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We never panic when we see an IKEA item that’s soon to be discontinued. Odds are, the Swedish retailer will bring it back in a few years, as it’s done time and again, most recently with a whole collection dedicated to vintage revivals from the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. The only catch is, when IKEA reissues a product from the past, it often comes with a fresh name and in slightly different colorways and materials. It’s not exactly the same.
If you want the real deal, you’ll have to turn to places like Chairish, 1stDibs, and Etsy, along with local thrift stores, to hunt for the vintage version. These sites are often the only way you’ll ever get your hands on iconic pieces like the Storvik lounge chair by Carl Öjerstam (pictured above). The rattan piece had a limited production between 2001 and 2005 and has yet to hit shelves again. To get a preowned version in good condition, you’ll have to spend more than $2,000, which is true of many vintage IKEA pieces that are super-rare and lightly used. But fear not: If you know what to dig for, you can actually find some reasonably priced furniture. Here are seven items we see popping up on marketplaces all the time that are under $1,000.
Memphis-Style Side Tables by Tord Björklund
IKEA designer Tord Björklund is probably best known for his Skye chaise from the ’70s, which usually lands on the market for around $3,000 these days—ouch. If you’re on a tighter budget, try looking for his postmodern side tables. Most of them come in punchy colors (including orange and red) that’ll resonate with Memphis design lovers, but there are also a number of chrome and glass versions out there for around $200.
Savo Lounge Chair by Monika Mulder
This low lounge chair by Monika Mulder from 2001 was sort of a happy accident, as she once explained in an interview. Initially, the factory’s prototype was much bigger than she’d imagined, but when they sent her the initial sample, they mocked up a half-size version to save on shipping costs. It turned out to be the perfect scale. While intended to be a garden chair, we think it would look right at home in the corner of a bedroom.
Uri Stools by Per Ivar Ledang
Searching for your next DIY? Imagine these squiggly stools from 1995 reupholstered with an equally funky zigzag stripe or a luxe dark red mohair. The pieces are so plentiful that you can totally justify buying a set of three and peppering them throughout your home.
Any Beechwood Chairs From the 1970s
IKEA has started to bring back a few of its supermodern bentwood chairs from the 1970s, such as the springy Poang chair (based on the ’72 Poem chair). The biggest difference is these pieces are now usually made out of birch veneer instead of solid wood like back in the day. We are suckers for old-school finds with sling-style seats, but if you’re lucky, you might even find one that’s swathed in a chic plaid.
Wire Metal Chairs by Niels Gammelgaard
As a part of IKEA’s revival Nytillverkad collection, it included the bowl-shaped wire armchair first created by Niels Gammelgaard in 1983. Once called the Jarpen, it’s now dubbed the Skalboda and still comes in classic black as well as orange. In light of this near-identical launch, we suggest shopping around for other wire chairs that have yet to make a return, like Gammelgaard’s Axvall rocking chair from the early 2000s or his über-simple folding chair.
The Enetri Shelf by Niels Gammelgaard
Good news: The popular Enetri shelf (also by Gammelgaard) is apparently trickling back into stores soon. But if you’re like some fans who aren’t happy that the latest iteration features particleboard instead of real wood planks, keep your eyes peeled for an authentic version on Etsy.
Diana Safari Chairs by Karin Mobring
The closest IKEA product you can find in stock that resembles Karin Mobring’s Diana chair from 1972 is the Sjalso chair, but its lack of embellishments make a strong case for scooping up an original elsewhere. The O.G. starred sand-colored fabric that wound around the back, where it was affixed with leather straps. If you want to make the ultimate splurge, hunt for one of the cognac leather versions.