This is the Best Ikea Furniture, According to the Experts

offer_banner_mobile
All Posts

With affordable prices and great designs, Ikea furniture is more than just a cultural fad: it’s a great investment. Because Ikea has such a vast catalog of furniture offerings, we’ve scoured the internet to find recommendations from design experts for the best Ikea furniture out there. 

From funky rattan ottomans to beautiful grey cabinets to oval coffee tables to Ikea classics, we’ve got the top picks right here. 

The Best Ikea Furniture for the Living Room 

Ikea’s Buskubo Rattan Armchair, $130  


The Buskubo rattan armchair is the best Ikea furniture piece for your living room. Image courtesy of Ikea 

A trending favorite across the board, this rattan arm chair is funky and fabulous. Interior design website Hunker says that “rattan is having a moment right now,” and lists Ikea’s Buskbo armchair as a top find on their list of high-end design pieces that don’t brank the bank.  

The Classic Billy Bookcase, $59 


The Billy bookcase is one of the best Ikea furniture items out there.According to Ikea, someone buys a Billy bookcase every 5 seconds. 

Home decor website House Beautiful calls out the classic Billy bookcase as one of Ikea’s best and most popular products. Associate editor Brittney Morgan writes, “It is pretty hard to find a bookcase this big and this customizable at such a low price point.” 

The Gray Havsta Cabinet, $195 


One of the best Ikea furniture pieces for organizing clutter is the Havsta cabinet.

This one is a personal favorite of mine. When I first saw the Havsta cabinet in the Ikea store (yes, I trekked all the way there), I loved the blue-gray color. The cabinet is sturdy, well made, and is perfect for storing the not-so-pretty stuff. It’s a great focal point in our living room, and the perfect place to set one of your favorite houseplants. Added bonus? It’s impossible to tell that this piece is from Ikea. 

The Vimle Sofa, $699 


Best Ikea furniture couch edition: the Vimle sofa. Image courtesy of Ikea 

Gear Patrol calls Ikea’s Vimle Sofa, “Super simple, super available, super affordable.” This streamlined couch is perfect for any space, is under $700, and comes in a variety of colors to suit any taste. Done and done. 

The Stockholm Coffee Table, $249


Best Ikea furniture: the Stockholm coffee table. Image courtesy of Ikea 

Ikea’s Stockholm coffee table is a Scandinavian favorite from just about every design site out there. Apartment Therapy says that this coffee table “offers an upscale look for a relatively modest price.” 

The Poäng Armchair, $99


puls-best-ikea-furniture-poangImage courtesy of Ikea 

NYMag has some high praise for Ikea’s classic Poäng armchair. The magazine calls the armchair “a versatile and shockingly comfortable lounger that blows away every other living-room chair I’ve found under $250.”

The Rattan Gamlehult Ottoman, $69 


One of the most versatile pieces in our collection of the best Ikea furniture is the Gamlehult ottoman.Image courtesy of Ikea 

Lifestyle and interior design website MyDomaine calls the Gamlehult ottoman “a foot rest, stool, side table, and storage piece all in one.” This is one trendy, fun, and seriously versatile piece. The perfect solution for apartment living, this side table/ottoman would be a great addition to your home.  

The Best Ikea Furniture for the Bedroom 

The Hemnes Dresser, $249


Best Ikea furniture for the bedroom: the Hemnes dresser.Image courtesy of Ikea 

Another one of my personal favorite Ikea pieces is the Hemnes dresser, and I’m not alone. Not only do I know three other friends who have this piece, designer Lindsay Pennington agrees. She writes, “The Hemnes dresser is a classic by now, and for good reason." 

The dresser comes in three colors: white, black, and gray, and is made of solid wood. I can attest to its durability—this dresser has been with me through two moves, and still looks good as new. 

The Malm Storage Bed, $499


Another great piece of Ikea furniture for the bedroom is the Malm storage bed.Image courtesy of Ikea 

“It seems I have a thing for the IKEA Malm bed. I have used it almost exclusively in both my homes in a variety of ways. However, I have always customized, reimagined, primed, and painted the bed frames to suit my aesthetic needs.” - Designer Athena Calderone via Architectural Digest

Ikea’s Malm bed seems to have nothing short of a cult following, especially for DIYers. Leave the clean and simple headboard as is, or opt for one of the many hacks to customize the bed to your taste. 

