Whether I'm planning a redesign or I've got a new room that needs fully furnishing, I always tend to shop in the same place – IKEA.
The blue and yellow allure and modular designs have continuously and cleverly been sold to me as the most budget-friendly option for an entire collection of furniture. But, is that actually the case?
Don't get me wrong, I know there's other options. In fact, the market has largely been dominated for decades by two juggernaut home retailers – Lowe's and Home Depot.
How do they hold up against IKEA though? I sometimes struggle to find clarity in which is the more affordable choice.
So, I thought I'd put it to the ultimate test. I mocked up a complete bedroom design and found similar items across IKEA, Lowes and Home Depot to compare the prices.
Spoiler alert: you might be shocked by the results.
Different stores, different lures
Pros and cons of IKEA
Pros:
- Competitively priced
- Unique, space-friendly designs
- Lots of stock
- Ease of collection
Cons:
- Build-it-yourself flat packs
- Potentially expensive shipping costs
- Less than 100 stores in the US
Pros and cons of Lowe's
Pros:
- Price match guarantee
- Stock diverse and exclusive range of brands
- Over 1700 stores across US
Cons:
- Less stock
- Strict discounts
- Less choice
Pros and cons of Home Depot
Pros:
- Extensive range of brands
- Lots of stock
- Over 2000 stores in the US
Cons:
- Concerns over delivery
- Not as affordable
- Warehouses overwhelmingly large
Cost comparison
To carry out this cost comparison, I set out to find items from each store that looked incredibly similar. Of course, if you're planning a different aesthetic, you can shop around and compare all three.
But to fully furnish a bedroom with a bed, wardrobe, dresser, and nightstand, here's what the costs had to say.
Retailer |
IKEA |
Lowes |
Home Depot |
Bed |
STJÄRNÖ bed frame, Anthracite (Queen) $229 |
Mondawe bed frame, Black metal (Queen) $209 |
VECELO bed frame, Black metal (Queen) $232.20 |
Wardrobe |
$199.99 |
$217.41 |
$235.10 |
Dresser |
STORKLINTA 6-drawer dresser, White $249.99 |
FUFU&GAGA 6-drawer dresser, White $229 |
FUFU&GAGA 6-drawer dresser, White $265.72 |
Nightstand |
$149.99 |
$209.99 |
$190.41 |
Total cost |
$828.97 |
$865.40 |
$923.43 |
It's also important to note that there can be additional costs when purchasing online, especially with delivery (varies dependent on location), but also including some potential extra costs for fittings, removal and storage fees.
Verdict
So, it turns out while IKEA is still the most affordable during this price comparison, it's not by as far as I would have thought.
For Lowe's, it's less than a $40 difference. Home Depot is considered widely to be the more premium priced of the three, but still only came in around $60 more than Lowe's.
What was surprising about Home Depot though, was that three of the items chosen were the same product as Lowe's, yet more expensive.
I did also notice that some of Lowe's and Home Depot's prices changed a little during my comparison, whereas IKEA tends to stick to their prices (unless during a sales event).
Yes, IKEA is still the most affordable, but there are other things to consider, like delivery costs to you and accessibility to stores. It wasn't the total washout that I was expecting from IKEA, especially as far as Lowe's is concerned.
I know that when I make up a mood board for my next redesign, I'll be creating the look across all three retailers rather than assuming that I know the answer.
