I'm an interior designer – the bargain IKEA buys that will make your home look more expensive – and what to avoid | The Sun

AN INTERIOR DESIGNER has revealed the three bargain IKEA buys that will instantly make your home look more expensive – and the cheap items you should always avoid.

Bilal Rehman also suggested finding pieces made from a range of materials, or those with a strong voice, will help make your home look more expensive. 



Known online as @bilalrehmanstudio, the home interior expert regularly shares styling tips with his 417,900 followers. 

In a new TikTok reel, he said: “This, not that with your favourite luxury interior designer, IKEA edition. 

“Because if you’re going to pinch pennies, you might as well pinch them right. 

“Let’s start with lighting.”

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First up, Bilal warned his followers against the bargain FLUGBO light, suggesting that it looks cheap. 

Currently, this is only available in the US and comes in at $47.99. 

Instead, she suggested the FORSÅ, priced at just £19, and available in five different colours. 

He said: “Lighting is crucial to any environment and a lot of times I see people opt for this table lamp, which makes no sense to me.”

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“It looks super basic and looks like you almost got at a bargain bin. 

“When in comparison, for less of a price you can get this one, which has way more style to it, looks almost vintage-y, kind of like an architect’s lamp, and it kind of sits on the desk and has a voice of its own. 

“I would definitely go for that. 

“Moving on to coffee tables. Don’t even get me started on this f***** coffee table. 

“It is literally a part of the IKEA starter pack that everybody and their mum has had for the past 50 years. 

“It is hideous, it literally looks like a box with four legs. Diss it.

“I don’t care how many different colours and finishes they come out with, it’s a no from me. 

“Instead, I would opt for this one.”

Rather than the LACK, priced at £45, Bilal recommends the VITTSJÖ Nest of tables, now £75. 

Both are available online and in-store. 

He continues: “This one has mixed materiality, you have metal, you had glass, you have multiple levels. 

“It’s more sculptural. It just makes way more sense for today’s interior design styles, and it doesn’t instantly scream IKEA. 

“Now let’s move on to armchairs. 

“This chair right here is an IKEA classic. It literally gives me rocking chair with no rocking. 

“I hate it, it is so basic, they’ve come out in 50 different fabrics with 50 different wood finishes. It literally just looks cheap and dingy, no matter which way you do it.”

The interior designer insisted shoppers leave the POÄNG on the shelf, and instead consider the Havberg, currently only available in the US, and priced at $499. 

He continued: “So instead, I would opt for this one. This is actually a part of their new collection and it kind of has this modern, masculine voice to it. 

“Comes in two different leathers, it has a really beautiful presence, and it’s actually very comfortable to sit in. 

“I know it’s a little bit more of a splurge, but if you’re going to spend money on a piece, you want it to at least play the part so this is the one I would go for.”

Fans loved his honesty, with the video gaining more than 7,900 likes and 73,400 views. 

In the comments, TikTok users shared their reactions, but sadly not all shared his opinions. 

One wrote: “Not you dissing my comfy and beautiful poang chair.”

“Glass table tops never make sense,” commented another. 

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A third added: “The preferred chair gives me office chair turned side chair.”

Someone else put: “…and that is my coffee table.”

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