Ikea furniture - the good and the bad

[Anonymous]

I know Ikea gets a bad rap but we have had some things from them (an Ektorp couch, an office desk) last years and they still look new. What other furniture from Ikea is long lasting?

[Anonymous]

I have Billy bookcases that are close to 20 years old and still in good shape. I have Pax wardrobes that are about 14 years old and still in good working order. I have some Effectiv cabinets that are about 8 years and still very functional. Those are the pieces that come to mind, but over the years, we've bought a fair amount of Ikea furniture and while some of it was clearly designed to be disposable and replaced, there are a number of items that are still in quite good condition and have lasted pretty well.

[Anonymous]

Hemnes and Leskvik bookcases: 10 years and going strong
Norden dining table and chairs: same
Leskvik coffee table: same
Leskvik kitchen cupboard: same
Hemnes bed: same
Hemnes dresser: 4 years and counting

The Leskvik dressers fell apart quickly.

[Anonymous]

Love my Billy bookcases. My hemnes dresser is holding up fine but did need to have a drawer bottom reinforced. My son's Micke desk is holding up well too.

I have an Ektorp couch that we won't be keeping too long either. It's sturdy and functional but has rock hard cushions :/

[Anonymous]

Billy bookcases are great! I had two I bought used (4 yo) in grad school. Used them for 3 years to a friend and they are still using them 6 years later. Indestructible!

[Anonymous]

we had Billy book cases, 14 year old and went through three moves, now in the basement and doing great. a sofa lasted 10+ years (at the end with little kids) and did well, I wish we had an extra cover (style was discontinued). now we have two ektorp sofas (only 6 months old, but with two cats, two kids and a family of slobs, they are doing great). expedit and the new style ( don't remember the name) are doing great. doing great also the all pine furniture for kids, don't remember the name, some shelfs with different hights and plastic bins. have them for 9 years and they are doing great. sisal carpets also doing great. what was a disaster for us were the dressers. fell apart really fast, the backside came out, my husband had to replace he rails, the bottom of the drawers would cave. husband is very handy and fixed them many times, but they were crap and eventually we threw them away. bought decades old all wood dressers on Craigslist for $40-$80 and they are doing great after 4 years.