You may well think that high-end designers charged with furnishing super-luxe homes spend their days curating priceless pieces for their prestige clients.
Yet one favourite (albeit unlikely) place for top drawer stylists is within reach of all for us. Namely Ikea, home of the easy-on-the-eye functional flat pack and which has become the upmarket design world’s not so guilty secret.
‘Clients respond in a bemused but enthusiastic way when I suggest sourcing a few things from Ikea,’ says garden and interior designer Harriet Worsley (worsleydesigns.co.uk).
Garden and interior designer Harriet Worsley
‘I think they enjoy the bargain, and find it funny that pieces from Ikea can sit well beside furniture from very high-end brands. I really do think that to give an interior space life it needs to be mixed: high and low, old and new.’
Whether it’s furniture which maximises available space or simply the broad range of styles that can slot into every aesthetic, it`s easy to see why it has such broad appeal.
‘The reason these Ikea pieces work so well in high-end homes is that they are incredibly versatile and can be elevated with the right styling,’ says Martha Lorains of Select Interiors Cheshire. ‘One of the great things about Ikea is that it is very trend-led.’
So given Ikea is good enough for even the fanciest homes, what key pieces do designers recommend sourcing from the Swedish homeware giant? Here’s our guide…
Kitchen cupboards
Ikea carcasses are a favourite of designers who add bespoke doors to create a luxurious appearance. These are then fitted to the cabinets.
‘I love the METOD kitchen carcasses for their solid construction and flexible, modular design,’ says Vicky Floros, lead designer and owner of the Vicky Floros Studio (vickyflorosstudio.com).
‘By pairing these carcasses with bespoke, high-quality doors, you can create a luxurious kitchen that looks custom-made, all at a fraction of the price you might expect. No one will ever know it’s Ikea.’
Item: METOD High cabinet with pull-out larder £477
Rugs
Super stylists zone in on Ikea rugs as a way to achieve affordable luxury through a wide range of styles.
‘I’ve just used an Ikea Novling rug for a client in Fulham, and they absolutely loved it,’ says garden and interior designer Harriet Worsley.
‘We were creating a cocktail area at one end of their sitting room, with little stools from Soho Home and a beautiful velvet chair by Jonathan Adler, and the rich navy blue rug worked perfectly with the Harlequin wallpaper.
‘The clients jumped at the idea – I mean everyone loves a bargain, particularly one that looks as expensive as this rug does in the space.’
Item: NÖVLING Rug, low pile, dark blue/yellow-brown £99
Storage units
Ikea are known for their storage units – and with a few creative tweaks these items easily take their place in expensive homes.
‘One of my go-to Ikea pieces is the Kallax storage unit which comes in a variety of sizes and finishes,’ says Martha Lorains.
‘This is ideal for using to form a table, desk or even a breakfast bar with storage underneath. Adding bespoke frontials creates a more luxe look or keep the shelves open and add in stylish boxes, baskets or other storage solutions for a curated finish.’
Item: KALLAX Shelving unit £40
Sofas
The airy look of the SÖDERHAMN sofa series is another favourite with upmarket designers. Not least, says Vicky Floros, for its stylish, modern lines and modular flexibility.
‘It’s really great how easily you can mix and match different fabric covers, allowing you to totally change the vibe without making a significant investment,’ she says.
Item: SÖDERHAMN Three-seat sofa £650
The dining table/desk
The Tarsele extendable table may be marketed as a place to sit and eat. Yet, according to Sarah Burghard, this smart piece – with its warm oak veneer – has gone down a treat with many high-end clients looking for a desk solution either for the ever-flexible home office or a teenager’s bedroom.
‘This is a winner with my clients because it’s so simple and stylish,’ says Sarah. ‘So long as it’s not used for any hard knocks activities it looks slick and simple.’
If it is being used as a dining room table in a prestigious location, Sarah recommends pairing with stylish chairs.
Item: TARSELE Extendable table £499
Floor lamp
A carefully curated Ikea floor lamp can suggest it has been procured with a hefty price tag.
‘The Japandi floor lamp could pass for something that costs ten times more with its stylish origami paper shade and sleek, curved stand,’ suggests Martha Lorains. ‘This style would work just as well in a Scandi minimal room or with mid-century furniture pieces.’
Item: KUNGSHULT/SKAFTET Floor lamp, arched £82
Armchairs
Another hidden gem to slip into the staging of a prestigious home is an armchair which combines function and style. And the Poaeng, with its chic curved lines in bentwood, is perfect for neck support too.
Item: POÄNG Armchair £80
Spare room wardrobes
‘Prestige homeowners still want their spare rooms to suggest bespoke joinery,’ says interior designer Sarah Burghard (theburgharddesignassemblage.co.uk).
‘That`s why Ikea wardrobes work so well. These spare room wardrobes are also often over-spill for out-of-season clothes that don’t want to be cluttering up the dressing room. So, they do have a multipurpose. I have found that sometimes the cost saving is so massive that they also become used in the main bedrooms too.’
Item: RAKKESTAD Wardobe with sliding doors £199
Dining or occasional chair
The right kind of dining chair can semaphore style and expense – even if it has been bought at a fraction of the price.
The Scandinavian design of the Stockholm chair with its softly curved back, armrests and walnut veneer looks like it’s from a much higher-end supplier, explains Sarah Burghard.
‘I tend to suggest this as an occasional chair to be sprinkled around the house, either placed with a small table in a large bedroom ala hotel style or for an office or hobby room. It’s the shape that’s so lovely – not sure you’d want to sit on one for too long but again they punch way above their price tag.’
Item: STOCKHOLM Chair, walnut £155
Coffee table
Thanks to its smoked glass tabletop, powder-coated tubular steel legs and marble effect base, the FRÖTORP coffee table has become popular with smart set designers since it can work in both a modern and classic interior setting.
And its round shape makes it something of a talking point – as well as the perfect platform on which to position those expensive coffee table books.
Item: FRÖTORP Coffee table £129
Spare bed
The Hemnes day bed is an unashamed Ikea classic – even with those who have no need to watch the pennies. So much so that there`s no need to camouflage its origin.
‘Everyone knows it is an IKEA staple, but it just so often fits the bill for a nursery, annex or teenager’s room – especially with high-worth clients who recognise they probably won’t be used much,’ explains Sarah Burghard.
‘Its popularity is due to its style versatility. It genuinely looks at home amongst contemporary minimalism and Georgian antiquities. It’s a ‘just in case’ bed but the tongue and groove finish appeals to my higher end clients who are all for multi-functional pieces that don’t cost the earth, especially for children and teenage rooms.’
Item: HEMNES Day bed with three drawers £299
Artificial plants
The right kind of greenery can really elevate the look of your home. Though since they require lots of attention, Ikea’s artificial plants are a hit with the smart set who may well be shuttling between homes.
Not least the FEJKA artificial potted plants, says Martha Lorains, who uses them for such clients – especially since no watering can is required and there are no dead leaves to sweep away as they fall on a bespoke wooden floor.
‘Artificial plants need no looking after, apart from a dust every now and then, but will bring the outdoors in and can help to boost creativity and reduce stress and anxiety.’
Item: FEJKA Artificial pot plant £4