20 IKEA products I regularly use in client projects
It's rare to find a client who isn't working to some kind of budget. And by the time a client has done a full renovation on their home that budget is even tighter, which can makes furnishing the home post-renovation a tricky problem. Most clients like to have some quality pieces included as part of their furniture styling but are equally happy to mix and match these more high end pieces with items from chain stores that are normally a bit cheaper. One of those chain stores that I do tend to mix in to most projects in some way is IKEA. I don't like to use too much from IKEA as the outcome can look cheap when lots of it is used, but I pride myself on being a hunter of the best finds at IKEA :) and there are a number of pieces from there that I am regularly drawn to.
Today I thought I would share 20 of these products that I regularly use and show you some images from projects where I've used those pieces, in the hope that it will give you some ideas for your own home and how to mix and match these pieces with what you might already have.
1. Soderhamn modular sofa
I haven't used the Soderhamn many times as mostly clients are keen to spend a bit more on their sofa, but I think the Soderhamn is an underrated product from IKEA. This sofa is really comfy and comes in a whole range of modular pieces, which means it's perfect for making in to a day bed or large sofa that the family can all fit on. There are a number of fabric choices on offer, with the Finnsta White being my favourite (although not terribly practical for families so I don't use it much).
If you want further fabric options then you can purchase other sofa covers in a whole range of fabric choices from www.bemz.com which is a company that specialises in custom covers for IKEA sofas (awesome!).
Take your customisation a step further with a set of new legs from www.prettypegs.com, who specialise in legs, handles and doors (see below) for IKEA furniture. I'm pretty sure both companies ship internationally. A great way to take a humble IKEA sofa to something really special.
I've used the Soderhamn Sofa in a number of client projects and will share a couple of photos below. My client at CastleCrag was brave and went for the blue fabric, which has been teamed with a coffee table from The Wood Room. Another of my clients, an older couple whose kids have now left home, went with white fabric for a fresh and clean coastal look.
Soderhamn modular sofa, as used in a project by The Little Design Corner
Soderhamn sofa, as used in a project by The Little Design Corner
2. Stockholm Rug
The stockholm rug is probably my most used IKEA piece. It's got a really modern look that won't date and ties in with so many different styles of decor. It comes in two sizes which makes it work in both large and small rooms and it is equally at home in a formal lounge room as it is in a kids bedroom. I've even recently used it in my kids' cubby house - as you'll see below!
IKEA Stockholm rug, as used in Coogee Project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Stockholm rug, as used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Stockholm rug, as used in a project in Texas by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Stockholm rug, as used in a project in Rose Bay by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Stockholm Rug, as used in a corporate reception fitout by The Little Design Corner
The IKEA Stockholm rug used in my kids cubby house, by The Little Design Corner
3. Hektar Floor Lamp
I love this Hektar floor lamp. It's got an industrial vibe and it's really cheap, which is great for clients who are on tight budget. I've used this lamp often and it also now comes in white (which I've not yet used). This is a great budget lighting option and it also has other variations in the range, such as track lighting, pendant lamps and a clamp table lamp, which I really like as well.
IKEA Stockholm rug and Hektar lamp, as used in Bondi project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Hektar floor lamp, as used in Double Bay project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Hektar Floor Lamp, as used in a project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Hektar floor lamp, as used in Bondi Beac project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Hektar floor lamp, as used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
4. Trestle Desk (design your own combo)
The trestle legs and table tops in this range are all interchangeable and also really cheap. The table tops are a good size for spreading out work and the finished desk looks much more expensive than what it looks. I've customised this desk before by using the IKEA trestle legs and then getting a much larger piece of table top made by a local supplier, which created a desk for two (I used 3 trestles for this - one in the middle as a support). Unfortunately I haven't yet got a photo of that project finished but it's a good option to consider if you got the room and need a workspace for more than one person.
