11 IKEA Pieces Worth Keeping in a Living Room
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Most of us have at least one IKEA piece in the living room, and many of us have six. There is no shame in that. The trouble is that flat-pack furniture can look temporary, like a first apartment that never grew up. The question is not whether to keep it, but which pieces are worth keeping and how to make them look like they belong.
Some IKEA designs have been around for decades because they are simply good: sturdy, well proportioned, and easy to adapt. Others were never meant to last more than a move or two. The eleven below are the kinds of pieces worth holding onto, with small hacks that make them look settled. None of these ideas need power tools beyond a screwdriver. The living room edits you already own post is a good companion if you are deciding what stays.
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1. The classic tall bookcase
The tall, simple white or birch bookcase is one of the most useful pieces any living room can have. It holds books, baskets, and plants, and its plain lines suit almost every style. The trick is making it look built-in rather than borrowed.
Place two or three side by side along one wall. Push them tight together and level them carefully with shims. Fix them to the wall with the included anchors, which is a safety step and also what makes them look permanent. If the ceiling is low enough, add a strip of trim across the top to close the gap. Paint the trim, and even the bookcases, the wall color, and the whole wall reads like a library.
Fill the shelves loosely. Books standing and stacked, a few baskets on the lower shelves, one plant up high. Leave gaps.
Get the look
2. The cube shelf
The cube shelf is famous for a reason. It works as a bookcase, a room divider, a TV stand, a bench, and a toy store. In a living room it is most useful laid on its side as a low console, with baskets in some cubes and books in others.
The easiest upgrade is legs. Screw-on furniture legs lift a low cube unit off the floor and make it look like a sideboard. Add a wood or stone top for a finished edge. Use the same basket or insert in every other cube so the pattern looks deliberate.
Get the look
3. The bentwood armchair
The bentwood lounge chair with the springy birch frame is one of the most comfortable affordable chairs ever made. It is light, easy to move, and looks good from every angle. The cushion is what makes it look cheap or nice.
Swap the cushion for a thicker one in linen, leather, or sheepskin. Add a lumbar pillow. Set it at an angle by a window with a small side table and a lamp. The chair suddenly looks like a design piece, because it is one.
Get the look
4. The basic sofa with a new cover
Affordable IKEA sofas are often well built underneath, and their covers are made to come off. That makes them one of the easiest sofas to refresh. A replacement cover in heavier linen, velvet, or a performance fabric changes the whole look. Several independent makers sell covers sized for the most popular models.
Swap the legs too. Taller tapered wood or brass legs lift the sofa and make it look lighter. Together, a new cover and new legs can make a budget sofa look custom.
Measure the sofa before ordering a cover, and check the model name on the tag under the cushions. Covers made for the exact model fit far better than universal stretch covers, which tend to wrinkle and slide. If you have pets or children, choose a performance fabric that can go in the washing machine. A sofa that can be cleaned easily is one you will relax on rather than worry about.
Add a pair of good feather pillows and a wool throw, and the sofa will look like it came from a much more expensive shop.
5. The low media unit
The long, low TV bench is a good, simple base. Its weak point is usually the plain front and the cheap feel of the doors. Add new handles, such as leather pulls or brass knobs, and the unit instantly looks more expensive. Some makers sell replacement fronts in oak or cane designed to fit.
Keep the top lightly styled, and run cords through the back. A tidy, low unit is one of the best affordable answers to the TV wall question.
Get the look
6. The simple side table
The small, square side table that costs very little and comes in every color is useful precisely because it is so plain. On its own it can look flimsy. Give it a heavier look by setting a tray or a slab of marble or wood on top. Paint it the wall color so it disappears, or a bold color to make it an accent.
Use two as a coffee table in a small room, pushed together. Separate them when you need side tables for guests.
These tables are also very light, so put a little weight on the shelf underneath, such as a stack of books or a basket, to keep them steady. If you have small children, a light table can tip. Felt pads underneath keep it from sliding on hard floors.
7. The pine storage system
Unfinished pine shelving with simple uprights and shelves is easy to adapt, and it looks better with age. Stain or oil the wood to a warm tone, or paint it. Use it for books, records, or plants. Because it comes in parts, you can expand it as your collection grows.
It suits relaxed, Scandinavian, or rustic living rooms best. Keep the styling casual and natural to match the raw wood.
8. The glass-door cabinet
A tall cabinet with glass doors gives a living room a place to show off ceramics, glassware, or a book collection without dust. It looks more expensive than it is, especially in a darker color. Add an LED strip inside to light the shelves in the evening.
Keep the inside organized by color or type. A cabinet full of mismatched things looks like storage. A cabinet with a few groups of similar items looks like a display.
Anchor the cabinet to the wall, as with every tall piece. Glass doors make it heavier at the top than it looks. Put the heaviest items on the lowest shelves, and keep fragile pieces at eye level where they are easy to see and less likely to be knocked.
9. The large flat-weave rug
The flat-weave rugs in simple stripes and checks are durable, washable, and affordable. They are especially good in busy living rooms with kids and pets. Layer one under a smaller wool rug for texture, or use it alone in a casual room.
Always use a rug pad. Flat-weaves are thin and slide on hard floors.
10. The paper floor lamp
The tall paper floor lamp is one of the best inexpensive lighting choices anywhere. It gives soft, even light and looks good in almost any style. Put it in a corner or beside the sofa, use a warm bulb, and it will light the room more pleasantly than an expensive fixture with a harsh shade.
Group two of different heights for a softer effect. A tall one in the corner and a shorter one beside a chair spread the light around the room, and the paper shades glow like lanterns when the rest of the room is dim. Dust the shades gently with a soft brush.
11. The plain picture frames
The simple wood and black frames are inexpensive and look good with a wide mat. Put large prints in them, hang them at the right height, and nobody will know they cost so little. The mat is what makes them look custom.
Buy frames one size larger than your print and use the mat to fill the space. It always looks more considered.
Get the look
Tips Before You Start
- Anchor every tall bookcase and cabinet to the wall.
- Swap legs and handles before replacing a piece.
- Use replacement covers to refresh sofas.
- Paint or oil plain pieces to suit the room.
- Leave gaps on every shelf.
- Use wide mats in simple frames.
FAQ
Which IKEA living room pieces last the longest?
Simple solid-wood or well-built shelving, bentwood chairs, and sofas with removable covers tend to last the longest.
How do I make IKEA furniture look expensive?
Change the legs and handles, add a new cover or top, and anchor bookcases so they look built-in. The hundred dollar room refresh has more inexpensive upgrades.
Is it safe to hack IKEA furniture?
Simple changes like new legs, handles, and paint are safe. Always anchor tall pieces to the wall.
Can affordable furniture work in a grown-up living room?
Yes. Mixing affordable pieces with a few older or handmade ones makes a room look collected. The quiet apartment details post shows how small touches help.
What should I avoid keeping?
Pieces made mostly from thin particleboard that have already been moved several times. If a bookcase wobbles even after tightening, or a drawer no longer runs straight, it has done its job. Replace it with something sturdier or a secondhand solid-wood piece.
Budget living room furniture can look settled and personal. Keep the good pieces, give them better legs, handles, and covers, and let them sit beside things with more history. The room will look like yours, not a catalog.