apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You need to sit in the chair. I didn't think it was comfortable at all, and for $350, it seemed like a lot of money to spend at IKEA.

What about this one that just got posted?
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/fur/424951369.html

See how comfortable it is as Ikea stuff is very iffy in that aspect. It is only half the price of some really good chairs from places like Room & Board... I would probably get a cheaper chair or no chair at all and save up for good one. I wouldnt spend $350 at Ikea for a chair.

I would also like to add that in my first apartment, I went out to Ikea and bought a bunch of stuff and I sat in the chairs I got just a few times in the 8 months I was there because they were so uncomfortable.

Yeah-- it's crazy. Do a little scouring and some reupholstering; I scored a little sofa-type recliner (?), a midcentury number, from a yard sale for $5, then had it reupholstered for $350.

I've sat in the chair at the Ikea showroom and it's quite comfortable. I'm in love with it too - but couldn't justify the price at the time. I have no idea how comfortable they'd be after a few months, I've found that some ikea stuff doesn't age well. Although, the more expensive stuff is usually better quality. As with anything you get what you pay for.

As a side note, it doesn't seem like this chair fits with Ikea's "flat pack" rules. Do you have to put it together?

that chair is from the stockholm collection - ikea's "higher end" furniture. the frame is hardwood and the upholstery is finished well so the price reflects that. the quality is comparable to any chair in a similar price range and shouldn't necessarily send you running to crate and barrel.

For $350, you can get Roche Bobois on CL, though this isn't quite your style.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fur/422828640.html

$300 gets you another chair of better quality than IKEA:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/fur/423842745.html

Today's CL listings are very, very "Paris Apartment," but wait 10 minutes, and that'll change.

What IKEA is best for is cabinetry -- it's hard to do large amounts of shelving with specific dimensions by CLing or thrift store shopping. I wouldn't hurry to buy upholstered furniture there.

This chair is part of IKEA's new Stockholm line. Their goal for this collection was better quality construction, therefore, the price is higher. I've heard good things on other home decor sites.

Some people are not big fans of second-hand upholstery (myself included), and there is no guarantee any of that will still be comfortable in ten months time. And besides, as sadia points out, even a five dollar chair ends up being more than this once recovered.. not to mention the time invested to find and upholsterer, find the right fabric, etc.

And how, exactly, are y'all sitting on CL chairs to check for comfort before you buy?

Jennifer--
You used the phrases "works perfectly" and "love it" so I say go with it. Ignore the Ikea nervous nellie naysayers.

As others have said, the Stockholm collection is an upgrade in quality to match the price increase.

Sit in it. If you like it, get it. I don't believe that it being from IKEA makes it any less quality than similarly priced chairs at other outlets.

I bought this chair shortly after the Stockholm line was introduced. The construction and upholstery are of a good quality. I find the chair comfortable and sometimes even move it in front of the television to play video games. The chair is used a fair amount and still looks like new. Overall, I am really pleased with it.

If I recall correctly, the upholstered part came as one piece and all we had to do was screw on the legs

Hmm, not exactly sure how a $299 CL chair, not in your style, is any real bargain either.

Plus, when "regular" upholstered armchairs (new) are typically $500-$800 and up, this Ikea price looks better and better. Yeah, um, it may not last 100 years. But I daresay an $800 chair (new or used) will, either.

Having seen that chair in person at IKEA a few weeks ago, I have to say that the fabric is quite attractive in person. It really caught my eye in more than one room display.

The chair is relatively comfortable. I don't know that you would spend the whole night on it watching TV, but it doesn't seem as if that is the purpose of a chair of that style anyway.

As on "occasional chair" it will probably work just fine.

If you live in a major coastal city (NY, San Fran, etc) be VERY vigilant about buying upholstered furniture on craigslist. There's a bedbug epidemic afoot, and some people aren't very scrupulous about destroying or throwing out infested items. This isn't to say you shouldn't go to CL for something like this, just ask pertinent questions before you make a decision. For instance, if they're getting rid of a lot of stuff, and they're not moving, then what's up with that? Was this kept in a bedroom? Try to find out as much as you possibly can about the item and the seller.

As for my chair opinion, I say if you love it for what it is, buy it. If you're just in a rush to furnish your space affordably, don't, because others are right, you can do a lot better for much cheaper by going secondhand.

