What Not To Buy From Ikea

Why is it that designers’ homes can use Ikea products and look totally high-end, and us regular folk can spot a cheap-looking Ikea room from a mile away? There’s a fine line between what to buy, and what not to buy from Ikea. I’m here to outline some of my favorite products, and those I avoid.

What to buy, and what not to buy from Ikea

I have a general rule of thumb when I decide what not to buy from Ikea. If the product acts as a focal point for the space, I tend to avoid it. In other words, if the Ikea item defines the mood of the room, it’s a no-go. Okay, that’s a bunch of semi-meaningless interior design jargon, so let’s break it down a bit. We can use specific item examples to outline what not to buy from Ikea a bit better. Keep in mind, these are general rules. There are totally rare items that come along that break these guidelines and are worth buying. But this may help you decide where to spend your time & money in the store, and what not to buy from Ikea.

Buy This: Photo & Art Frames

Y’all, photo frames are so insanely expensive! I’m always down for DIY, but somehow, even photo frames never quite seem worth the extra work. Thank goodness Ikea offers a huge variety of totally affordable photo frames. A 3.99 frame at Ikea would easily be $12 or more at Walmart or Target. And when you’re buying multiple frames for a gallery, this adds up. Ikea’s modern, minimalist design makes for the beautiful, affordable frames we all need.

Not That: Art Prints

It’s so tempting to buy art at Ikea — after all, it’s all right there on display. However, even the more modern prints make it on my list of what not to buy from Ikea. Art at Ikea is mass produced, which means it’ll be in a million other peoples’ homes as well. A better alternative is to purchase unique art from Etsy, Minted, or similar sites. The art you choose to display in your home is the single best opportunity for you to brand your home and express your unique taste. Don’t waste it. And by buying directly from the artist, you support their community as well!

Buy This: Kitchen Cabinets & Drawers

This one is no surprise — I actually wrote a whole blog post on why I love Ikea Sektion cabinets. Ikea offers an unmatched warranty on their highly tested, highly durable kitchen cabinet system. It’s even totally modular, so you can tweak it as your needs evolve in the future. Some shy away from Ikea cabinets because they can look cookie-cutter. However, the next item regarding what not to buy from Ikea will prevent exactly that.

Not That: Cabinet Hardware (Optional: Doors & Fronts)

When it comes to cabinet hardware and finishes, trust me — you can do much better elsewhere! Finishes like cabinet hardware are known as the “jewelry for your home”. No wonder they make the list of what not to buy from Ikea. Ikea offers relatively few options, and nearly all are distinctly recognizable as having that “Ikea” look. Instead, get creative! Choose any of thousands of finishes that will dress your cabinets up, and make them look the very opposite of cookie cutter.

We opted for cabinet fronts from Ikea for the sake of cost efficiency. However, another popular option for Ikea cabinet fronts is Semihandmade. They make gorgeous, high-end fronts and finishes for the Ikea cabinet system, which make it look like a million bucks. However, the price tag is steep. For this house, I think we made the right decision going with the more affordable Ikea option. This is why it’s hard to add it to the list of what not to buy from Ikea. However, we will probably opt for Semihandmade fronts for the next house, where we will live a little longer.

Buy This: Live Plants

Don’t ask me to explain the logic, because I don’t understand it myself. One might think this would be on the list of what not to buy from Ikea. But Ikea tends to have THE MOST healthy, affordable, on-trend collection of plants. Last week I picked up a big beautiful succulent for $1. One dollar! I also grabbed some seriously healthy fiddle-leaf figs for 19.99 apiece (both of whom are still thriving months later), strong cacti, and a huge bird of paradise plant. Most of their plants are $20 or under (even the big ones), which is insane. For perspective, I bought a small container of creeping charlie from a nursery last year for $35. I don’t necessarily go out of my way to get plants from Ikea, so when I happen to be there, I try to stock up.

Not That: Planters & Pots

Even with such a beautiful plant selection, I find Ikea’s planters selection lacking. The reason this makes my list of what not to buy at Ikea isn’t necessarily because the products are bad. However, they’re not totally on-trend, in my opinion, and they’re a bit overpriced. (Even Ikea can be overpriced!) When I buy plants from Ikea, I hold off on the plastic-y, super modern planters. Instead, I buy authentic terra cotta pots from Home Depot for pennies on the dollar. Ikea has planters that try to emulate this look, but they come off as fake, lacking the authentic earthy vibe. You can find unique planters full of character at thrift stores for pennies, as well. Although Ikea’s $30+ plastic planters are included in what not to buy from Ikea, fortunately, it’s a super easy fix.