acacia pieces?
zucked 6y ago
They definitely have solid wood furniture - I have some of it. But the solid wood furniture pieces I've seen are all pine. Pine is not a hardwood. Edit: ah, they've got some acacia pieces (dining room pieces, mostly).

addicted 6y ago

They have classic designs which last forever. IKEA is almost universally made with cheap materials, but not everything needs high quality materials to last.

leokennis 6y ago

IKEA has several “tranches” of cheap furniture. Some of it is solely designed to hit a price point (“a $10 chair”) and is made of cheap plywood, cheaply connected. Some of it is more the “can we pick some low hanging design fruit, apply massive scale, and create a decent chair for 20% of the price it would normally cost” variety. That furniture normally lasts a long time.

killtimeatwork 6y ago
> Some of it is solely designed to hit a price point (“a $10 chair”) and is made of cheap plywood Isn't plywood actually stronger than real wood? It's even used for aircraft construction.
- bmitc 6y ago
  I have found that a little wood glue on the joints goes a long way in the IKEA furniture I have.
  - gregmac 6y ago
    That's a great idea, I'll definitely be doing that in the future! I've added L-brackets to key spots on Ikea furniture before, and it often increases how sturdy it feels by an order of magnitude. Just the other day I fixed a 5 year old Billy bookshelf (that I broke while moving it, while partly loaded with books) by securing the cardboard back with screws instead of finishing nails and adding a couple metal brackets to the bottom. Cosmetically, despite being (ab)used by my kid, it still looks fine, and now feels even more sturdy than before. Wish I had thought of adding some glue (or maybe No More Nails) to secure the back even more.
    - bmitc 6y ago
      I only started doing it because I have a bunch of the Regissor line. It actually has a screwless assembly process, only being held by friction joints. Over time and after being moved a lot, the coffee table started to loosen. So I took it apart and reassembled it with wood glue in the joints, and now it’s as solid as a rock. I mainly buy the “higher-end” IKEA stuff with real wood or at least stronger particle or plywood or whatever it is except for the Kallax line, so that helps as well. I just like IKEA so much because they have well designed stuff for good prices, even their more expensive things relative to their cheaper stuff. And with mild care and tweaks during assembly, it can be quite solid. I wish I had thought of the wood glue sooner as well because I’m too lazy to redo my bookshelves.
- Xylakant 6y ago
agloeregrets 6y ago
Bingo. Maybe people don't realize that Ikea makes both low-end and mid-range products. They will gladly sell you a $25 entertainment center (Lack-based) and a $500 entertainment center. The expensive items last and many classic designs remain at steeply discounted prices from original manufacture date. (For example, the Pöang originally costing ~$300 adjusted is now $79.)

nvarsj 6y ago

Their architect lamps are still good and last for ages. They cost £10 - the designer ones cost over a hundred pounds.