Sep
28

Video Question of the Week: How Many IKEA Items do You Own?

Whatever your personal feelings on IKEA may be, the fact is that it’s always there for you. There are several times in your life when a lump purchase of furniture and accessories is required; college, cottage, moving, new baby, an ageing parent moving in, growing children, etc.   Ideally, everything you buy for a home should be sought out and purchased on a love-at-first-sight basis, but the reality is that we simply don’t have time (and/or money) for that.  

 Photo via Positive Fanatics blog

That’s where the allure of an all-encompassing, mostly affordable and mercifully style-conscious store like IKEA makes it hard to resist.  The empty room taunts you, you’re sitting on boxes, the stark daylight (along with your neighbours) scourges your blind-less windows and next thing you know, you’re pushing a teetering flat cart toward a breadline-sized line-up, wanting a cinnamon roll.

For reflection, I thought it would be interesting to note just how many IKEA pieces an “average” person owns (I put that in quotations because our methods are not that scientific.)  And surprise surprise, not few.  Proof: IKEA is part of our domestic lives.  What do you go to IKEA for, and what over the years have been some of your favourite pieces?



 
Further Reading:  Blogs Inspired by IKEA

IKEA Hacker
IKEA Items upcycled, augmented and repourposed.

The IKEA Blog
A straight forward favourable info stream of all things IKEA (apparently not affiliated with IKEA.)

Positive Fanatics
“The Unofficial Ikea Web Journal” and the source of a hilarious pirate soap opera, “IKEA Heights” – a web show secretly filmed in IKEA’s fake rooms.

IKEA Goddess Decorates
An uber IKEA fan’s confessions.

Question of the Week appears every Monday on Style Sheet and FoodNetwork.ca's Food For Thought blog. 

Related:

 

Comments:

We have a lot of IKEA stuff in our house but my absolute favourite, for sure, is my beautiful kitchen.

September 29, 2009 8:02 AM

 

Hi Brian,

In one of your epasodes You had a video tool were you could see moister or water beneath the finished floor.Were can you get this tool.

Phil

September 29, 2009 9:18 AM

 

I too love an IKEA kitchen, as you may remeber PK, and installed one in my parents house.  We LOVE it!

September 29, 2009 9:48 AM

 

my boyfriend and I have about 8 pieces for our bedroom, then it will change sooner or later to the entire place....

September 29, 2009 10:02 AM

 

Our house of 2 adults and 2 kids has 13 pieces of IKEA furniture. But it certainy doesn't look like an exact copy of their store rooms, as we mix in items like mid century modern pieces and original art. Then it feels unique and true to our personalities. You have to give IKEA one thing though, they can take a small budget and turn a room into a warm and comfortable space that you really feel welcome in! Cheap furniture at stores like Zellers or  Wal Mart will never come close to that. I love IKEA!

September 29, 2009 11:39 AM

 

I love Ikea.  Our bedroom is entirely Ikea.  Throughout the house you will find lamps, decor items, pictures, dog toys, duvets, etc.  It is my adult candy store.  Get so many great and helpful ideas everytime I visit.

September 29, 2009 11:39 AM

 

I am a Malm bedroom set owner. I also have the lockable metal chest for my tv, a side table, 2 floating shelves and the $49 untreated pine table I stained and treated into a lovely "walnut" desk.  Obviously a bunch of dishes Ive had since university, and odds, ends, candles and decorative bits.

My boyfriend and I purchased a loft conversion, and we will be refurnishing the entire place... and not bringing the ikea with us. It has had its time in my life, but I think its time to move on to non-particle board furnishings. I think the lockable metal cabinet might come with though, I really like it.

September 29, 2009 3:09 PM

 

Too many to count but if I had to do a quick estimate (and now I feel that I do) I'd say around 25 pieces of furniture (including chairs that go with our dining room table and an outdoor set that includes table, 4 chairs and 2 loungers). Countless other items including frames, organizers, dishes, mirrors. It's a little out of control.

September 29, 2009 3:19 PM

 

I have too many pieces to count. My previous house could have been used as a showroom by IKEA since even the bathroom and kitchen came from there. My best piece so far: my Karlstad sofa!

September 29, 2009 7:58 PM

 

My wife bought a shoe rack at IKEA. When she brought it home (45 minute drive), it was missing the side pieces to hold it up. Have never been back. I do however use the catalogues I still receive to make my own pieces, since there stuff is so basic to make.

September 29, 2009 8:36 PM

 

Too many.  That's years of shopping.  My first IKEA item was a night table about 25 years ago!  My parents still have it.  My kitchen island and stools, my kitchen curtains, light in foyer, floor lamp in living room, Billy bookcase with doors, bed frame, coffee press, blinds, duvet cover, kitchen stuff...really, I could go on and on.

September 29, 2009 10:48 PM

 

A white chair, desk, bookcases and entertainment unit from 1989.  The chair and bookcases have survived by choice.  New toy storage 2008.

October 2, 2009 4:49 PM

 

Whoa...  I have so many, accumulated over the years.  Billy bookcases, Effektiv in my office, frames, Besta, candles, bowls, dinette chairs, area rugs, baskets...  Good buys for small budgets and sometimes, even high end intergrate Ikea furniture in their layout.  Very versatile!

October 4, 2009 11:00 PM

 
Comments for this entry are now closed.

Back to Top