IKEA Trestle desk, as used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
5. PS 2012 Dining Chair
6. PS 2012 Drop Leaf Table
This table and chair set works well together, particularly in small spaces or where the table isn't needed often. The sides fold out and can seat up to 4 people, or with sides down tuck neatly in a corner and seat two. The chairs are made of plastic and easy to wipe down if you have kids or if you want to use them in an AirBNB rental, or similar. Indeed that's what I used this set for recently, in a project I styled for a client who was going to put the apartment on AirBNB for rent. I love the style of the chair for a more formal dining setting as well though and it's very comfy to sit in as well.
IKEA PS chair and drop leaf table, as used in Bondi project by the Little Design Corner
IKEA PS chair and drop leaf table, as used in Bondi project by the Little Design Corner
7. Mosslanda Picture Ledges
These picture ledges are another regularly used item in my projects. I mostly use these for displaying kids books in bedrooms or playrooms, but they also work well behind a sofa to display a selection of picture frames or in hallways. Little kids love having their books facing towards them and I find this a really nice alternative to art in kids spaces as their bright books look really inviting and playful.
IKEA picture ledges, as used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA picture ledges as used in a Randwick project, by The Little Design Corner
IKEA picture ledges as used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
8. Eneryda kitchen knobs
I've used these knobs a few times in client kitchens when they have been trying to keep costs down a bit. They work well in a shaker style kitchen and also are an inexpensive option for a streamlined modern kitchen as well. Below I used these in white on the upper cupboards in a modern kitchen with flat panel doors. I've recently also used them in a Hampton's style shaker kitchen. I find the quality of IKEA really good for things like knobs as they wear well and are good for kitchens that get hard use, e.g. with young families! These are a simple, classic design that won't date and they are very cost effective!
IKEA eneryda cabinet knobs, as used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
9. PS Cabinet (red, blue or white)
I love using this cabinet in kids bedrooms and play spaces. The blue and red options provide a great pop of colour and I have used them as bedside tables quite a bit, with the added benefit of having extra storage space for kids' toys and books.
IKEA PS Cabient, as used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA PS Cabinet, as used in Randwick project, by The Little Design Corner
IKEA PS Cabinet, as used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
10. PS 2014 Table and Bench
This inexpensive table and bench seat set has been designed predominately for outdoor use but I've used the bench seat a few times in indoor styling, particularly when I've needed to fill in an awkward space. The design is very simple, which I like and the legs fold up, which make it a great setting for small balconies or when you might want to pack it away now and then.
IKEA PS Bench, as used in Bondi project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA PS Bench, as used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA PS dining table and bench, as used in Bondi project by The Little Design Corner
11. Agam Junior Chair
I love these junior chairs as they are a modern, high end looking design but they are really great for kids as they bring them up to the table height to eat comfortably with the family. In the recent renovation of my own home I picked these IKEA junior chairs before I found the dining chairs!! I was then lucky to be able to find some lovely dining chairs to match. Most people don't even notice the toddler chairs are there, which means my home caters really well for my kids' needs while still having a sophisticated feel to it.
IKEA agam junior chair, used in Roseville II project by The Little Design Corner
12. Bondis Clock
This simple styling item is a great one for the kitchen. Very cheap and practical too!
IKEA Bondis clock, used in Roseville II project by The Little Design Corner. Image by Esteban La Tessa
13. Gjora Bed frame
I've not used this bed frame yet but I've had my eye on it since it was released earlier this year. I also saw it was used in The Long Jetty renovation by Kyal and Kara recently, which reminded me that I need to get it in to an upcoming project soon!
As used in The Long Jetty renovation by Kyal and Kara
14. Liasbo Desk
This is a lovely compact desk that works well in kids rooms or as a dressing table in a master bedroom. It is made of solid wood (not veneer) and has a nice tactile feel of real wood. I've used this a few times recently and the little drawer is really handy for storing pencils or makeup.