I didn't find it comfortable, and I'm a major IKEA fan. I do agree they're best at cabinetry and shelving and fabric. I've had to stop myself and focus on *slowly* getting B&B Italia through CL...screw-on legs won't last 20 years...but perhaps who cares? You love it! I bet you'll be happy.

I didn't find it comfortable, either.

Oh what a bummer - now we have to worry about bedbugs in furniture?

What about reupholstering companies - are they constantly spraying for bedbugs?

Kill me now!

If you can find a HomeGoods near you, they have similar styled chairs for $200.

So it would work perfectly, great.

Its a little pricey for IKEA, but its amongst the better quality items, so that justifys the price. I think that $350 for a chair like that its too expensive. I bet you could go somewhere else and spend more for something that isn't quite what you are looking for.

I say go for it. You will live with it for a long time, and if it would work great in your room, its not a waste of money.

"I absolutely fell in love with this Ikea chair and I think it would work perfectly in my space."

First of all, forget that it's from IKEA.

Then:
1. Look at it in person if you haven't already.
2. Sit in it.
3. Examine the construction.

After doing these 3 things, do you still want the chair? If so, then it's worth the cost -- regardless of where it's from!

It's a great chair (I was at Ikea yesterday) and would buy it if I had a need for it. I noted that there were also slipcovers for it on sale, which had a very cool looking graphic drawing of a simple leaf on a black background (they also sell yardage with the same print on it).

Anna - I completely agree with you. If you are in love with something saving a little is not going to please you - it will always be the second runner up chair. Save up for it and go for it!

I couldn't bring myself to pay that much for an IKEA chair, but then I wasn't in love with it. I figured that if I were going to spend that much on a chair, I might as well broaden my search. As it was, I found 2 chairs on CL which I will be reupholstering. (And, yes, you do sit in them and look them over for damage BEFORE you decide to buy them--a good seller will always let you take a bit of time to inspect the merchandise. A bad seller, you walk away from.)

i recently saw the chair was there. NOT worth the $$. Fabric doesn't look or feel "expensive" and if you're going to pay that much for a chair, it should...

Pretty nice for the price, fabric quality is decent and suprisingly comfortable, as i don't really care for armless chairs. wide enough i could reach my arm over the back, pull one leg up to sit sideways to watch TV. i do have an armchair ,ottoman and sofa bought specifically high enough (first good furniture i ever bought) that i can rest my head back to read, knit, sit sideways (5"2', 120lbs). with armchair and sofa, i would consider as an extra occasional chair for a guest (and i get the big chair.) i've never bought upholstered items from Ikea, but if you love it get it and don't agonize over it. Consider your time searching craigslist or the odd thrift store, picking up the chair, purchasing fabric, finding a good upholsterer, lugging it to the shop, waiting for the work to be done, lugging it home.

Don't buy it until you check it out in person, as others have rightly said. I saw it and sat in it. Yes it's a beautiful fabric, but it wasn't comfortable for me, so I wouldn't pay $5 for it. Maybe it would be comfortable for you - everybody's different. Good luck on finding the right chair!

i thought it was pretty comfortable... and i love the three different slipcover patterns-- especially the black and white one!

just order one off target - they have such good deals!

You are paying for what you get, and I think that's a good thing. This is high-end for ikea, so the construction is better than their base models. It isn't as high-end as some other retailers, but you know that going in.

Friends and I sat in this a few weeks ago, and we actually remarked at how comfortable it was.

Good luck.

I love that chair.
Good luck with the decision.
:)

I agree with the person who said to be wary about buying upolstered furniture on Craig's List - because of bedbugs.
I wouldn't buy any used furniture anymore.

AAs for the IKEA chair, I think it is pricey for IKEA. And you can get a similar chair, in your chioce of fabric, at Lazyboy, for not much more.

Wasn't there just a post the other day about chairs that are a very similar style? There were some Target chairs in a kind of funky fabric for $200 or so. I haven't personally sat on the Ikea chair, but I do think that's a little pricey for Ikea. Still, if you like it, maybe you should go for it! I know all too well the feeling of falling in love with a piece of furniture, and no amount of convincing can sway you otherwise sometimes. :)

if i'm not mistaken, ikea has a great return policy, worst-case. which i would imagine applies to all items. just keep the wrapping, even it's only a slip of paper slipped into crevice. ;)

Has anyone actually heard of bedbugs appearing in used furniture?

or any furniture?