Things Not to Buy at IKEA (In Our Experience)
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We love a good IKEA trip as much as anyone. It’s great for affordable basics and clever storage, and walking through the showroom always makes us want to redo our entire home. But not everything we’ve bought has worked out. After a few years of trying, testing, and replacing, here are some items we probably wouldn’t repurchase — and why: 
1. Bamboo Products They look beautiful at first with their light wood tones and clean lines, but we’ve found that IKEA’s bamboo items don’t hold up well in humid environments. Things like bamboo racks or shelves are prone to mould, especially in bathrooms or kitchens where there’s moisture in the air. Even with ventilation, some of our pieces developed spots and became unusable after a while. They’re nice for dry areas but probably not worth it if you’re planning to use them near water. 
2. Drawers Without Tracks We once bought a small drawer unit without proper sliding tracks, thinking it would be a simple fix for clutter. Big mistake. These drawers are hard to open and even harder to close properly. They often get stuck or misaligned, and over time they become more frustrating than functional. You end up yanking them open or having to hold the whole unit down just to get something out. We’d definitely recommend going for drawer units with smooth-glide tracks instead. 
3. Floor Mats Without Rubber Backing Some of the floor mats at IKEA look cute and feel soft, but the ones without rubber or grip backing can be dangerous. We used one in the bathroom and it slid around every time the floor got even slightly wet. It’s a slipping hazard — especially if you’re walking around barefoot. If you’re buying mats from IKEA, always check that they’ve got non-slip backing or be prepared to add your own anti-slip layer. 
4. Cooking Utensils We’ve tried a few of their cooking utensils and found them to be a bit hit-or-miss. Some melt easily near high heat, others stain quickly, and a few are just oddly shaped or uncomfortable to use. Cleaning them can be annoying too — sauce gets stuck in the corners or seams. They’re fine as temporary tools or if you only cook occasionally, but if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it might be worth investing in higher quality ones.
16 July