The Best Ikea Furniture for the Kitchen 

The Tornviken Kitchen Island, $399 


In the market for the best Ikea furniture for the kitchen? The Tornviken Island is perfect for you.Image courtesy of Ikea

The Tornviken island is one of the best (if not the best) pieces of furniture you can buy for your kitchen. The gorgeous oak topper serves as both a dining and food prep space. The island leaves one side open for matching chairs or fun stools, and the other side provides two shelves for big pots and pans. Ikea upped the ante on this one, as the shelves used to be lined in metal and are now lined in the same oak as the counter. 

Hire a Pro to Help You Assemble Your New Ikea Furniture 

A professional can help you put together your new Ikea furniture.Putting together Ikea furniture is not for the faint of heart. The instructions can be hard to follow, there’s usually a million little pieces, and it takes a few solid hours to put big pieces, like the Hemnes dresser, together. 

If you would rather hire a professional to get the job done quickly, you can save yourself several hours of frustration (unless you enjoy putting together Ikea furniture, of course). 

Puls can handle the nuts and bolts of furniture assembly if you live in the Dallas or Los Angeles metro area. Need a hand? 

Book Furniture Assembly

Alexa C.
Alexa Collins is the Content Manager at Puls. She loves to create content that empowers homeowners to learn the ins and outs of home maintenance, and inspires people to get excited about dishwashers. When she’s not writing, she's figuring out how to fit more plants in her apartment, practicing yoga, or taking her dog Bear for a hike.
Related Posts

Home maintenance can feel overwhelming when it’s framed as one endless checklist. When everything seems important at once, it’s easy to delay action altogether and hope nothing urgent pops up. A room-by-room strategy makes home care feel more manageable. Instead of thinking about your home as one big project, you focus on individual spaces. This makes it easier to notice small changes, address issues early, and avoid the kind of problems that grow quietly over time. Kitchen: Where Wear and Tear Adds Up Fast Kitchens combine water, electricity, heat, and daily use, which naturally increases the chances of things wearing down. Under-sink leaks, loose outlets, and aging fixtures are common early warning signs. Because many kitchen components are tucked away inside cabinets, small problems often stay hidden until damage spreads. Catching these issues early keeps repairs simpler, faster, and far less expensive. Bathrooms: Constant Moisture, Constant Risk Bathrooms deal with daily humidity, which puts ongoing stress on plumbing connections, fixtures, and surfaces. Slow drains, loose faucets, or subtle discoloration around fixtures are often the first signs that something needs attention. Moisture-related issues rarely resolve on their own. Addressing them early helps prevent mold growth, water damage, and structural problems that can disrupt your home and budget. Living Areas: Subtle Signals Matter In living rooms and bedrooms, maintenance issues often show up visually or electrically. Small wall cracks, flickering lights, or loose mounted items can indicate settling, wiring wear, or anchor problems inside the walls. Because these changes happen gradually, they’re easy to normalize. Paying attention early keeps fixes straightforward and prevents damage from spreading behind the scenes. Entryways and Hallways: High Traffic, High Stress Doors, frames, and walls in high-traffic areas experience constant movement and pressure. Sticking doors or shifting frames can be early signs of alignment issues or normal structural movement that needs adjustment. Handling these issues early keeps everyday wear from turning into long-term damage that affects multiple rooms. Laundry Areas: Small Spaces, Big Impact Laundry hookups are one of the most common sources of unnoticed leaks. Hoses, valves, and drains wear down slowly, and even minor drips can lead to significant water damage if left unchecked. Because laundry areas are often out of sight, problems here tend to go unnoticed longer than they should. Regular inspection and timely service can prevent costly flooring and wall repairs. Why a Room-by-Room Approach Works Breaking maintenance down by room helps homeowners feel more in control of their home. It creates a natural rhythm for checking key areas without feeling like everything needs attention at once. This approach also makes it easier to prioritize. Rooms with water, electricity, or heavy use naturally deserve more frequent attention than low-impact spaces. How This Strategy Helps With Budgeting Room-based maintenance spreads costs out over time instead of letting them pile up into emergency repairs. Small, planned fixes are easier to budget for than sudden, expensive problems. Homeowners who take this approach often find they spend less overall—not because they avoid repairs, but because they handle them at the right moment. Peace of Mind Comes From Knowing What’s Normal When you check your home consistently, you start to recognize what’s normal and what’s new. That awareness makes it easier to spot issues early and take action without panic. Instead of wondering whether something has “always been like that,” you can make informed decisions with confidence. Where Professional Help Makes the Biggest Difference Professional technicians understand how issues in one room can affect the rest of the home. A trained eye can spot early warning signs that aren’t obvious to homeowners. Puls technicians can inspect multiple areas efficiently and handle repairs across rooms and systems, making it easier to stay ahead of maintenance without juggling multiple service providers. Why Proactive Service Is Easier Than Reactive Repairs Emergency repairs often come with stress, scheduling pressure, and limited options. Proactive service allows homeowners to plan repairs around their schedule and avoid last-minute decisions. Calling a Puls tech early helps keep home maintenance predictable, manageable, and far less disruptive. Consistency Beats Perfection Home care isn’t about fixing everything at once or chasing an ideal standard. It’s about steady attention and timely action. A professional-first, room-by-room approach keeps your home running smoothly, protects its value, and helps you avoid costly surprises down the line.

