It's Time To Stop Pretending That IKEA Sells Affordable Furniture

Let's get one thing straight: IKEA does not sell affordable furniture. Is it inexpensive? Yes, sometimes. Does that mean it's affordable? Absolutely not. An inexpensive sofa that falls apart after two years and demands a replacement is not affordable, not on your wallet, your time, and certainly not on the planet. As consumers, we hold so much power with our wallets. So, before we give our hard-earned money away to any old company, let's see what we're getting out of the deal.

Take this HERRÅKRA armchair. It'll cost you about $200, not including tax. For all that, you get plastic and particle board. The fabric is polyester, which is just plastic. It's a durable fabric on a chair, but it's cheap and not naturally stain-resistant or breathable. The backrest and armrest are made from wood veneer, which means it's just thin layers of wood glued together. The popular BILLY bookcase also makes the list of IKEA products that are not worth buying. At $80, you get a bookshelf made from particleboard, paper foil, and plastic edging. It's not sturdy. In fact, you have to anchor it to the wall so it doesn't fall over. That same tipping hazard is why the MALM and HEMNES dressers were discontinued.

In short, IKEA makes fast furniture that is not meant to last — and that's where secondhand furniture comes in. Many pieces are very affordable and have lasted decades (or longer), while maintaining their charm. Unlike IKEA furniture, which will likely need replacing in about one to five years if you're using it every day, secondhand furniture gives you a chance to continue a legacy. 

On the other end of the spectrum, IKEA does have some pieces made of quality materials, like the TARVA nightstand — made of solid pine wood. But this single-draw nightstand is a shocking $80. Plus, the wood is untreated, so staining and painting falls on your to-do list. Not to mention, like with every IKEA piece, you have to assemble it yourself. And using IKEA's furniture assembly service for the TARVA is an extra $52. That's more than half its price! Why pay over $130 for something with several poor reviews when you can get something way more affordable by shopping secondhand? For example, this mahogany vintage nightstand for just $50 on Facebook Marketplace. It's larger, has more drawers for storage, is made of higher-quality wood — oh, and it's already assembled, stained, and sealed.

Secondhand furniture is always your best bet; there's no need to spend thousands of dollars for quality furniture. I used to sit on $10,000 sofas regularly. For two and a half years, I covered the furniture and lighting industries for a trade publication called Furniture, Lighting & Decor. Twice a year, I headed to High Point Market, the largest furniture trade show in North America where local furniture sellers meet with manufacturers and plan what they're going to sell in their stores. My job was to visit as many showrooms as possible while trendspotting and quizzing reps about styles, consumer needs, and what their showroom buyers were saying.

All this to say, you do not need to own a $10,000 couch. I would argue that no one does. But you do need furniture that holds up to your lifestyle and won't need to be replaced every few years. That might mean forgoing the IKEA trips (and their meatballs). 

The term affordable needs to encapsulate more than just the price tag. It's also about how soon you'll pay for the replacement. As an IKEA alternative, there are many home and decor items you should snag off Facebook Marketplace. It is usually a good place to start for quality and affordable furniture pieces. If you're patient, you can find some gems. I once hauled a teak bar cart that I found on Facebook Marketplace on a city bus, and it was totally worth it. But even for heavier items, you can use companies like TaskRabbit to pick up and deliver items for you. That would raise the cost, but depending on the piece and price, it might be worth it. Even buying IKEA furniture here will be less expensive, and you'll keep it out of a landfill a little longer. 

Chairish is my personal go-to for vintage and showroom samples when shopping online. I narrow my search by location and look for pieces in my area. That's how I bought a gorgeous vintage armoire from the 1960s for my first-floor condo. Pro-tip: If you search in Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas, or High Point, then you can buy market showroom samples (they'll be labeled as such) at a lower price point. You can also bargain with dealers, which opens you up to more savings.

And, of course, don't sleep on your favorite vintage or thrift shop. You may not find exactly what you want, but with a paint job, you might be able to create it. In the end, your definition of affordable may vary from mine, and that's okay. We don't need to be perfect shoppers, but it's time we used our wallets to demand better quality and recognized that it comes with a price — whether that's time or money.