Is West Elm really much better than IKEA?

[Anonymous]

I honestly can’t tell. The prices would indicate yes, but I wonder. Please share your thoughts and experiences!

[Anonymous]

Everything at IKEA will be made cheaply but reasonably durably, ime. West Elm is just retailer - they don’t make things - so the quality and value will vary from product to product. But you can expect the furniture to be constructed more like IKEA furniture - particle board, flat packed and assembled after shipping. So I wouldn’t count on anything upholstered or chairs to last a long time. But for an end table or a headboard? Definitely good enough. Tableware? Sure! Although the quality of tableware from IKEA is probably the same. So just depends on your preference.

[Anonymous]

I like West Elm for linens/accessories, but their furniture just looks cheap but isn't priced thusly. I spend more for furniture that matters (bedroom) and shop for things like Vermont Furniture (Copeland is a brand that has a lot of MCM style stuff if you like the West Elm look), and IKEA for stuff that doesn't matter or will get beat up no matter how nice it is (i.e. our coffee table or kids' dressers. I disagree that IKEA is made durably. I have had a few pieces that have really lasted and others which absolutely have not. It really just depends on the pieces there, too.

[Anonymous]

Interesting as I would never group the two together. I see West Elm as mid-century, lots of color and texture, textiles. I see Ikea as an adult version of Legos. It has its place and purpose but the Ikea shopper is not a West Elm shopper. At all.

[Anonymous]

IME West Elm's non-upholstered furniture is very good quality. I have a media stand that is very heavy solid hardwood, a coffee table made of metal and Carrera marble, and heavy, sturdy dining chairs. I have a family member with a wood bookshelf that is similar. Their upholstered stuff is hit or miss.

Ikea, otoh, is fine, but the solid wood furniture (which is their best quality furniture) is usually pine, which is very lightweight and so the furniture never feels very solid. The rest is particleboard which is what it is. I wouldn't put it anywhere in the ballpark of West elm.

[Anonymous]

It really depends. West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, C&B and all of those type of retailers (who have $2K - $6K sofas) are going to use many of the manufacturers that trade-only luxury brands use. Maybe slight differences in build and certainly upholstery. But saying it's all crap is not accurate. Just like saying everything you get from the Design Center is amazing (it's not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting as I would never group the two together. I see West Elm as mid-century, lots of color and texture, textiles. I see Ikea as an adult version of Legos. It has its place and purpose but the Ikea shopper is not a West Elm shopper. At all.

Disagree. They’re targeting the same market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting as I would never group the two together. I see West Elm as mid-century, lots of color and texture, textiles. I see Ikea as an adult version of Legos. It has its place and purpose but the Ikea shopper is not a West Elm shopper. At all.

I and plenty of people I know shop both!

[Anonymous]

I find them to be vastly different. I furnished my first house almost entirely from IKEA and the finishes got nicked very easily, pieces never fit together perfectly, nothing felt solid. 20 years later and our furniture is from West Elm, crate and barrel, Ethan Allen - much much better quality and looks great after years of use.

[Anonymous]

It's weird how nobody understands IKEA in this country. They think it's crap made for the poors or something. In fact IKEA has different lines with different solidity and because it's a European manufacturer, has far higher standards for off-gassing formaldehyde, toxins in glue, and general sustainability, than US manufacturers who basically have no regulation.

If you want strength and durability, buy solid wood furniture from IKEA (or another manufacturer) and make sure to install it correctly. IKEA will tell you exactly what parts are made from what.

If you want crap, buy the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting as I would never group the two together. I see West Elm as mid-century, lots of color and texture, textiles. I see Ikea as an adult version of Legos. It has its place and purpose but the Ikea shopper is not a West Elm shopper. At all.

Hmmm. I disagree. Plenty of people that I know go to both.

[Anonymous]

Ok, what do people think about this table: https://www.westelm.com/products/mid-century-expandable-dining-table-round-h4230/?pkey=cdining-tables

vs this one: https://www.roomandboard.com/catalog/dining-and-kitchen/tables/ventura-round-extension-tables#power-reviews-tabs

Is the extra thousand dollars worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting as I would never group the two together. I see West Elm as mid-century, lots of color and texture, textiles. I see Ikea as an adult version of Legos. It has its place and purpose but the Ikea shopper is not a West Elm shopper. At all.

Hmmm. I disagree. Plenty of people that I know go to both.

Yeah, a lot of IKEA stuff fits the modern, minimalist vibe. I know someone who has a lot of mid-century modern, and mixes in IKEA pieces, too. They blend just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, what do people think about this table: https://www.westelm.com/products/mid-century-expandable-dining-table-round-h4230/?pkey=cdining-tables

vs this one: https://www.roomandboard.com/catalog/dining-and-kitchen/tables/ventura-round-extension-tables#power-reviews-tabs

Is the extra thousand dollars worth it?

Yes. Room and Board uses better quality materials and manufactures in the U.S. Furniture from Room and Board is much better quality than West Elm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting as I would never group the two together. I see West Elm as mid-century, lots of color and texture, textiles. I see Ikea as an adult version of Legos. It has its place and purpose but the Ikea shopper is not a West Elm shopper. At all.

Hmmm. I disagree. Plenty of people that I know go to both.

Yeah, a lot of IKEA stuff fits the modern, minimalist vibe. I know someone who has a lot of mid-century modern, and mixes in IKEA pieces, too. They blend just fine.

I shop both too.