<p>I myself have never set foot in the place, although S1 has purchased several things for his first apartment through the years. DH and I are looking to get a couch in a certain style and color, and Ikea seems to have it – and at a very reasonable price. Is the quality awful and I’ll regret it in a year? Or will it last for, say five to ten years, at which point I could get rid of it with no regrets??</p>
<p>ETA: We are empty nesters with two dogs. Dogs will definitely be sitting on the couch with us.</p>
<p>You are not that far away from the New Haven IKEA. </p>
<p>Go, have a look, have a sit, see if it’s really what you have in mind. And, if it’s not, Furniture Alley (i.e. Rt.1 Orange and Milford) is on your way home with showrooms and clearance warehouses!</p>
<p>I like IKEA but you do need to understand the niche. Their stuff is cheap, no frills, and reasonably sturdy (if you buy the right stuff) - just about perfect for college students or second houses. I think 5-10 years is no problem, depending on how you treat it, but I have never found their sofas to be particularly comfortable.</p>
<p>They do carry a range (narrow but a range nevertheless) of stuff, some better, some not. I had a very, very comfortable couch from IKEA for many years. I agree that for a major purchase like a sofa, you should check it out in person.</p>
<p>I bought mine when I was waiting to adopt my kid, figuring that I should spend less because it would get trashed. It didn’t get trashed by my kid but died a natural death about 15 years later. Good purchase for someone with a dog that sits on the couch.</p>
<p>My mother has an Ikea couch which is 15 years old and in very good shape, despite visiting grandchildren. I find it to be a very enjoyable napping spot.</p>
<p>I have had a pair of IKEA couches with removable/washable covers for 5 years. I bought them specifically because of my teenagers and pets and have been very happy. I find them very comfortable, and I think they have held up well.</p>
<p>My sons have the Manstad (yes, Ikea obviously knew its target market it naming this piece) sectional sofa in their apartment. So far they haven’t destroyed it and I know their lifestyle and the parties they have. I have found it to be comfortable for lounging around and napping on when I have visited. It also contains a queen size sleeper sofa which I have heard is comfortable.</p>
<p>My son has an Ikea sofa that is very comfortable. I don’t have any of their upholstered furniture, but we have quite a few bookcases - fourteen years so far, no sign of problems.</p>
<p>I keep praying for my 16 yr old IKEA living room tables to fall apart, but they are apparently bomb-proof… I hate to replace something that is not broken…</p>
<p>Lakemom, I’ve seen people break coffee tables by sitting on them. I think a heavy person can dance on mine, and it will still be ok! Have zero experience with IKEA couches, but cheap couches from ScanDesign are nasty (their higher priced ones are perfectly fine).</p>
<p>We went to Ikea this afternoon and looked at it. It’s not bad at all, but tomorrow we are seeing a similar couch on sale from Craigslist that, according to the photos, looks a little classier. We’ll see after tomorrow what we’re going to do. Thanks everyone for your opinions.</p>
<p>Has anyone used Ikea for kitchen cabinets? Or bought their appliances? They certainly are reasonably priced, but kitchen cabinets sure get a lot of heavy wear. Do Ikea cabinets stand up well?</p>
<p>(I just redid my kitchen so I’m not exactly in the market for a new one, but I’m curious.)</p>
<p>My SIL has a Crate and Barrel sofa that on the outside looks like the Ikea one with the slip covers. That Crate and Barrel sofa was more costly…but the cover is removable and machine washable…and it has supported her large pooch as well…jumping on and off. I’m going to guess that the Crate and Barrel sofa has better “bones” than the IKEA one.</p>
<p>Some Ikea stuff is certainly made from particle board, but I have a few things from there that are definitely solid wood, and my futon, incidentally, has a metal structure. I think their quality actually varies quite a bit. You can get some stuff there that will fall apart within a year or two, but some of their stuff is surprisingly well made. You do have to look carefully at a furniture to try to figure out what it’s made of and how it’s put together and such.</p>
I think a heavy person can dance on mine, and it will still be ok! Have zero experience with IKEA couches, but cheap couches from ScanDesign are nasty (their higher priced ones are perfectly fine).</p>
or something like that.</p>