Inspired by another post I saw on here, I thought I would create a ranking of the best IKEA products in case that is helpful to people! My #1 criteria in this list is the quality of the materials, but I'm also evaluating for price and style. I started out thinking I would just make a list of my favorite products and then some of my least favorite, and then it became too fun to comprehensively evaluate all of them, so here are all the beds! Let me know if you’d like me to do another category :)

Here are my credentials: I studied furniture design for my master’s degree, did a furniture design program in Scandinavia for my study abroad, and this program included a tour of IKEA of Sweden where we learned about their manufacturing and marketing strategies. I’m also just a lifelong IKEA enthusiast.

BEDS

THE GOOD LIST

TARVA

A classic. Solid pine, affordable, stainable, paintable (yes, even with your questionable craft paints or leftover latex wall paint. Haha but don’t. Please use oil-based enamel and do it outside). I used to have this bed in my early 20s and it was great.

NEIDEN

An even cheaper and more minimal version of the TARVA. Solid pine, VERY affordable. An excellent choice.

VEVELSTAD

Extremely minimal with no headboard. You could add your own or embrace it. Powder-coated steel, we love to see it. Very affordable, comparable to the TARVA.

VEVELSTAD (With rattan headboard)

I mean sure, why not? Don’t buy this if you have cats because they will destroy it so fast, but otherwise if boho is your vibe go for it.

GRIMSBU

Very minimal, just a rail for a headboard. All powder-coated steel. Cost comparable to NEIDEN.

STJÄRNÖ

Ok this one isn’t for everyone because it’s very old-fashioned, but it’s all steel and kind of cute. A little more costly than a TARVA or VEVELSTAD but still in a reasonable price range. Has a footboard which the others don’t have.

VITARNA

Oh, you want a CANOPY BED, you say? Look no further. All steel, very durable, and also an incredible price???

TÄLLÅSEN

Oh, this is nice! Steel structure, no fiberboard, upholstered look. I don’t love synthetic fibers and wadding but if you want upholstery this is the one I would suggest. And it comes in a color, so points for that! You can get gray-green or light beige. It is on the pricier end, but I think this one would be worth it for durability of materials and style.

UTÅKER

I’ve always been enchanted by these stackable twin beds. Great for kids, guest rooms, daybeds if you need a couch by day but a bed by night, etc. Solid pine. Very affordable. 10/10.

THE MID LIST

SLATTUM

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the names? This bed has a metal structure which is good, and polyester upholstery. I don’t love the quality of the upholstery or the use of polyester fabric.

YTTERVÅG

Personally, I think this is ugly but if you want a canopy bed and the white powder-coated steel isn’t doing it for you, this could be your best option. It is solid painted pine and only comes in black and gray-brown. But it is DISGUSTINGLY expensive, so that’s your trade-off. I wouldn’t do it, but at least it won’t fall apart if you do.

HEMNES

Mid-tier in terms of price. Personally I think it’s ugly, but you’re entitled to your own (wrong) opinion. It’s solid painted pine and comes in black, dark gray, and white, so you have options.

SAGESUND

My investigation reveals that the materials on this are mostly good in terms of structure. It looks very comfy in terms of upholstery with those plush cushions for the headboard and I like that the structure supporting them is also stretched fabric, that should be very comfortable for reading in bed. Don’t love the synthetic fibers but it is what it is at this point. It’s on the mid-list because it’s expensive and only comes in millennial greige (they call it brown. lol).

VADHEIM

This one also has a confusing mix of materials. It seems like it could be mostly okay but it’s unclear where the fiberboard is being used. The upholstery is attractive and it comes in sage green! Very fun. It is, however, very expensive.

RAMNEFJÄLL

This is the bottom of the mid list, bordering on the s*** list. It has a mix of materials. The structure is mostly steel and laminated veneer lumber so that’s ok. The fiberboard seems to be contained to the headboard and footboard, so it probably isn’t super integral structurally. I still hate the use of polyester wadding and fabric (although they insist the wadding is smolder-resistant). If you really really really want a fully upholstered bed look, this one is okay. It’s mid-tier on price.

THE S*** LIST

BJÖRKSNÄS

Contains a mix of solid wood and fiberboard covered with a thin wood veneer. Very expensive. Don’t do it.

MALM

This is all fiberboard. Don’t let me catch you buying this bed. It will fall apart so fast.

KLEPPSTAD

This one looks all fine and well because the structure is metal and it has the fabric cover for the headboard except for the fact that they FILLED THE HEADBOARD with fiberboard for no good reason. 0/10. Don’t buy this. It’s also unnecessarily expensive for what it is.

NORDLI

I don’t care that it has built-in drawers for storage, get some storage boxes and a bed skirt for a better bed. This is 100% fiberboard. It’s also hideously expensive by IKEA standards. NOPE.

NORDLI (With headboard and storage)

I know we love an integrated night stand but WOW this is ugly and bad. All fiberboard. No.

BRIMNES

Another bad and expensive storage bed. We’ve been over this. Don’t do it.

SONGESAND

This is ugly and expensive and bad materials and I hate it.

GURSKEN

No.

TONSTAD

They try to trick you by using some solid pine for the vertical structure and some real wood veneers, but underneath it is all fiberboard. One of the most expensive IKEA beds. Hard pass.

TUFJORD

I know it looks very stylish, but I do not trust that fiberboard structure underneath all that luxurious velvety upholstery. Also very expensive. Steer clear of this one.

TÄRNKULLEN

This is pretty much all fiberboard. Don’t. Do it.

IDANÄS

The materials on this are so mixed it’s actually very confusing to make sense of how it’s listed. There’s a mix of solid pine and fiberboard but it seems that some of that fiberboard is integral to the structure of the bed. I’m putting this on the s*** list.

GLADSTAD

Ok the main structure of this bed is actually steel so that’s pretty good, but the storage drawers are fiberboard which are not going to hold up, especially with something so high-use. It also only comes in gray and I’ve decided to be picky about that. We are done with millennial gray. Make it stop.

HAUGA

Too much fiberboard. I also think the beige and millennial gray are boring. Mid-tier pricing. I don’t think it’s worth it.

We found a mattress that we liked at IKEA, but I wasn't really impressed by any bed frame.

Overall, we thought the beds we saw in the store were short. I figure we'll have to get a box spring, too.

Our main concern is blocking off underneath the bed. We need the bed to either reach the floor or be structured in a way that we could create a barricade underneath. (Raised, moving drawers present a challenge.) We want to prevent our cats being unreachable in the event of an emergency. Also, they are up to no good under there. Vomit, stolen bread loaves, etc.

We need a king size which narrows down the offered styles.

We also prefer a wood look to black or white finishes, but we'll settle on color for function and reliability. (I'm a light sleeper, so I REALLY need a quiet bed.)

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Does anyone have any good or bad experiences with IKEA beds?

The picture is a comparison of beds I considered buying.