Yes, Tylko is worth it if you’re looking for stylish, customizable modular storage and are comfortable with high-quality engineered wood instead of solid wood. The brand offers well-made, precision-manufactured shelving, wardrobes, and cabinets that provide a near-bespoke fit and modern Scandinavian look without the bespoke price tag.
Tylko's value comes from its impressive customization tool and consistent European manufacturing standards. While it's more expensive than IKEA, the quality of materials and hardware is a noticeable step up, offering good durability for the price. Here's what you need to know before buying.
How Is Tylko's Quality?
Tylko's quality is consistently good for the modular furniture category. Because their products are made with CNC precision in European factories, you get a reliable fit and finish that mass-market flat-pack furniture often lacks.
- Materials: Tylko primarily uses high-density engineered wood panels (MDF or particleboard) with durable melamine or veneer finishes. While this is not solid wood, the materials are engineered for stability and are heavier and more robust than cheaper pressboard counterparts. Hardware is typically solid steel or zinc alloy.
- Construction & Manufacturing: The brand's key strength is its precise manufacturing process in Poland and Germany. Automated CNC machining ensures every joint, hole, and connector fits perfectly. This results in stable, sturdy, and visually seamless furniture once assembled.
- Durability & Longevity: With proper care, Tylko furniture holds up well for 3-5 years or more. High-cycle soft-close hinges and drawer slides add to its lifespan, and the finishes are resistant to scratches from everyday use. Their pieces are rated for significant weight but will last longer if not overloaded.
- Common Complaints: While largely positive, some customer reviews mention veneer chipping at the edges after a few years of heavy use or accidental impact. The engineered wood can also be susceptible to warping in environments with very high humidity, so it's best avoided for non-ventilated bathrooms.
Is Tylko Good Value for the Price?
Tylko offers a strong value proposition for anyone who needs storage that fits a specific, non-standard space. You're paying a premium over mass-market options, but you're getting customization that would otherwise cost thousands more from a custom cabinet maker.
Price Positioning
Tylko sits in the mid-range market. A custom bookshelf can run from $400 for a small unit to over $1,800 for a large wall system. A typical two-door wardrobe might cost between $800 and $1,200. This places it significantly above brands like IKEA but well below high-end bespoke furniture companies or brands like Room & Board.
What You're Paying For
The price reflects several key benefits: extensive customization of size, color, and layout, high-precision European manufacturing, a sophisticated Scandinavian design aesthetic, and a direct-to-consumer model that eliminates retail markup. You are essentially paying for a perfectly fitted, stylish piece without the logistical hassle and extreme cost of true custom cabinetry.
Where You Get Good Value
- Oddly Sized Spaces: Getting shelving for an awkward alcove, a TV stand for a specific wall length, or a wardrobe that fits perfectly under a slanted ceiling.
- Built-In Aesthetics: Creating a floor-to-ceiling library wall or a perfectly fitted entryway cabinet that looks like a custom built-in for a fraction of the cost.
- Personalized Storage: Designing a wardrobe or sideboard with the exact combination of drawers, doors, and open shelving that fits your specific needs.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Standard Needs: If a standard bookshelf or cabinet from a brand like IKEA fits your space and meets your needs, there's no reason to pay the premium for Tylko's customization.
- Heirloom Ambitions: If you are looking for solid wood furniture that will last for generations, Tylko's engineered wood construction isn't the right choice.
- High-Humidity Environments: The MDF and particleboard can be vulnerable to warping over time if placed in a damp basement or a poorly ventilated bathroom.
Tylko Quality by Category
Because Tylko specializes in a modular system, the core quality of materials and construction is consistent across all product lines. The main difference lies in the application and configuration.
Shelving & Bookcases
This is Tylko's flagship category. Custom height, width, depth, and color allow for everything from small accent shelves to massive library walls. The CNC-milled panels and sturdy connectors ensure shelves resist bowing under normal loads (always check weight limits). For wall-to-wall or floor-to-ceiling units, the value is excellent. Prices typically range from $400 to $2,000+.
Wardrobes & Cabinets
Tylko wardrobes offer a highly customized interior layout with a sleek, minimalist exterior. With options for drawers, hanging rails, and shelving, they function beautifully and look incredibly polished. Quality relies on the door hinges and drawer slides, which are generally well-regarded and rated for tens of thousands of cycles. A good 2-door wardrobe system costs $800-$1,500.
Sideboards & TV Stands
These pieces benefit most from Tylko's size customization, allowing you to get a TV stand or sideboard that is perfectly proportional to your television or wall space. The construction is solid, and the inclusion of doors and drawers with soft-close mechanisms provides a high-end feel. They offer good support for audio-visual equipment and are priced competitively from $500 to $1,500.
Our Verdict: Is Tylko Worth It?
Tylko is an excellent choice for design-conscious consumers who need personalized furniture to fit unique spaces. The quality is a definitive step-up from budget flat-pack brands, offering a durable, stable, and stylish product that performs well for its intended use.
Quality Grade: B
Tylko earns a B for its impressive manufacturing consistency, high-quality finishes, and durable hardware. Joints fit perfectly, and the assembled piece feels solid and stable. It loses points only because it relies on engineered wood, which inherently has less long-term durability and resistance to moisture compared to solid wood furniture.
Value Grade: B
For the level of customization offered, Tylko provides very fair value. The direct-to-consumer model keeps pricing reasonable, and the ability to get a precise fit avoids the wasted space and awkward look of ill-fitting, off-the-shelf furniture. While not cheap, it bridges the gap between mass-market and high-end custom beautifully, making it a smart investment for solving specific storage problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tylko furniture solid wood?
No, Tylko furniture is made from high-quality engineered wood, specifically MDF and particleboard with durable veneer or melamine finishes. This allows for the precision and customization central to their brand but means it is not heirloom-quality solid wood.
How difficult is Tylko furniture to assemble?
Assembly is generally straightforward thanks to the clever color-coded, slot-together system and detailed instructions. Most users can assemble a standard unit in under an hour without special tools. However, very large or complex custom configurations can be more challenging.
Does Tylko ever go on sale?
Yes, Tylko runs sales and promotions several times a year, often around major holidays like Black Friday or during seasonal events. Signing up for their newsletter is a good way to be notified of upcoming discounts, which can make their furniture an even better value.
Is Tylko better than IKEA?
Tylko is generally considered a step up from IKEA in aesthetics, material quality, and customization. You're paying more for a more refined finish, precision manufacturing, and the ability to design furniture to your exact dimensions. If an off-the-shelf IKEA product fits your needs and space, IKEA is a better value, if you need a specific size or a more built-in look, Tylko is the better choice.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
