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Even for pros who spend their days sourcing rare marble and priceless antiques, it’s hard to resist the call of a good-looking bargain—which is why IKEA products have long been staples of designers everywhere. From kitchen cabinets to towels, the Swedish retailer has it all, so it’s no wonder that interiors experts head there regularly when they need something fast (or, when a project goes way over budget, cheap). AD PRO asked 16 decorators about their favorite IKEA products, from the pieces they’ve sneaked into projects to the ones they buy for their own homes. Here’s what they had to say.
Häggeby and Sektion Cabinetry
Designer Stephen Sills is a fan of the retailer’s cabinetry collections. “The basic lacquered white Häggeby and Sektion [units] are perfect for a utility or laundry room,” he says. In his own home, he accessorizes them with a white stone top, white beadboard, and sturdier, more traditional hardware. “They’re a great look and value when you style them correctly, he adds.” Designer Tom Stringer also votes for the Sektion, which he’s used on several cost-conscious projects. “The cabinet cases and drawer slides are well made and hold up well,” he says, noting that he loves the gloss flush-front doors in warm gray. “I liked the way the cabinets performed enough to use them in my own laundry and catering kitchen at home.”
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Askersund Doors
AD PRO Directory designer Christina Richardson counts herself as a member of the IKEA kitchen fan club. “I absolutely love IKEA kitchens,” she says. “The design, the price, the quality, the flexibility. We very often use IKEA boxes and doors and then we go all creative with the large filler pieces to customize and to put on panel-ready fridges.” She recommends using IKEA as a base and working with skilled carpenters on installation. “You’ll have a kitchen that looks like a million dollars,” she says. For a recent project, Richardson used Askersund doors matched with a stainless-steel island backing and cover panels to integrate the fridge and freezer.
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Norden Table
IKEA’s tables, especially the Norden, are another staple of Richardson’s toolkit. In addition to their visual appeal, she attests to their staying power: “We have one in our Hilton Head home that is over 30 years old and still looks beautiful.”
Salviken Towels
Designers Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company count IKEA’s Salviken towels as one of their favorite things. “We love the waffle-weave exterior that reverses to a dense terry,” they say. “It’s nice and thin, but very absorbent. And the binding includes an integrated loop that makes for easy hanging. The towel is stylish, simple, and functional—what IKEA does best!”
365+ Glasses
Even top designers love a good IKEA shopping spree, including Tom Scheerer. “IKEA has a surfeit of riches,” he says, recalling a shopping trip where four full carts rang up at a mere $1,600. “The stemmed 365+ glass is versatile and superb,” he shares. A six pack runs for a mere $10—so prepare to stack that blue shopping bag high.
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Malm Collections
Designer Robert McKinley is partial to pieces from the Malm storage collection. “[It’s] clean, classic, extremely sturdy, and perfect for a variety of projects because there are a lot of options to customize,” he says.
Athena Calderone keeps coming back to IKEA’s Malm bed. “I have used it almost exclusively in both my homes in a variety of ways,” she says. The designer, author, and chef always customizes the beds to suit her aesthetic needs. “In the primary bedroom of my Amagansett home, I wanted to make a statement in bold opposition to the otherwise muted room, so I chose to paint the Malm bed a strong graphite gray,” says Calderone. “In the guest rooms of my beach home, and in the primary bedroom of my former Dumbo apartment, I made a choice to have the Malm bed completely disappear. By painting the bed frame in the exact color as the walls, the bed essentially fades away.”
Billy and Pax Storage Systems
If you’re looking to add storage while staying within budget, AD PRO Directory designer Byron Risdon suggests pieces from the Billy and Pax collections. “They’re a great base for an inexpensive storage solution,” says Risdon. “With a little creativity and the right installer they can be fitted to look built-in and provide excellent storage options in several different ways and finishes.”
Kevin Greenberg of Space Exploration Design also backs the Pax. “It’s maybe not the sexiest answer, but we love the Pax system’s flexibility and its ability to be customized and dressed up with ease through the addition of third-party hardware, fronts, or both,” Greenberg says. “It’s a go-to for us for projects with tight budgets and a no-brainer for secondary spaces where function rules the day.”
