Beyond fast furniture: These Ikea pieces can last for decades

For many, shopping at Ikea is a rite of passage. Sign the lease on your first apartment, buy a bed at the Swedish megastore, then feel a sense of pride after assembling your piece of furniture. A few years later, swap out the budget-friendly item for a pricier pick.

But Ikea doesn’t need to be the furniture equivalent of fast fashion. Its items can last, said Pete Oyler, associate professor of furniture design at Rhode Island School of Design. His Ikea dressers have made it through eight moves and are still going strong, and many interior designers have their own favorites, including the eight pieces below.

Customers can assume some consistency in quality across the board. (“A store that carries a single brand is not likely to have significant variations in quality,” said Pat Bowling, vice president of communications for American Home Furnishings Alliance.) There are, however, variables that can affect longevity.

Pay attention to materials: Solid wood and metal are ideal. If you opt for furniture made with particle board, treat it with extra care. Half of Ikea’s wood-based items are made with this compressed wood chip and resin composite material, which can’t be repaired if it cracks, Oyler said. With upholstered furniture, slipcovers are a boon. If they get dirty, simply toss them in the wash.

You can also hurt the life expectancy of your furniture during assembly. Common mistakes include choosing the wrong size screwdriver, which can damage parts, and inserting the plastic threaded inserts into the wrong holes, which can be difficult to undo. For the best results, Oyler recommends picking up Ikea’s Trixig 15-Piece Tool Set, reading the instructions carefully before getting started and following them to the letter.

Billy Bookcase

“It’s estimated that every five seconds, one of these is sold somewhere in the world,” said Abbey Stark, a home furnishing direction leader at Ikea. Interior designer Jack Lorge bought his Billy seven years ago, and it is as sturdy as ever, he said in an email. “It holds up to heavy use without warping, and its simplicity allows it to seamlessly blend into a variety of styles, from modern to traditional.”

Ikea PS Cabinet

This boxy lockable cabinet is both heavy duty and lightweight. “You can move it around without an issue, and the powder-coated finish is super tough,” designer Beth R. Martin said in an email. It’s currently available in red, white and blue. But the choice of colors changes periodically, based on what’s most on trend at the time, Stark said.

Hemnes Line

These coordinating pieces for the bedroom, hallway, living room and workspace are solid wood, which “sets them apart from most affordable furniture,” Eric Bramlett, real estate broker and co-owner of Bramlett Residential, said in an email. He has owned a Hemnes sideboard for nearly 20 years, using it as a TV cabinet and for art supply storage. “It still works perfectly — no creaking, no wobbling.” After eight years and multiple moves, Lorge’s Hemnes dresser is also holding up well. “It functions beautifully, with barely a scratch and drawers that glide smoothly,” he said.

Uppland Sofa

Previously known as Ektorp, these slipcovered couches “handle daily use exceptionally well,” Seymen Usta, an interior design specialist and co-founder of Seus Lighting, said in an email. “A client who purchased one eight years ago still raves about how the cushions retain their shape and how easy it is to refresh the look with new covers.” Bramlett’s four-year-old sofas have held up without sagging or fading. “The slipcovers are a lifesaver — they come off and wash easily,” he said.

Ivar Shelf Unit

This untreated solid-pine shelving unit is “not flashy, but it works,” Bramlett said. He bought his Ivar 15 years ago and has used it in his home office for books, decor and collectibles. “You can add or remove shelves and paint it, and it still holds up.” For a more polished look, refinish the wood with linseed oil paint, Oyler said.

Poang Series Armchair

This chair, introduced in 1972, might have even been in your parents’ first apartment. “The strong yet flexible bentwood frame is the secret to its durability,” Bramlett said. “It blends in with almost any setup.” After 12 years, his Poang “still feels as sturdy and looks as clean as on the day [he] brought it home,” he said. For a new look, you can swap out the cushion.

Kallax Shelving Unit

“The category where no one can beat Ikea is shelves,” interior designer Daniela Gottschalk of Tinzeltown said in an email. “KALLAX comes in so many sizes that you can fill an entire wall Tetris-style up to the ceiling, giving you a luxurious library feel.” Since buying hers secondhand years ago, certified professional organizer Darla DeMorrow, owner of HeartWork Organizing, frequently recommends the open-backed shelving to her clients. “KALLAX offers a ton of storage, can be endlessly styled, is really durable, and moves well,” she said in an email. Try painting it or replacing the door fronts to tailor it to your space, Miranda Cullen, founder and principal designer of Inside Stories, said in an email.

Malm Bedroom Series

This bedroom collection’s simple, sleek lines “work very well in modern and minimalist settings,” Usta said. He has incorporated the Malm Bed Frame into several staging projects for clients. Thanks to the under-bed storage drawer option, “it’s especially great for small rooms.”