  • 5 min read
  • 05/04/26

Staying on top of home maintenance doesn’t have to feel like a constant project. Most homeowners don’t need more reminders—they need a simpler way to organize what already matters. That’s where a monthly home maintenance calendar comes in. Instead of reacting to issues or juggling long checklists, a calendar-based approach creates a steady rhythm that keeps your home running smoothly throughout the year. Why Monthly Planning Feels Easier Big seasonal lists tend to show up all at once and demand attention when life is already busy. Monthly planning spreads things out so nothing feels urgent or overwhelming. When you know exactly what to focus on each month, home care becomes more predictable—and much easier to fit into real life. How the Puls Home Maintenance Calendar Is Structured The Puls home maintenance calendar is designed to reduce mental load, not add to it. Each month focuses on just three types of tasks, keeping things clear and manageable: Quick Wins Seasonal Must-Dos Call in a Pro Tasks This structure ensures that important maintenance stays on track without turning home care into a full-time job. Quick Wins: Light Tasks That Keep Things on Track Quick wins are small, low-effort actions that help maintain comfort and performance around the home. They’re designed to be fast, easy to remember, and satisfying to complete. These tasks help homeowners feel like they’re staying ahead without committing large amounts of time or energy. Seasonal Must-Dos: Staying in Sync With the Year Every season brings small shifts in how a home is used. Seasonal must-dos help align your home with those changes in a calm, planned way. Because these tasks are anticipated in advance, they don’t come with urgency or stress. They simply support comfort, efficiency, and everyday use as the year progresses. Call in a Pro: Built-In Professional Support Some maintenance tasks are best handled by a professional—not because something is wrong, but because it’s easier and more reliable that way. Each month includes at least one Call in a Pro task, giving homeowners a clear moment to bring in expert help and keep things handled properly without guesswork. Puls technicians fit seamlessly into this system, handling professional tasks efficiently and helping homeowners stay consistent without juggling multiple providers. Why This System Reduces Stress With only three task types to think about, maintenance stays focused and manageable. There’s no pressure to do everything at once, and no feeling that something critical is being missed. Homeowners following a calendar-based approach often feel more confident simply because they know what’s coming next. Consistency Without Perfection This system doesn’t rely on doing everything perfectly. Missing a task one month doesn’t derail anything—the calendar simply brings your focus back the next month. That flexibility is what makes monthly maintenance sustainable and realistic over time. A Calmer, More Organized Way to Care for Your Home When maintenance is predictable and supported, it stops feeling like a chore. It becomes part of the background—quietly supporting comfort, safety, and daily life. A monthly home maintenance calendar turns home care into a steady rhythm, and with Puls technicians available for professional tasks, staying on top of your home feels simple, not stressful.

  • 4 min read
  • 03/23/26

Even in mild climates, decks and fences are exposed to the elements every day. Sunlight fades color and weakens coatings, humidity causes wood to expand and contract, and soil movement shifts posts and support beams. Over time, this wear and tear leads to cracks, discoloration, and loose boards that can compromise safety and appearance.

  • 12 min read
  • 10/28/25