12 Red Flag Home Accessories To Skip Buying At IKEA

IKEA offers modern items for every room in the house at an everyman price tag. Whether you're browsing online or wandering through their winding showrooms filled with ready-to-assemble furniture, eventually you'll stumble upon countless decor products ranging from textiles to tableware. Cheap and chic, there are designer-approved IKEA items that always get high marks from home improvement enthusiasts. But questionable material, safety, and consistently negative reviews are major red flags when it comes to IKEA products like placemats, strip lights, and other home accessories you should definitely skip.

One of IKEA's secrets to keeping their prices low is using a lot of recycled polyester in its products. Made from cheaply acquired plastic waste, the material is "low-cost and durable, which makes it really suitable for products such as mattresses, curtains, cushions, rugs, and many other products," according to Nils Månsson, IKEA Category Manager of Textile Products (via IKEA). Although the company's sustainability goals are admirable, recycled plastics release dangerous chemicals that can be hazardous to your health. Even when turned into comforters, throw blankets, or rugs, they don't always feel great either. Some of IKEA's best sellers, like the FRAKTA shopping bag and POÄNG chair, have achieved cult-like status, but with over 12,000 products for sale, having a few duds on the shelves is simply unavoidable. 

As one reviewer put it, "Who'd think you'd need to read a review on a placemat?" At under $2 each, it's easy to understand why so many people are tempted to buy IKEA placemats to make a statement in the dining room. But don't let the playful GRÖNFINK or VÅRKLYNNE designs fool you. The overall quality was a letdown for customers who complained that the corners curled up and the plastic placemats simply wouldn't lie flat. The cotton SVARTSENAP placemats were another miss due to curled edges, shrinking, and deep creases.

At $17 each, it's easy to understand why some IKEA customers felt disappointed by the HӒSTVISKARE. Described as a "mini chest of drawers", customers say it's flimsier than the cardboard packaging it comes in. The $10 GJӒTTA lidded storage bin has similar reviews. Reviewers say this cardboard box is nothing like other functional KALLAX inserts. Described as "a storage box in velvet", customers say the boxes look cheap, and warn all but the lightest contents fall out the bottom.

The recycled polyester stuffing in IKEA's BERGPALM comforter may be covered in a durable 100% cotton, but that didn't keep it from burning in the dryers of multiple customers. It isn't an isolated problem. Reviews for the LUKTVICKER comforter are even worse, with several customers reporting the inside "melts", and "gets crunchy" after being dried on low heat, according to IKEA's care instructions. One person even said the plastic poking through the fabric felt like glass shards. Although, experts agree you should launder new bedding before putting it on your bed, you'd never expect doing so would create a hazardous situation.

At first glance, the TIGERFINK looks like a simple toy storage idea that will help keep your playroom tidy. Although DIY assembly is a given when you're buying from IKEA, several customers said the steel frame was impossible to put together because the included screws were too large and stripped easily. Many were frustrated that the polyester mesh component came in a separate box, often necessitating a second trip to the store. One called it "the worst IKEA product I've ever purchased." If your heart is set on mesh, try the TROFAST storage boxes instead.

The ROLFSTORP dimmable LED light looks sleek but may be anything but safe. In addition to a P65 warning about lead exposure (via IKEA), it's made with a hard plastic containing bisphenol A (BPA). There's are debates about whether BPAs cause reproductive and other cancers, according to the National Library of Medicine. This, combined with reviews describing this product as "junk", we just can't recommend it. Leave the MISSMYRA light behind, too. Along with the same material concerns, customers say the adhesive pads don't stick.

It's not easy to find the perfect rug, and quality issues plague IKEA customers who say that although the BARNDRӦM's pink heart design looks sweet, it's actually a stain magnet. The product description notes that the recycled polyester in this rubber-backed rug is made from ocean-bound plastic picked up in coastal areas. But reviewers say that the fibers look sparse and quickly show dirt that's impossible to clean. One resorted to a hard bristle brush and tub full of hot water after vacuuming didn't work, an impractical task for keeping a child's room clean.

Nothing beats an icy drink on a hot day, but the SPJUTROCKA lidded ice cube trays leave IKEA customers cold. Sold in a two-pack, several users found the lids "useless", complaining that they don't snap on or stay in place. Others were frustrated by how hard it is to extract the frozen cubes. "The tray is too stiff to twist," one reviewer explained. Several people had to let their trays thaw out before they could get the ice cubes to release. Thinking about adding these to a trendy beverage station in your kitchen? We suggest putting those plans on ice.

Made from a blend of acrylic, wool, and polyester fibers, the DYSTERMAL throw blanket offers a trendy irregular texture and neutral color. Although cozy throw blankets look good in every room, IKEA's customers say this one sheds like crazy, leaving white fluff and fuzz on everything it touches. One reviewer said to make sure you stock up on lint rollers if you plan on bringing this item home. Quality issues like shedding, shrinkage, and pilling are common complaints when it comes to other throw blankets, too, including the SANDBRODD and RUNFRID.

Dozens of IKEA customers were disappointed that the ÅKERBӒR is more of a showcase for home accessories than a functional greenhouse for plants. Made of polyester coated galvanized steel, many reviewers say the overall construction is flimsy and full of gaps that don't hold humidity. Windows were often cracked or shattered on delivery. Others who received theirs intact said it took hours to peel off the protective film. If you don't want to resort to zip ties, super glue, silicone, or elbow grease during assembly, explore other ways to decorate your home with plants.

There are countless ways to keep your closet smelling fresh, but it turns out the ADLAD scented hangers from IKEA aren't one of them. Most customers agreed that they couldn't smell any of the promised amber, citrus, or cypress fragrance, panning this product as "rubbish", "useless", and "a waste of money". The company's home fragrance products are hit and miss. Although several scented candles are customer favorites, others, like the ENSTAKA and HEDERSAM, get mixed reviews. If you can't resist a little candlelight in your home, try IKEA's bestselling JӒMLIK, a vanilla option offering 40 hours of burning time.

Despite their high-tech and low-profile appearance, customers say some of IKEA's portable wireless chargers simply don't work. Many of negative reviews reporting no, slow, or intermittent charging, phone positioning difficulties, and occasional overheating, make the LIVBOJ and NORDMӒRKE chargers ones you should skip. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recently issued a recall for another IKEA charger, the VARMFRONT, because it poses a fire hazard due to overheating. It's not the first charger recall this year. IKEA also urged customers to stop using the ÅSKSTORM USB charger because it could cause thermal burns and electric shocks (via IKEA).

In theory, the ÖBONӒS suction cup wall shelf is brilliant. Intended for organizing your bathroom vanity or kitchen backsplash with a drill-free design that sticks to smooth surfaces, the storage solution doesn't measure up for most IKEA customers. Most found that the suction cups wouldn't hold for long, even when users were careful to stay under the 2 pound weight limit when filling it with various items. Although reviewers agreed that the product looked great, there is general consensus that, as one user put it, the shelf is functionally "hopeless".