Is West Elm really much better than IKEA?

[Anonymous]

I buy wood furniture now from Room and Board. Previously I bought solid wood furniture from Ikea. They blend well together. Both are high quality. Apples and oranges as you can customize the Room & Board and it's made in the USA, but otherwise, style wise similar.

I buy towels and ceramics from West Elm. I skipped over it for furniture because I had heard it's flat packed and really no better than Ikea.

[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.

Completely disagree. Same shoppers.

[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.

Completely disagree. Same shoppers.

They may have some of the same buyers but there's a difference from someone who as an IKEA closet and kid's furniture and someone who furnishes all of their home in IKEA

[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.

Completely disagree. Same shoppers.

+1, the WE shopper just buys into the kitsch a little more, given comments here.

[Anonymous]

I have an IKEA Hemnes bedroom suite that has survived 6 moves and still looks good. I’ve split up the pieces into different rooms in my current house and filled in with things from other places, including West Elm. I don’t assume any furniture is forever anymore, so I buy accordingly. West Elm is often far more expensive than it’s worth, but I do like their linens and browsing the store for ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an IKEA Hemnes bedroom suite that has survived 6 moves and still looks good. I’ve split up the pieces into different rooms in my current house and filled in with things from other places, including West Elm. I don’t assume any furniture is forever anymore, so I buy accordingly. West Elm is often far more expensive than it’s worth, but I do like their linens and browsing the store for ideas.

Mine broke down in 1 move.
Good for you thought.