The 10 best Ikea products - Livingetc's editor handpicks the absolute gems that add flair to your decor

Buskbo armchair | from $149 without the cushion, Ikea

The interior designer Tamsin Johnson told me that rattan is a great leveller - it brings more formal rooms down a notch and makes entire spaces feel more comfortable. And this chair is really comfortable.

Sharonfrukt plant holder | $7.99, Ikea

We've been scalloped edges a lot lately - not least in the latest lighting trends - and this plant pot is just the right shade of smart olive green to add a little decorative flair.

Vonsbak rug | $69.99, Ikea

Continuing the green theme, and what I love about this rug is how artfully faded it is. It looks like it exudes grandeur, like you could use it in any of your designer IKEA hacks to create the sort of literati vibe that speaks of learned bohemianism. 

Strimmig mug | $2.99, Ikea

We talk a lot in our Ikea kitchen hacks about how handles or paint colors or panels can change how a kitchen feels. But I think the same can be said for some artfully chosen mugs - anything tactile, that feels warming to hold and looks like it was made by a maker. Like this Strimmig mug, which also comes in a more neutral grey.

Hemnes drawers | $279, Ikea

I'm including this here not for the piece itself - sorry, but it's so much more functional than it is chic - but for how wonderful it can be when dressed up well. As Ikea dresser hacks show, this has the potential to go from an ugly duckling to, well, a stunning piece of furniture.

Solklint lamp | $19.99, Ikea

Now, I'm a fan of decorative lighting and feel like no Ikea desk hacks are complete without a little lightbulb moment. And how debonair is this lamp? Hitting all the trends for gold and smoked glass and general dinkiness, at that price, you can - quite possibly - take three.

Svampmal cushion | $4.99, Ikea

We're currently producing a shoot for a Spring edition of Livingetc based around what you can do with this exact shade of yellow. It's brighter than mustard, deeper than canary, shall we go with egg yolk? Anyway, in her first edit, the stylist included this very piece in her living room ideas alongside some way, way more expensive names and designers. And it worked. How's that for an endorsement?

Kolbjorn shelving unit | $59, Ikea

Yet more green (if you start complaining that I only like one color you'll sound like my husband who is now trying to ban me from using any more of it). But again, this piece is just the right shade of olive and, in the corner of a kitchen, looks so smart. Use as the basis for your Ikea storage hacks or just leave as is.

Karismatisk room divider | $59.99, Ikea

This isn't for the faint hearted, admittedly, but I've included it here because, simply, it's really fun. As we've seen in the increase in interest for maximalism in interior design, this injects personality and flair into a room. Fringing? Check, Pattern? Check. Totally bizarre? I'll leave that up to you.

Flottebo sofa bed | $599, Ikea

Yes, it's the eye catching purple that I liked when perusing the best Ikea sofa beds, but realistically, I'd go for it in black or grey. This daybed looks like it belongs in a home designed by Mies van der Rohe, all low lines and unexpected edges.