8 IKEA Products That Changed Our Homes (& Lives) for the Better

If the countless articles we’ve written about IKEA and its vast array of budget-friendly and fashionable products is any indication, we love the Swedish brand (not because we’re being paid to say that, but because we truly and honestly do). And while we’ve covered numerous reporting angles—IKEA Does Boho! Best IKEA Products for Small Living Rooms! IKEA Solutions for Renters!—we’ve never really dipped into what we personally love over here at Apartment Therapy headquarters…until today.

With what feels like an unending catalog of home goods, it can be tricky to parse out what’s worth the trek (and worth the headache of the store’s labyrinth layout). So I decided to poll our editors on what pieces they personally love in their own homes that came from IKEA. Here’s what everyone had to say:

My home has IKEA pieces aplenty, from floating shelves to bookcases and beyond, but if I’m picking based on the most impactful for my own home, I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t say BESTA. The addition of two BESTA units (a three-door unit alongside a two-door unit) completely transformed the storage in my apartment. While it pulls its weight as my media cabinet, it also holds all my seasonal candles, small kitchen appliances, big cookie sheets and more. It takes up a whole wall in my living room, but because it’s white, it’s pretty unassuming and doesn’t eat up too much visual space. — Me! (Arlyn Hernandez, Design)

“RASKOG! It’s a veritable storage workhorse that solves many a small space issue by its slim and mobile nature. Mine contains my makeup and beauty products. Wish they’d bring back the turquoise, though.” — Tara Bellucci, News & Culture

“To me, these are the perfect wine glasses and the fact that they are two bucks each is the icing on the cake. Lower and sturdier (i.e. less likely to be tipped over by a cat or child) than a stemmed glass, yet nicer to hold than a stemless. You can serve hot drinks in them if you prefer and they’re also a great size for puddings, yogurt parfaits and other sweets. And, did I mention they’re stackable?” — Carrie McBride, Managing Editor

“I have major love for the understated but hardworking TARVA. It’s surprisingly sturdy and lasted me a few years, and the headboard is simple as pie to wrap some foam and fabric around for customizing.” — Adrienne Breaux, Tours

“I may go bankrupt $3 at a time, because I can’t leave IKEA anymore without picking up an INGEFARA plant pot. Plants love living inside porous terra-cotta pots, and I love the clean lines and low price tag on these indoor and outdoor staples.” — Taryn Williford, Lifestyle

“These are amazing for a small space. I can stack them all up when I’m not using them, so they don’t take up much space and when people come over, they can be seats for a dinner party, or just little tables that you scatter around for people to put their drinks on.” — Nancy Mitchell, Design

“I have two picks, one big and one small. First up, the big one: SEKTION kitchen cabinets (also seen at the top of this post) have blown me away and I just put them into my newly renovated house.” — Maxwell, CEO & Founder

“And here’s my small IKEA favorite: The ROTERA lantern is an amazing, evergreen tea light solution that I use winter through summer, inside and out…they never get old!” — Maxwell, CEO & Founder