These 7 IKEA Pieces Have Lasted Me 7+ Years (and They’re Still Going Strong!)

When my now-husband and I first moved in together, we realized we needed to fill up our home with all the essentials, fast. And since we were decorating on a budget, our first stop was — you guessed it — IKEA. While you might not think of IKEA as “forever furniture,” fast-forward seven years, and I’m happy to report that many of the pieces we purchased back then are still going strong. 

We use most of these items every single day, and they’ve become some of our favorite purchases for our home. Yes, they’re budget-friendly (which we love), but most importantly, they’ve lasted and fulfilled their intended purposes. Here are my seven favorite IKEA items that have stood the test of time for my family.

When I say these drawer organizers have changed my life, it’s only a slight exaggeration. After laundry days, my clothes started off neatly folded and inevitably ended up a disheveled mess. Not anymore, thanks to these babies. I’ve since bought more sets for my husband’s and my son’s clothing drawers, and I also use them in our bathroom closet to stash small hand and face towels.

If you’re limited on kitchen cabinet space, you need these shelf inserts in your life. They’re simple yet so impactful for doubling your storage space in a visually appealing way. They’ve held up really nicely, even between moves.

I’ll admit I wasn’t totally in love with this piece when I first purchased it, but I’ve really grown to appreciate its simplicity. The drawer is so roomy, which is handy if, like me, you need books, journals, and skincare products next to your bed at all times.

There’s a reason the ALEX drawer unit is a bestseller — it’s just good. The design is clean and simple, and looks great next to a desk. I’ve used it to organize makeup, office supplies, and craft or scrapbooking essentials. The one con I will mention: It’s heavy even when empty, so it’s not ideal if you plan to move it around often.

The STORKLINTA drawer set (formerly from the MALM collection, I believe) is a staple in our bedroom. It’s modern and simple, plus it pairs well with different bed frames and furniture styles. The drawers themselves are spacious and glide smoothly. It’s a 10/10 for the price.

I can’t speak for IKEA’s current lineup of dinnerware sets, but if they’re anything like the ones I purchased almost seven years ago, you’re in good hands. The sets I have and still use every day have held up well, minus a few chips here and there, which is to be expected with daily use.

I love how multipurpose IKEA baskets are, especially these ones. I have a few sprinkled throughout my home and have used them to hold different things including faux plants, throw blankets, and my son’s books and toys.