IKEA 2018 FALL FINDS
/Swedish home furnishings giant IKEA has long been a staple for people looking for inexpensive, no-frills Scandinavian everything.
And let’s face it- who hasn’t owned a piece of furniture from IKEA? Maybe you saved your money for going out and owned the $20 LACK coffee table and its matching side tables. Maybe you splurged on something in the HEMNES line or tried your hand at painting furniture on a RAST. For many of us, IKEA meant freedom. It sounds corny-I know, but if you were buying IKEA, you (probably) weren’t living at home, you had something approximating a job and you weren’t about to be saddled with monthly furniture payments.
BUT, you might be thinking, IKEA ISN’T ALL HEARTS AND BABIES! WHAT ABOUT THE ALLEN WRENCHES?!? HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER AN ENTIRE DRESSER USING ONLY AN ALLEN WRENCH?!? TBH, I haven’t. It’s horrible, and I spent a looong time in publishing and am thusly more comfortable with that $@&*# wrench than anyone should be. And IKEA isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t looking for inexpensive toy storage, guest room furniture or a couch for your basement, IKEA can be kind of a tough sell. Between the never-ending maze that is an IKEA store, the allen wrench situation, the utilitarian Scandi design- you may have ruled it out entirely once a decent couch was no longer a pipe dream.
But here’s why you shouldn’t. Aside from the staples you’ve come to know and love (KALLAX/RIP EXPEDIT, BILLY, HEMNES), IKEA consistently puts out well-designed pieces at unbeatable prices. I took a trip to our local IKEA this week and wanted to share some great buys to help you see them in a new light.
BEST OF IKEA: FALL 2018
So these are essentially paper lampshades, but IKEA thoughtfully sells you a little cord to wire them. These LAKHEDEN shades might be a little contemporary for some spaces but would be less so in a room with lots of natural light and are hard to beat for $27.
These INDUSTRIELL chairs are chic and comfortable- and great for small spaces. The woven seat works with mid-century modern or beachy decor, and for a piece that really makes a statement, I’d paint the legs a bold color
Right side up, these $20 LILLHOLMEN lights are great bathroom sconces. Upside-down, they look great in a hallway or an office.
The $30 RANARP pendant looks great in a grouping over an island or a table. The on-trend brass bit above the shade and the neutral cord make it an easy fit for any space.
Few things class up your act like a picture light, and this ARSTID light (for only $30!) will have your friends wondering if you’ve gotten a new job lately.
This $40 NYMO PENDANT would be killer over a breakfast nook or even a nook-free kitchen table.
There is SO much going on in this picture (sorry!). Had kids in tow and didn’t have time to move anything out of the foreground, but squint hard and feast your eyes on this $1400 LANDSKRONA leather sofa. The color and the leather are GORGEOUS in person and if you buy this, you can swap out the chrome legs with something less aggressive. Big box retailers sell leg replacement kits and so does IKEA… but none of theirs feel quite right with this sofa.
BERNHARD leather bar stools are a STEAL at $169. They’re comfortable, the shape is great and the color of the leather is super. They remind me CB2 ROADHOUSE stools which are SUCH a classic and honestly, still at steal at $100+ more than the IKEA ones. Thought I have heard that CB2 has recently changed manufacturers for them and the leather is redder than it used to be… womp womp!
How GREAT is all of this?? SO, SO good. And even better as it’s comparable to what you can find elsewhere for 2-3x (and then some) of the price. Can’t wait to show you the rest of fave fall IKEA finds for 2018. Stay tuned for part two… (or for parts two through like, six. Seriously so much good stuff going on there right now!)
