When you think of IKEA, you probably think of modern furniture without a lot of frills. Basically, the opposite of the “traditional with a twist” grandmillennial design is known for. And, you would be correct— at least partially. However, there are definitely some items at IKEA that are perfect for the grandmillennial on a budget.
Farlov
We have two Farlov armchairs in our living room, and they are great. We’ve had them for about three years, and they are holding up very well. The only downside is that they are on the larger side—definitely not an accent chair. My other note on this style is that the Flodafors white is not the best with cats. The fabric snags very easily.
In addition to armchairs, the Farlov style is available as a sofa, sleeper sofa, loveseat, or storage ottoman.
Ektorp
The Ektorp is a classic sofa, and is priced at about $400. When it was time to buy a new couch, this was hands down my top choice for a few reasons. The main one, obviously, was the price. Usually, you get what you pay for. However, we’ve had our Ektorp for about four years and it is still going strong.
As a side note, IKEA recently added the Uppland to its product line. It looks similar to the Ektorp, but is a little bigger.
Stocksund
The Stocksund is a pretty seating option featuring an English roll arm. I don’t personally own anything in this style, but it was on my short list of options for our sitting room. Before COVID. Now, our would be sitting room is an office. But, I digress. I can’t say I love any of the color options IKEA offers, but I have a solution for that below.
Henriksdal
The Henriksdal is a parson style dining chair. It is a little on the large side—but is fairly comfortable. I have four of these as dining chairs and really like them. Also, like with most IKEA products, the price just can’t be beat.
Slipcovers for IKEA
For me, the big selling point of IKEA furniture is that the pieces are slipcovered. This makes them so easy to clean. It also makes it easy to change up the look or to replace a cover if one gets destroyed beyond repair. The downside is that IKEA offers limited slipcover options. This is where the internet comes in. There are third party sites that make covers specifically for IKEA furniture. Sharing two of my favorites below.
Bemz
I have purchased from Bemz before and can say that my covers fit perfectly. They offer lots of fabric options (though sadly, most are solid colors), and they have free samples. They also have an online Outlet where you can find some amazing discounts.
Comfort Works
I like Comfort Works because they offer different finishing options depending on the look you’re going for. It’s a great way to customize your furniture even further.
For example— the Stocksund sofa has FIVE different styles in terms of finishing options—piping, skirts, pleats, etc. Below is a mock-up of the “Classic” style. Isn’t it pretty?? Even with the cost of the cover, it’s a fairly economical, and washable, option.

What do you think? Do you have any IKEA furniture? Are you planning on buying some?