The 9 Best Home Decor Items from IKEA, According to Designers

Interior designers: They’re just like us—meaning yes, they shop at IKEA.

Why? Because the Swedish home decor superstore that everyone loves actually nails it on a lot of what they sell. (Including their meatballs, obviously!)

Curious to see what’s lurking in the design world’s blue and yellow shopping bags, we asked a handful of decorators about their favorite items for your next IKEA run.

“We love to use IKEA’s STOCKHOLM sofas due to their clean lines and minimal feel,” says Holly Waterfield, interior designer at The Brooklyn Home Company (TBHCo). “To change up the feel of the fabric, we buy slipcovers from vendors on Etsy. The finished look is amazing, affordable, and a wise way to upgrade the look.”

Buy: IKEA STOCKHOLM Sofa, $1,699

“We absolutely love the NYBODA coffee table,” says designer Sherri Monte of Elegant Simplicity. “It’s a perfect size—obviously the cost is where it’s at—and it’s a relatively sleek and simple look.”

For Monte, NYBODA’s clean lines and size typically won’t overpower your room.

“Not to mention, it has an excellent shelf for storage of magazines, laptops, etc.,” she adds. 

Buy: IKEA NYBOA Coffee Table, $69.99

“In my children’s bedrooms we use IKEA duvet covers,” says designer Ashley Moore of Moore House Interiors. “Not only are they super cute, but they are affordable, and you can change them out as your kids grow out of them.”

For a similar to shown ticking stripe pattern, try the BERGPALM set in the gray stripe.

Buy: IKEA BERGPALM Sheets, $19.99-$34.99

“My favorite decor item from IKEA is the EKTORP furniture collection,” says Micheala Harris of Micheala Diane Designs. “Pieces are budget-friendly, perfect for small spaces, and have slipcovers, so they are easy to keep clean.”

Buy: IKEA EXTORP Sofa, $399

Waterfield always buys furniture from IKEA’s collaborations with other designers for projects.

“The latest from this May was shelving from their ÖVERALLT collaboration, where they did amazing work with plywood—and no screws,” she says. “Because they always sell out immediately, we bought a bunch of their wall shelves for future projects.”

Buy: IKEA ÖVERALLT Shelf, $49.99

“I have used IKEA’s BJURSTA wall-mounted drop-leaf table in a small kitchen that I had last year,” says Stephanie Purcell, designer and owner of Redesigned Classics.

“It worked perfect for a two-person seating area and could easily be folded down and out of the way when not in use.” 

Buy: IKEA BJURSTA Wall-Mounted Drop-Leaf Table, $39

Designers definitely shop IKEA for basics, from kitchen items to the bedroom and beyond. One thing that always on Harris’ list? Pillow inserts. She loves the FJÄDRAR, shown here as a 20-inch by 20-inch style, but it comes in a range of sizes—all of which are each $10 and under. This way, you can spend a little more on your pillow covers! 

Buy: IKEA FJÄDRAR Cushion, $6

“The ESPEVÄR mattress base is the IKEA item we use the most, which completely elevates the look of a bed,” says Waterfield. “We often switch out the legs and use either ones we source from Etsy or the STOCKSUND from IKEA, which is meant for that sofa.”

What a great hack! Yes, you can change out your sofa legs, but did you know you could also do that with your bed?

Buy: IKEA ESPEVÄR Mattress Base, $160

Never underestimate IKEA’s curtains, either. Harris is all about the RITVA drapes, which are available in three lengths and three colors: White, gray, and red. Make them look a little more custom by skipping the matching tiebacks and opting for something a little more decorative.

Buy: RITVA Curtains, $17.99