The Affordable IKEA Lamp You Should Never Buy, According To Shoppers And Reviews

IKEA is known for household items that don't just check the box for affordability but also for aesthetics. They look good, feel modern, and often give you the sense that you're getting more for your money compared to other retailers. But every now and then, an item pops up that seems like a bargain at first glance, only to fall short. That seems to be the case with the BARLAST table lamp, priced at just $5.99. Now, we know what you're thinking: $6 for a table lamp — how could it not be a steal? But according to several customer reviews, this one has quickly fallen into the category of "IKEA products you should avoid buying."

At first glance, the BARLAST lamp looks like a tempting buy. It's staged beautifully in IKEA's photos and has received just over four out of five stars based on nearly 400 reviews, so you'd assume it's worth it. But here's the catch: even reviewers who rated it favorably admitted that once it's assembled, "it's liable to fall apart" when touched. The lamp has also landed on YouTuber Home By Mon's list of IKEA's worst finds. According to her, "It's really cheap and looks cheap, too." For context, the BARLAST, available in black and white, stands 12 inches tall with a 6-inch diameter. Assembly requires only eight steps, but many buyers call it flimsy and unstable, barely able to hold together. And the biggest red flag that might prompt you to hold off on this item is that several reviews warn that it's not even worth trying for $6.

While the IKEA BARLAST table lamp does have several positive reviews, the overall consensus is that "you get what you pay for." Many shoppers struggled with assembly and weren't thrilled that the shade came rolled up in the box, which left it looking "warped" once put together. While the shade is meant to be opened and unwrapped in the opposite direction from how it arrives, customers who figured this out said it "still looks severely warped and misshapen." Worse yet, one shopper had to use tape to hold it together.

But that's not all — one reviewer pointed out, "It's much smaller than expected, and the cover doesn't fit right." Meanwhile, another buyer noted that it "uses a nightlight battery," which they weren't happy about, adding, "luckily, it's cheap enough that I won't even try to return it. It's in the trash." Others flat-out urged shoppers not to "waste your money" and suggested putting it toward a different IKEA lamp, instead. For instance, the ACKJA makes a chic IKEA bedside lamp for illuminating your nights. 

One person did suggest painting the BARLAST, which is an option, but it adds cost and basically turns it into a DIY project since both the polypropylene shade and the steel base would need to be primed before painting. At that point, you may as well build a cozy, modern lamp from scratch using IKEA products. Bottom line: Customers aren't giving the BARLAST lamp their stamp of approval. Take the feedback as you will, but consider this a friendly heads-up.