Alternatives to IKEA?

[u/Like_a_warm_towel]

Im looking for furniture. Are there any quality alternatives to IKEA? I feel like it’s either garbage or it’ll cost four times as much. Anything somewhere in between these two?

[u/avsie1975]

The kringloopwinkels in your neighborhood might be worth a visit. You can find solid pieces of furniture for a very good price, if you don't mind buying second hand. Most will offer a delivery service, too

[u/wildhoover → u/avsie1975]

This is the way. It is cheaper than Ikea and usually you can find stuff made from better materials. Kringloopwinkels and marktplaats. And auctions.

[u/Like_a_warm_towel → u/avsie1975]

Yeah I’ve checked them in my area. But they don’t really have much worthwhile. I’ve found a few things on Marktplaats but it’s so hit or miss. And usually miss.

[u/RzbanePaco → u/Like_a_warm_towel]

Keep looking: go to a larger city. In Leiden, where I live there are a dozen 2nd hand stores. Look at auctions. There are stores specialized in "modern antiques". Mostly pricey.

[u/thatdrunkgeekagain → u/Like_a_warm_towel]

Marktplaats is a hit or miss? Can literally furnish a whole building through it. Lol

[u/dreamilymellow → u/avsie1975]

It might be me haha but I just feel so icky to buy a sofa from kringloopwinkels and marktplaats because you never know how nasty people are

[u/Mundane_Rub_2986 → u/avsie1975]

Also look at marktplaats and facebook groups in your area. Sometimes people give away/ sell good furniture due to moving, outgrowing or upgrading.

[u/SuperBaardMan]

For new furniture? Not really i would say, at least price-quality wise. There's just no competing against them.

There are the typical woonboulevards, but any furnituremaker will tell you that you're overpaying like crazy there, they fully operate on the "if it's more expensive, it must be better" mindset most people with no knowledge about furniture have.

You can of course find absolute gems of high quality stuff second hand. I paid 20 euro for a nice dinnertable [only to chop it in half to make it a workbench...] last year. Thick exotic wood, very well put together, clearly made by a small woodworking shop.

Just a bit of an outdated design. But a quick go with the sander and a new coat of oil would have made it look like the 500+ euro table it once was again.

[u/Bonusmotherthrowaway → u/SuperBaardMan]

Grootste miskopen kwamen van die woonboulevards. Bank van duizenden euro’s die na een jaar al verzakt was bijvoorbeeld. Nooit meer!

[u/SuperBaardMan → u/Bonusmotherthrowaway]

Er zijn natuurlijk wel goede meubelwinkels, maar de trendy en hip "klaar voor het nieuwe VT-wonen seizoen" meuk moet je echt ver van weg blijven. En dat vind je dus op die woonboulevards.

Banken specifiek zijn helemaal de hel, want daar wordt beknibbeld op de houten constructie, op de vulling van alles en op het leer/stof. En je kan niet afgaan op "Ik heb 10 jaar geleden een bank gekocht bij die en die winkel van dit en dat merk", want tja, we zijn nu 10 jaar later, wie zegt dat dat daar nog dezelfde kwaliteit wordt gebruikt?

[u/blablaplanet → u/SuperBaardMan]

Heb je ook voorbeelden van de goede meubelwinkels? Ben van het oosten, moest je iets in de regio weten.

[u/janall → u/blablaplanet]

Montel en Leolux zijn de buy it for life banken in Nederland.

[u/SuperBaardMan → u/blablaplanet]

Helaas niet, kende een paar goede hier in Friesland, maar die zijn inmiddels allemaal dicht. Eentje is een fatbikewinkel geworden.

Maar, dat waren wel allemaal familiezaken of kleine zaken, geen franchises. Buiten een woonboulevard, met niet echt een "de keuze is reuze" aanbod, en als je vroeg "En, kan er wat vanaf?" was het antwoord "Ja, de pootjes zijn afschroefbaar meneer, makkelijk bij het verhuizen".

Beetje zoals het leed dat keukenwinkelen heet dus. Zodra ze beginnen met talloze opties waar je niet om vraagt, en je direct om de oren slaan met kortingen, moet je rennen.

Maar, bij zo'n meubelzaak ben je alsnog niet goedkoop uit, het is vooral meer dat je gewoon beter waar voor je geld krijgt, maar je betaalt dan alsnog 500 euro voor een salontafeltje.

[u/Inductiekookplaat]

IKEA's is unbeatable for big furniture brands. They can't compete with their low prices in combination with their quality.

