The Valuable Vintage IKEA Side Table You Should Know To Look For At Thrift Stores

Since the late 1940s, IKEA has been a go-to spot for affordable furniture with a simple but appealing style. Whether you're furnishing your first apartment or trying an adorable IKEA hack to add organization to your home office, the Swedish store has mass appeal. Outside of their current catalog, there are plenty of vintage pieces that furniture enthusiasts would love to get their hands on. Some of the most popular discontinued IKEA products are worth a big chunk of change today as well. The VI side table by Tord Björklund, for example, is a sought-after piece that can be found on resale markets for upwards of $500. 

If you're hoping to score one of these Memphis-style side tables for a deal, check your local thrift store ASAP. The table, which comes in a variety of bright colors including red, yellow, and blue, was originally released in 1993 and features a round top with a knob-like handle for easy transportation. Although the table is boasted as Memphis style (a mix of Art Deco and pop art), the design was originally inspired by the Servomuto collection by Italian designer Achille Castiglioni. 

IKEA's VI side table is pretty easy to spot — just look for something with a round top and base with a pole running through the middle. Most of the table is made of powder-coated steel, except for the top knob/handle, which is made of plastic. Size-wise, the piece stands roughly 26 inches tall, 20 inches wide, and 20 inches deep. And finally, the tabletop is a bright color, while the rest of the table is shiny black.

Like the design but prefer a muted color palette? Keep an eye out for the vintage IKEA RY table. Also designed by Björklund, the RY table features a similar design but has a clear glass top and aluminum base. The base is often silver, but colored versions do exist, too. Instead of a pole/knob running through the middle of this table, the pole runs up the side and over the table, creating a small handle. Both tables are approximately the same size, with the RY coming in at 27 inches tall, 16 ½ inches wide, and 16 ½ inches deep. If you can't find either of these sweet little side tables at your local second-hand shops, don't worry. Several vintage IKEA furniture pieces recently returned to stores, so who knows, the VI and the RY might make their way back around as well.