The Vintage-Inspired IKEA Armchair You Might Want To Skip, According To Shoppers

As you shop around for new furniture pieces, you'll come to find that many of them can be quite pricey, costing you hundreds to thousands of dollars. Therefore, it makes sense why many head over to our favorite budget-friendly Swedish furnishing store to stock up. And while there are a ton of stylish IKEA items that even HGTV stars love using, there is one piece of furniture that you may want to think twice before buying. Due to safety, fabric, and comfort concerns, the REMSTA is the vintage-inspired IKEA armchair that you might want to skip, according to reviewers.

So what is the Swedish store's REMSTA Armchair? Released in 2017, this is a velvet, polyester armchair that comes in three shades — dark gray, dark green-blue, and beige. The overall design is quite simple with soft, round edges, no armrests, a particle board back frame, and four birch legs. It's about 35 inches tall and 23 inches wide, making it a small chair that can nestle in a variety of spaces, whether that is a living room, bedroom, or even bathroom. IKEA has it labeled as a lounge chair with a 10-year limited warranty. However, just because you are having issues, that doesn't mean the warranty will cover them, so thoroughly read the manual to find out what falls under this plan. In addition, it has a weight limit of only 242 pounds. Just like any other IKEA piece, purchasers must assemble their own pieces.

One of the reasons people suggest steering clear of this IKEA find is due to concerns about tipping and leg safety. Over its eight years in production, many buyers have expressed balance issues, worrying about their safety from falling off the chair. While some problems may arise from how securely you assembled the piece, some people explained that even after thoroughly following the directions, there is still an issue with imbalance. With major concerns, one reviewer even warned, "It is not a safe chair if you have children or elders or anyone...It easily tips backwards unless you center your weight precisely...and a child climbing onto it or [a] teen plopping down with some force at an odd angle can easily tip this chair." (via IKEA)

Tipping over isn't the only concern to be wary of — turns out the legs on these armchairs are not as sturdy as you think. Instead, if you inspect them closely, you'll come to find out that the chair has a huge furniture shopping red flag you should avoid: issues with the joinery and screws. Once put together, some purchases are experiencing leg wobbling and screw breakage, which makes the seat unable to support anyone. Many disgruntled owners with these leg problems are asking for replacements or even just tossing them out altogether. While some handy and crafty people can modify the piece, adding stronger joints or even metal legs, many shoppers will not have that same experience, especially since they bought the chair to last.

The concerns don't stop with safety because shoppers are also having fabric and overall comfort issues. Most people purchased this piece, drawn to the elegant look and velour-like feel of the upholstery. But unfortunately, many users are having difficulty keeping it fur and lint-free, with one disappointed shopper saying, "...the fabric collect[s] fuzzies, and keep[s] weird spots that cannot be brushed away...," which makes the piece stick out like a sore thumb in a clean space. (via IKEA) And while you can keep pet hair off furniture with hacks like a lint roller or vacuum, it can be a tedious job doing it day after day, especially when you have a fur-baby who claims it as their favorite spot.

Lastly, another concern people have about the REMSTA armchair is that it simply isn't comfortable. Many users have expressed that the back is very uncomfortable, not providing the proper lumbar support that they had hoped for. Some people have said they could feel the back and bottom frame through the fabric, causing even more discomfort. Another disappointed reviewer even said, "Unfortunately...the back of the chair is at a very steep incline, which makes it impossible to sit up straight, look around, and comfortably converse with others." (via IKEA) 

While you can offset this discomfort by adding pillows and blankets or only using it more as an ornamental item, IKEA does have other comfortable and stylish alternatives, like the STRANDMON Wing Chair with over 3,800 4.5-star reviews.