Ikea Bjursta dining table. Do you have one?

[mumat39]

Just wondering how hardwearing it is really.

I'm interested in the round extendable one in white.

We would be using it as our only dining table and it would also be used by the DC for painting, gluing, colouring etc.

How easy is it o keep clean and stain free, ESP from felt tip pens.

Also, can the laquered finish be cleaned using something like Dettol Antibacterial spray?

Many thanks in advance.

We have a rectangular oak coloured one and I have been very disappointed with its wear.

We had a different IKEA table previously that we had had for over 10 years and it had worn well but this one has very thin veneer of wood and it is getting all chipped and wearing away. It is our only table, used every day for eating, playing, homework etc but has not been abused.

It has 2 additional leaves and they are now a completely different colour to the table as they are stored underneath and the rest of the table has gone yellowish in the sunlight. It looks silly when we have parties etc and open the table up, such a shame.

If I thought I'd get anywhere, I'd complain to IKEA but I don't think I get anywhere with them except angry and frustrated.

We also have some white veneered cupboards that we use for the children's toys and these also have chips and scratches to the veneer where toys have been dropped and stains from felt tip pens.

The IKEA furniture that we bought 10+ years ago has lasted much better than things bought more recently so I think they are economising on the materials too much.

Thanks Zip.

What a shame. We have a solid oak table with an oak veneer and that really hasn't lasted too well either. That was expensive and from the days we were a double income family. The leg is broken and can't be repaired so was hoping the Bjursta would be a good option, but it sounds like it probably isn't. :(

Thanks for sharing your experience.

we have an ikea extending table, no idea which one, but have an oil cloth table cloth on it, and the table itself is fine after 18 months of heavy use. I think any uncovered table will be inclined to be damaged with heavy usage though.

Thanks Kvet.

My DD has a lot of food allergies and me and DP eat some of the foods she can't eat so I am looking for a table that can be cleaned properly, including being washed with soapy water every so often.

I'm not sure if a tablecloth would work for us for that reason. In theory we cold accidentally spill something that falls off the side of the table that we might miss when cleaning. I've seen that so many times when visiting friends with young kids. Dd is really sensitive to food traces which is a real PITA.

I take your point about covering a table though. Is you table cover big enough to fit when the table is extended? Or do you have 2 for both sizes?

Many thanks for your advice. :)

we haven't had to extend it yet, but the table cloth won't fit if we do - it is literally some oil cloth cut off a roll (from John Lewis, it was one of our wedding presents!) - could easily just get a longer piece cut if we needed to :)

We used to use oilcloth from John Lewis when the children were at the gluing, painting etc stage. It's fab and can be dettol sprayed as much as you like. A great choice of patterns too from the childlike designs to grown up.

I've got this one. Had it 2.5 years and very happy with it.

I have the oak veneered version of this. We keep it extended as it is one of few tables dd's wheelchair will fit under (under the extended part). However, food does accumulate (tiny crumbs) in the join between the leaves and the table. Where she sits looks "worn" with little dings and scratches where things have been dropped - the edging is also wearing off (possibly from excessive moisture - drool, wiping etc) - so it doesn't look pristine - I have no idea how the white one would compare, sorry. The table top itself cleans up very easily, though.

I recently sold my 7 year old Bjursta on e-bay!

We had the oak one and I found it to be incredibly hard wearing and it had spent 2 years in the garage at one point.

The only issue I had was that the extending leaves were a bugger to get out and as we didn't use them much their colour didn't match that of the main table over time.

You could do a lot worse for the money (we ordered a similar table from Argos at the same time and it was pants).

We have the Bjursta one I think - we've had it for about a year or so, has stood up to 3 children and all manner of gluing. sticking, battering and dettol-ing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not overly precious with it, its a working family table in the kitchen, don't expect it to last for years but fine for the time being, its a fairly cheap Ikea tablee. Haven't noticed any difference in colour between main leaves and table, but we don't have it in the sunlight.

I've had one for 3 years and love it.

We do use an oil cloth 90% of the time though.

Ours is a wood one, it's about 3 yrs old and has survived well. I clean with hot soapy water and have removed pen with anti bac spray. I very rarely use a table cloth.

I just wrote a reply and then it went poof and bloody disappeared.

Thank you all for your replies.

The oil cloth has got me thinking so maybe I'll have to go and have a look in JL.
Do they need washing? Or are they wipe clean only?

Miranda, that's the round one I'm looking at, but in the white. It's good to know you're happy with it after so long.

Wentshopping, I hadn't thought of crumbs in the joins. It's good to know the top cleans easily as that's important as I'm a lazy arse

Lozis, can I ask? What table do you have now that you've sold the bjursta? It does seem like a really good price.

Mandy, it sounds like you've road tested it for me as that's exactly how we'd use it. I like nice stuff but don't want to be worried about it.

Stacey, do you have a wooden Bjursta? I didn't realise they did a wooden version.

Thanks again everyone, you've been brilliantly helpful.

Sorry Mandy. I meant I like nice stuff but like you don't want to be overly worried about it.

We bought the oak veneered one a year ago and are very happy with it. We don't have kids (yet) and its always covered by a table so can't comment on quality if bare.