Varmblixt Collection
The Varmblixt collection has caught Greenberg’s eye as well. “We’ve long admired the work of Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis and are really taken with her recent Varmblixt collection for IKEA, particularly the dual-purpose wall and table lamp, which recalls Giancarlo Mattioli’s classic “Nesso” lamp for Artemide, but distills and reinterprets it for a new age,” the designer says. “At under $70, it’s a true bargain—assuming you can find one in stock.”
Stockholm and Silkeborg Rugs
Alessandra Branca is a devotee of IKEA’s flatweave rugs. “A red-and-white Stockholm rug was just installed for one of my clients’ daughter’s room, and two others are being presented to clients for guest rooms and a library,” she says. “I also love the styling and cheekiness of the patchwork Silkeborg—that one is for the library. A chevron-shaped Stockholm in corals and reds is for a guest room that is otherwise quite neutral. It’s a great pop of color.”
Sinnerlig Lamp
AD100 designer Justina Blakeney recommends the Sinnerlig lamp. “You get a lot of bang for your buck with this piece,” she says. “It’s large but visually very lightweight, and at $90 each, you can get two or three to hang over a longer table. This bamboo piece lends a natural neutral to a space. It’s simultaneously modern and earthy.”
Hildegun Dish Towels
Miles Redd sings the praises of IKEA’s dish towels. “My favorite IKEA item, and there are many I love, has to be their 79-cent Tekla dish towels: good-quality white cotton with a simple red stripe about two inches from the hem,” says Redd. “It is a modern update of the 19th-century French dish towel. I even use them as napkins at my place on Fire Island.” While IKEA no longer sells Tekla towels, the two-striped Hildegun towel is a worthy successor at 89 cents.
Hovet Mirror
“Hands down, the Hovet mirror has for years been my favorite thing IKEA sells,” says designer Noz Nozawa of Noz Design. “For the size and quality of the mirror glass, the Hovet is such a value. I’ve had my own for 14 years (across 3 different homes!) and have used Hovets in client dining rooms, bedrooms, and especially home gyms (they look great in multiples to create a full mirror wall). The mirrors are able to be mounted vertically or horizontally, adding to the versatility, and they are such a perfect item to utilize in a ‘high-low’ design where you splurge on the wallpaper behind the Hovet or the wall sconces on either side.”
Holmsta / Fröknabo Armchairs
Designer Victoria Sass of Prospect Refuge Studio—one of AD’s 2022 New American Voices—has had a pair of Holmsta / Fröknabo arm chairs in her family home for years. “These chairs are classic pieces that stand the test of time,” she says. “They are lightweight and easy to refresh with new throw pillows whenever I want to change things up.” Sass shares that the chairs caught her eye because she always looks for wicker and rattan when shopping at IKEA. “The versatile and durable materials both age beautifully and bring a natural feel to a home, all without spending an entire paycheck,” she says.
PS Cabinet
Leah Ring of AD PRO Directory–listed firm Another Human has used the white, blue, and red versions of the PS Cabinet in different projects over the years. “It can either blend into a white wall or provide a pop of color, and I love the clean yet industrial feel,” she says. “Sometimes you need a metal storage piece rather than more wood, and this is a great, functional choice!”
Bondskäret Coat Rack
“Coats aren’t so much fun, but this is a way to invite ‘chic’ in,” says designer Zoe Feldman of the Bondskäret coat rack. “Black always works, but the yellow and lilac would provide a lively moment.”
Domsten Stools
If you’re in a pinch for some extra seating, Feldman recommends picking up some Domsten stools, which come in a variety of colors. She especially praises their versatility: “They are stackable, can be used as side tables or stools, and add a little color, but not too much.”
Flisat Children’s Table
For her youngest clients, Feldman loves IKEA’s Flisat children’s table. “It’s an ergonomic place for budding artists to collaborate and a great space-saver with in-table craft storage,” she says. “When incorporating children’s tables, we tend to get more than two chairs—if they’ll fit—so more kids (or you) can join.”
