Revealed: Interior designers share their all-time favorite IKEA products

These interior experts have a (not-so) secret soft spot for the Scandinavian giant - these are their top picks

Interior designers favorite IKEA products, IKEA shelf with books
(Image credit: IKEA)
Megan Slack
By Megan Slack
published

Interior designers, they're just like us. 

Yes, it seems the experts at the very top of the design industry love picking up a Swedish interior jewel just as much as everybody else, as they have confessed their admiration for the famous furniture powerhouse. 

From the BILLY bookcase to the Poäng Chair, we couldn't help but wonder which timeless IKEA icon is an interior expert's go-to from everybody's favorite home decor chain. So, we caught up with three interior designers to discuss which pieces they admire the most and how they've styled these products at work and at home. 

 Tom Bartlett

Lead architectural designer at Waldo Works has a soft spot for IKEA's $4.99 paper lights, which he often uses to illuminate his clients' house. 

'IKEA has always done some good paper lighting, and I do not think you can ever beat paper shades with a good warm LED dimmable bulb, of course,' Tom confessed. 

He continued: 'At Waldo Works, we always find it super handy to have a few REGOLIT Lanterns (£1.75/ $4.99) around to put up while clients wait for the other pendants to arrive, they look great on and often end up being the pendant.'

Interior designers favorite IKEA products

(Image credit: IKEA)

Rande Leaman

It seems the Los Angeles-based designer, Rande Leaman has something in common with actor Jared Leto who debuted his IKEA KALLAX shelves in the backdrop of his interview at the Golden Globes earlier this month, as she too shared her admiration for the KALLAX. 

'My favorite IKEA product is the KALLAX bookshelf in white lacquer with coordinating storage bins,' Rande revealed. 

'We have several installed in our design studio that house our fabric and tile samples. It's an easy and affordable way to display books or store items for your home office or your kid's rooms. A fun design suggestion is to install wallpaper behind the shelves for added interest. There are so many great ways to use the Kallax shelving units.' 

IKEA KALLAX shelf in a bedroom

(Image credit: IKEA)

 Jordan Cluroe & Russell Whitehead

Creative duo Jordan and Russell from 2LG Studio concluded the list with what is, perhaps, the most unexpected guilty pleasure - the FEJKA hanging plant. 

'It may not be the first thing you think of when you think of IKEA, but for us, we find they are brilliant for plants,' the pair shared. 

'We often pick up a fig tree or two when shopping at IKEA. We are not sure what their secret is, but they always have a great selection of really healthy plants in a range of sizes.' 

See: Retro IKEA furniture is now collectable - your pieces from the 90s could be worth a fortune

IKEA KALLAX shelf with plants

(Image credit: IKEA)

Now we have all the excuses we need to fill our oversized blue IKEA bag until overflowing - we can't really argue with designers, can we?

Megan Slack
Megan Slack

Megan is the News and Trends Editor at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes. As the News Editor, she often focuses on emerging microtrends, well-being stories, and celebrity-focused pieces.


Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. 

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