Will IKEA Cabinets Hurt Your Resale Value?

Chances are that you have at least one IKEA piece in your home, whether that's a wardrobe, a dresser, or a classic cabinet. The Swedish retail giant has made a name for itself by designing affordable and aesthetically minimalist pieces, so it's no wonder that the products are so enduringly popular. However, when it comes time to pack up and sell, will furniture that's clearly from IKEA put potential buyers off? Though the answer should be no, it's true that there are some more discerning buyers who may be put off by an obvious EKET cabinet or two.

People viewing your home may have some misconceptions about IKEA because of the generally lower prices, which could have negative consequences when you're trying to market your house in the best light you can. We've gathered up the information you should know about how IKEA furniture can impact the value of your home and what you can do to help offset these misconceptions.

To start with, materials. Unless you have an unlimited budget, you'll quickly find that custom kitchens are extremely expensive and will eat up the money you have put aside for any renovation projects. However, a high price does not necessarily equal high quality. In fact, many expensive cabinets will be made from the exact same melamine wood mix. Of course, there may be differences in construction, such as door knobs, legs, and things like drawer space, but the main difference is that you're paying a lot more for a product that's probably made from the same material as an IKEA cabinet.

Plus, you can easily change the details if you don't like them, which then feeds into the overall versatility of IKEA cabinets. Using the brand's furniture will not only help you stay within budget, but their simple design means you can customize them to your liking — for example, choosing a different color paint, swapping out the handles, or even attaching new legs for a more stylized look. This also helps to give a cabinet quite a lot of people own a more exclusive vibe.

In addition to customizing, it's key that you decorate the rest of a room well. Many people find that it isn't so much the IKEA cabinets themselves that are off-putting but how they are styled. If your kitchen looks cheap and basic, it won't entice buyers. However, if the exact same IKEA kitchen cabinets are in a room with good lighting, shiny appliances, and a clean, neutral feel, they probably won't be noticed as much.

Finally, if you maintain your cabinets well, you should find that there is no impact on your resale value at all. You may occasionally interact with someone who dislikes all things IKEA, but generally, people cannot tell what makes a more expensive cabinet special compared to an IKEA HAVSTA or EKET. Nevertheless, if you are worried, consider focusing on updating other parts of your home and adding in small details to further help the resale value.