laurenashley's Profile

Hello everyone! I am also a grad student on a limited budget, and my apartment is largely Ikea. However, I don’t buy my Ikea furniture new – it’s all "previously enjoyed" furniture from Craigslist! This is great because it's much less expensive (my ‘Klippan’ was only $60 including delivery, and my dresser was free!), and helps alleviate some of the environmental concerns associated with Ikea furniture because you’re re-using. I'm currently finishing a two-year degree in Vancouver, and I will be moving back to Toronto in the fall. I'd love to be able to spend more time scoping out great vintage pieces and refinishing them, but I'm only here for two years, so it's hard to justify the investment of time when you know you will have to turn around and sell everything again when you leave! Another advantage of buying Ikea items used from Craigslist is that you know the exact dimensions of the piece you are buying, so there are no surprises (usually) when you go to pick it up, which is important in a small space. My partner and I tried to break up the Ikea-ness of our space by building some pieces, like a 2-person desk and an ottoman. Several visitors have commented that our place looks like it should be in a magazine, so I think we have done fairly well with our budget and time constraints! It's also fun that things like the Poang chair can become conversation pieces. Even one of my profs has one in her office!