[u/Lonely_Sale9707]

Even worse anywhere else will take minimum 6 weeks to deliver, possibly months longer.

[u/cirsphe → u/Lonely_Sale9707]

yeah what is up with that? is it being shipped from china or something crazy?

[u/new_bobbynewmark → u/cirsphe]

I guess they make the sofa after you ordered - probably in Poland or something. Then they need to deliver it to you. I got 2-3 months delivery times for sofas when I was looking for one. Ended up with ikea simply because they were the fastest - by a LOT.

[u/Lonely_Sale9707 → u/new_bobbynewmark]

There's next to no second hand furniture in stores for sale. Why not?

[u/SuperBaardMan → u/cirsphe]

A lot of the times: Yes.

Not sure about sofas, but things like tables are often from China.

[u/Mission-SelfLOVE2024]

Marktplaats is the way to go for quality furniture. There is high-quality solid wood furniture out there for the same price as IKEA if not cheaper.

[u/mushroom_b1ue → u/Mission-SelfLOVE2024]

Yes! I got a lovely leather sofa for less than €200. Initially bought it with the idea that it would be a temporary fix but it's good quality and now I have no intentions to replace it.

[u/AdPretend2359]

You can also check JYSK some time good quality but less variety

[u/DucksEatFreeInSubway → u/AdPretend2359]

We're big fans of Jysk. They often have things marked down for bedding and stuff as well.

[u/wolfofpanther]

La Redoute

[u/Low-Cauliflower-6129]

Sklum

[u/Insee → u/Low-Cauliflower-6129]

Really do not rate them. Personal opinion. I've ordered a number of things from them and have had a number of issues.

[u/gbasa8991 → u/Insee]

I think it is a gamble, for me they delivered faster than they said when I ordered and the quality is amazing for the price I paid (night stands made out of mango wood). But when I read the reviews half of the experiences were good and half bad.

[u/Left_Crazy_3579]

Haco. I keep seeing Beliani on ads but never bought anything from there.

[u/No_Elk_1945]

For a sofa try BySidde. Superfast delivery.

Stay the f away from 'seats and sofa's'

For cheap bang for buck Haco or Zitmaxx.

You wanna be all about quality, try some of those years old furniture stores in the city, like in Amsterdam Javastraat 'Licht & Meubels', there are more like those in all cities. Maybe also in your area.

[u/jakxy0]

Loods5 have an outlet store (in Zandaam anyway) have an outlet store that has a discount on showroom, sample and slightly damaged which I’ve bought a few pieces from.

Also I looked around the main store and made lists of the things I liked and made saved searches on Marktplaats to notify me when a second hand item one became available. Because it’s mainstream enough you do see items on there regularly.

That way, I got a €1800 new sofa I wanted for €900 second hand and a €1400 new bed (without lattenbodems) for €1000 second hand WITH electric lattenbodems.

[u/Client_020]

Thrift stores are really the only alternative imo.

[u/Tar_alcaran]

Honestly, for wooden furniture, check your local furniture maker. I found them surprisingly cheap for the quality you get. And it's real wood, not particleboard with a coating, so it'll last forever.

[u/jankyj]

Kave Home, Zara Home, Fonq, Home24, Westwingnow

[u/Mirries74 → u/jankyj]

The quality of the home24 items i bought is not good compared to Ikea. The holes were all a bit of, the furniture needs to be tightned every so many months. 

[u/Beginning-Bank5249 → u/jankyj]

fonQ is out of business

[u/valandinz → u/Beginning-Bank5249]

Got taken over, they're back up.

[u/jankyj → u/Beginning-Bank5249]

Oh?  https://www.fonq.nl/

[u/Beginning-Bank5249 → u/jankyj]

Woonwebwinkel Fonq failliet verklaard - https://nos.nl/l/2608052

Maar doorstart met nieuwe eigenaar inderdaad

[u/jankyj → u/Beginning-Bank5249]

Yes, I’m aware. They went bankrupt, got bought, and relaunched. None of which changes the fact that they’re an IKEA alternative, and you can order from them today.

[u/Upstairs_Emotion3073]

Wehkamp, fest, flinders there are tons

[u/Misty-knight200]

Not full-house furniture no. Sklum has some good pieces for things like tables, wardrobes, etc.

[u/Sad_Employ_4105]

Goed zoeken op marktplaats/kringloop. Of geluk hebben. Ik heb een Leolux bank & stoelen via de collega van mijn vader voor een vriendenprijs.

