Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Anyone got an Ikea free home?

68 replies

jakesmum30 · 07/02/2011 22:42

Was looking round our house and realised it is a shrine to ikea Blush. And it's 100 miles to our nearest store. It got me wondering whether anyone has avoided Ikea completely, and if so was it intentional or non intentional?

OP posts:
Sarsaparilllla · 07/02/2011 22:45

I've only got one chest of drawers from Ikea, it's not one of my favourite stores tbh, always seems to stress me out!!

nancy75 · 07/02/2011 22:46

i have some of their blue bags that i use to sort the washing and a chopping board, thats is it!

PersonalClown · 07/02/2011 22:47

Apart from a few candles for my rare baths (I'm a shower girl), some cutlery for ds and some cups he wanted...Nada.

Geepers · 07/02/2011 22:48

Never been to ikea and have nothing in my home from ikea. Am considering their highchairs though.

purpleknittingmum · 07/02/2011 22:48

Me! Never even stepped into an IKEA!

Totally unintentional!

QueenBathsheba · 07/02/2011 22:49

I don't like Ikea because of all the sharp edges and I don't think much of the furniture is child friendly.

I like old and antique, the edges are soft and worn in and actually wears better with children.

fivegomadindorset · 07/02/2011 22:52

We have an Ikea free home, we did have some stuff but it has been replaced.

RattysPicnic · 07/02/2011 22:57

Yes, except for a potato peeler from last flat. Falling apart white chest-of-drawers about to be handed on.

Really don't much like the pile-it-high-sell-it cheap furniture. It does always break.

Original poster
jakesmum30 · 07/02/2011 23:03

Agreeing with everyone about cheap disposable furniture. I don't think anything in my house will last longer than 10 years, 15 tops. But the allure of being able to afford 'new' everything can be hard to resist.

OP posts:
Original poster
jakesmum30 · 07/02/2011 23:05

And it's the most stressful shopping experience! Me and DH go in like excited school children and are barely speaking to each other by the time we reach the tills. And don't even start on trying to load everything you've bought into your small car...

OP posts:
potplant · 07/02/2011 23:06

I live 5 miles away from Ikea. I'm struggling to think of furniture I haven't bought there.

MollieO · 07/02/2011 23:11

Nothing here. Did have stuff in my last place though but they didn't make the move! Think the last time I was in an IKEA store was over 14 years ago.

pacinofan · 07/02/2011 23:12

Just thrown out our Ikea freestanding wardrobes. Flimsy, poorly constructed and hated the fact that the pole bowed no matter if you only hung light clothes on it. We will prob burn the chopped up pieces on the log burner.

Have replaced with original art deco wardrobes bought at an auction house. No comparison. Ikea has it's place, but tbh I think on the whole it's nasty.

Changeisagoodthing · 07/02/2011 23:19

Almost -it's crap quality.

dD insisted on unit from there last year but already chipped and drawer broken. Cost about £150 so a really bad buy.

galletti · 07/02/2011 23:19

Mmm, have those shelves that have no brackets in dd's room, ooh and a Billy bookcase, and lots of candles and their dishbrush things, ooh and some kitcheny stuff like bowls, and chopping boards, so I suppose the answer is no, i don't have an Ikea free home!

But I wouldn't buy their wardrobes, drawers, sofas.

Ok, just remembered, so really should not be on this thread - have a ten yr old kitchen from them- been fantastic, actually.

gomummygo · 07/02/2011 23:25

Me! Yes, it is intentional. Just not my style personally.

beanandspud · 08/02/2011 00:04

Just about got rid of the last of DH's 'beloved' Ikea furniture although DS has one of the little tables and chair sets so maybe I shouldn't be here either.

Thinking about the place makes me feel a bit ill - all those walkways and people arguing....

Linnet · 08/02/2011 00:09

I have nothing in my house from Ikea. I've never been to one,I've tried to get to the one in Glasgow but I got lost and never found it and everyone I talk to says that the one in Edinburgh is notoriously difficult to get to as well.

earwicga · 08/02/2011 00:14

Ikea free home here :)

The one in Croydon used to freak me out - once you were in you were trapped. Horrible.

PaisleyLeaf · 08/02/2011 00:18

I like the look of a lot of Ikea stuff but the shopping experience just seems so horrible to me. I only went the once, was along for the ride with a friend and not likely to want want to put myself through that again.
It all seems very nice, but then it's like you have to go to a warehouse to get your bits. Then weirdest of all - you push your trolley out towards the car and bollards! You can't get your trolley to the car!
Aren't they starting to do online now? I'd consider that.

Oldsilver · 08/02/2011 00:23

Not a bit in this house - too many scare stories on getting lost in the stores...

ClarasMummy · 08/02/2011 09:25

The shopping experience is pretty horrible, and it's impossible to just pop in for one thing as it takes an hourly get to the tills, especially when dragging a toddler behind you with an unhealthy interest in soft furnishings...

I have one of their couches though and it's lovely.

brimfull · 08/02/2011 09:30

ikea shrine here too

have expensive stuff as well and in this house they last about the same time

have come to the conclusion I like disposable furniture

I don't want to look at the same stuff for 20 yrs

mawbroon · 08/02/2011 09:36

oh dear, I live 5 mins from Ikea. It is my first port of call for most household things...

valiumredhead · 08/02/2011 12:03

Mawbroon - me too Grin