IKEA Liasbo desk, used in Randwick project, by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Liasbo desk, used in Bondi Beacn project by The Little Design Corner
15. Stuva Storage System
Another regularly used IKEA product, the Stuva storage system is really versatile and adaptable for kids bedrooms and playrooms. You can use two ends to store toys and put a piece of wood on top to create a kids desk, or create an unlimited range of combinations to store clothes, toys and books. The door fronts come in a range of colour options and IKEA recently also brought out a range with colourful handles. I would probably use this product in every second project as most of my clients are looking for clever ways to hide away kids toys and clutter!
IKEA Stuva bench, used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Stuva used in Bondi project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Stuva used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
Stuva used as storage in the cubby house, by The Little Design Corner
Stuva used as storage in the cubby house, by The Little Design Corner
16. Odger dining chairs
I've just used these new dining chairs in a recent project, but I've not yet got photos of them in situ. These moulded plastic chairs are made from recycled materials and up close they almost have a look of terrazzo about them, which I love. I love the idea of mixing and matching a few colours with an oak dining table, or for a more sophisticated look just use one colour. I think the pale pink is probably my favourite, but I also love the navy.
17. Ribba Picture Frames
I regularly used Ribba picture frames in projects for posters and other inexpensive pieces of art that I find. Putting art posters in frames like these are an inexpensive way to get art up on the wall. I like looking for the art posters at places like The Poster Club or Norsu Interiors. Also Leo and Bella have a great range of kids posters.
IKEA Ribba frame used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA RIbba frame used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Ribba frame used in Roseville project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Ribba frame, used in Double Bay project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Ribba frame used in Double Bay project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA ribba frame used in Rosevile project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA Ribba frame used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
IKEA ribba frames used in Randwick project by The Little Design Corner
18. Besta Storage System
The Besta Storage system is another system I regularly use, particularly when clients have limited money to spend on joinery. This is another customisable system and in previous projects I've used it as a TV unit, bench seat, kids toy storage and also as a wall unit in the dining room. You can get lots of ideas for how to use this system from another post I wrote here - IKEA Besta Hacks.
Another tip is to customise the Besta system - and lots of other furniture from IKEA with legs, handles and doors from Pretty Pegs
19. Ypperlig bench
Another item I've not yet used but have ben coveting is this bench from the Ypperlig series. This series is a partnership that IKEA has had with Hay Design and has resulted in a whole range of beautiful and simply designed pieces with an IKEA/Hay touch. Most of this range sold out really fast, but at the moment this bench still seems to be available for purchase, so get in quick!
20. Some final favourites
To round off my top 20 I'm included a few of my other favourite pieces from IKEA's range as I couldn't decided which of these were my favourite! I can't go past mentioning Hay's redesign of the classic IKEA blue bag either - a stylish way to take home all your IKEA purchases when you next visit. The white tub chair is really cheap and makes a great pool side option for little (or big!) people wit wet bums!
I hope this post has helped you to pick out a few items that might work in your own home from IKEA's range. I know lots of people hate visiting IKEA so don't forget to check out my post here about my tips on how to plan your next visit and make it as stress free as possible!
Design your home in SketchUp
If you want improve your work with design clients or you are about to start renovating or remodeling then you will love SketchUp.
With this software you can mock up an entire home in 2D (floor plans, joinery/millwork elevations, lighting and electrical plans and more) and 3D (renderings and perspective drawings) so you can picture exactly what it will look like when it is finished plus prepare your technical drawings for use with your clients, trades and contractors.
Learning SketchUp will save you time, money, mistakes and so much more! It is a well known piece of software in the interior design and architecture industries and will give you a solid technical drawing skill that will immediately upgrade the professionalism of the work you are doing.
I teach an online course for beginners that is focused specifically on using SketchUp for interior design purposes. We have had more than 10,000 students come through the course with so many fantastic projects designed and built!
We have all sorts of students in the course including designers and architects, cabinet makers, home renovators/remodelers, kitchen and bathroom designers, event planners, landscape designers and design enthusiasts.
To find out more about the courses we have on offer click the link below. And reach out if you have any questions I can help with :)
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Clare x