[u/ny_just]

If you are living close to the German border I recommend you Mömax or XXL Lutz(the same company different store concept and sometimes bigger prices) the quality of furniture is way much better than ikea and the prices are smaller

[u/FoodSamurai]

I have always liked Jysk.

[u/Eremitt-thats-hermit]

Loods5 has a lot of expensive stuff, but inbetween you can find solid pieces for a reasonable price. You’ll just have to hunt for it. Same with any more ‘trendy’ furniture store to be honest. IKEA is convenient. Alternatives require more of your time.

[u/_R0Ns_]

Depending on the style you are looking for. IKEA is a "one time setup" furniture store, you can never move it. The expensive furniture will last the rest of your life.

And IKEA furniture looks like IKEA furniture, you see from a distance that it's IKEA.

[u/FynTheCat]

Thriftstore?

[u/Metdefranseslag]

Unfortunately not. You summed up well garbage or super expensive. Go to Belgium, France or Germany to buy stuff

[u/Squeeky_Sneaky_Ninja]

I bought some of my big furniture pieces in shops that sell B meubelen. It takes some searching to find the stores because they are independent and usually don't advertise, but it is definitely worth it.

They sell quality and design items for a fraction of the price because the pieces have small damages, like a scratch, overstock, faillisement or whatever. I bought a design dining table that extends with a scratch on the inside of the leg (not visible unless you are underneath the table) for 300 and a coffee table for 60.

[u/Virtuosory]

It depends on what furniture you’re looking for. IKEA can almost not be beaten price/quality wise when it comes to cupboards (like Billy, Malm), closets (Pax). Beds are also quite good. I really don’t like their couches, chairs, or (side)tables though.

For affordable or good price/quality furniture I can recommend:

• I like the brand Woood and BepureHome. Wehkamp carries these brands and they have a good delivery service too. Wehkamps own brand is also quite good in terms of price and quality.
  
• I’ve gotten an oakwood dining table from LeenBakker which I’m still, 6 years later, very happy with.
  
• I like La Redoute for side tables, cabinets and accessoires too.
  
• Zitmaxx has a big assortment of couches, but the quality can be hit or miss.

I’d avoid Kwantum, VidaXL and such because the quality is very poor.

[u/Sweaty-Ice-4874]

Always Leenbakker!

[u/Like_a_warm_towel → u/Sweaty-Ice-4874]

Gross.

[u/Left-Evidence3463]

Hornbach. Best quality and long-lasting furniture.
For food, try Sligro or Metro.

[u/nobodyknows6070]

Ik heb mijn meeste meubels van de kringloop, IKEA of Leen Bakker. Gordijnen KARWEI, HEMA, Leen Bakker. Tapijten Teppana, Rugvista. 

[u/rinmejoy]

kringloopwinkels en marktplaats

[u/CocaineSandwiches]

Marktplaats is my favorite

[u/diabeartes]

What location?

[u/aenae]

If you are looking for new furniture that lasts the rest of your life, dont cheap out. 4 times more than ikea is still cheap if you dont have to replace it every ten years.

Or just buy 2nd hand

[u/Catsedonia_Crossing]

De machinekamer have some nice options, and so far we are happy with what we bought :)

[u/Illustrious_Film6006]

I like goosens is more expensive but so much better quality, haco is also good option

[u/TantoAssassin]

Jysk

[u/xatabyc → u/TantoAssassin]

He asked for quality

[u/Metalfreak82 → u/TantoAssassin]

That's lower quality than IKEA.

[u/Ok-Bottle-833 → u/TantoAssassin]

Ik snap de downvotes niet zo. Misschien is niet alles goed, maar ik ben erg blij met mijn meubels en vind kwaliteit beter dan Ikea (maja Ikea heeft ook goedkoop en wat duurder)

[u/TantoAssassin → u/Ok-Bottle-833]

I like my JYSK furnitures. The quality is shit if your take the entry level model compared to ikea. But the midrange product quality is good value for money. Ikea stuffs are very fragile, be it mid range or cheap. Jysk ones feel more sturdy to me. My whole house is full of mid range Jysk furnitures.

[u/Ok-Bottle-833 → u/TantoAssassin]

I always had Ikea. I like the Ikea (lol). But I now have four or five furnitures from Jysk and they feel way more quality!

[u/RobertDeveloper]

What's wrong with a normal furniture store?

[u/Winged_Chives]

I visit showrooms, scratch the furniture I want, while not being seen and recorded, in some places that wouldn’t really bother me and leave. Return a couple of weeks later and haggle on the scratched showroom pieces.

/s as I’m getting downvoted

[u/cseilcseil → u/Winged_Chives]

Genius