Structube is a Canadian brand specializing in trendy, mid-century modern furniture curated for urban living, often at a slightly higher price point. In contrast, IKEA is a global Swedish powerhouse focused on affordable, function-first Scandinavian designs, known for its flat-pack assembly and extensive, practical product range.
Let's compare them side by side to help you decide which brand is the right fit for your home.
Structube: The Modern & Trendy Choice
Structube has carved out a niche as Canada's go-to for affordable, modern furniture that doesn’t compromise on style. They are known for their sleek, contemporary pieces that mirror current design trends, making it easy for young professionals and city dwellers to furnish their homes with fashionable yet functional items.
- Product mix: A curated selection of home furnishings, including sofas, beds, dining tables, chairs, storage, lighting, and décor. Their focus is on key furniture pieces rather than an all-encompassing homewares selection.
- Style/vibe: Clean-lined, contemporary, minimalist, and mid-century modern inspired. You’ll find lots of neutral palettes, metal accents, and simple silhouettes that feel very of-the-moment.
- Price point: Mid-range affordable. Sofas typically run $400–$700, dining tables are in the $300–$800 range, and bed frames often cost $300–$600.
- Quality: Construction primarily uses engineered wood (MDF) with veneers, metal frames, and durable fabrics. The quality is solid for the price, though it's built more for style than for heirloom longevity.
- Fit & Sizing: Many pieces are designed with apartments and condos in mind, offering compact footprints and efficient designs that work well in smaller living spaces.
- Shopping experience: Operates online and through an expanding network of physical showrooms across Canada, creating a more curated, boutique-like atmosphere compared to warehouse retailers.
Structube is the perfect destination for shoppers who want on-trend, modern furniture for urban living without a massive investment.
Shop Structube: structube.com
IKEA: The Affordable & Functional Solution
IKEA is a world-renowned brand that revolutionized the furniture industry with its affordable, well-designed, flat-pack products. Its mission is to offer functional and practical home solutions to the masses. From first-time apartment dwellers to families, IKEA’s massive inventory and low prices make it an almost universal starting point for home furnishing.
- Product mix: An exhaustive range of items for every room in the house, including kitchen cabinetry, full bathroom vanities, textiles, plants, cookware, and Swedish meatballs. If it goes in a home, IKEA likely sells it.
- Style/vibe: Quintessentially Scandinavian minimalist. Pieces are simple, light, and highly functional, rooted in simplicity and clean design principles. The neutral and adaptable look fits into a huge variety of homes.
- Price point: Extremely budget-friendly. Sofas can start as low as $200–$400, beds from $150–$500, and iconic items like the KALLAX shelving unit are exceptionally cheap.
- Quality: Uses a mix of materials, including particleboard, fiberboard, and solid wood for higher-end items. While notorious for its particleboard construction, many product lines are surprisingly durable and stand up well to everyday use.
- Fit & Sizing: Offers an enormous range of sizes for every type of room, from tiny studio apartments to large suburban homes. Their modular systems are especially versatile.
- Sustainability: A global leader in retail sustainability. IKEA makes significant commitments to using recycled and renewable materials (like FSC-certified wood) and aims to be climate positive.
IKEA remains unbeaten on cost, practicality, and selection, making it the ideal choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking dependable, everyday furniture.
Shop IKEA: ikea.com
Structube vs. IKEA Comparison
Price Comparison
There's a clear difference in pricing here. IKEA is consistently cheaper than an average Structube product. For example, a basic IKEA sofa might cost $250, while a similar-sized entry-level sofa at Structube will likely start closer to $400. This pattern holds true across most categories, from bed frames to dining tables.
While Structube is still considered affordable, IKEA operates at a scale that allows it to maintain rock-bottom prices. The verdict is straightforward: if your primary concern is minimizing cost, IKEA wins every time. Structube positions itself as a step up, offering more style for a slightly higher, yet still accessible, price.
Style & Aesthetic
This is where the two brands truly diverge. Structube is fashion-forward and trend-focused. Their collections feel like they've been pulled from a modern design magazine, featuring sleek velvets, black metal accents, and contemporary shapes. It's the place you go when you want a specific "look" - be it mid-century modern or chic minimalist.
IKEA’s style is timeless Scandinavian functionalism. Its designs are meant to be simple, unobtrusive, and adaptable to almost any decor. While you can find trendy pieces, the core aesthetic is utilitarian and less about making a bold statement. Choose Structube if you want your furniture to be the centerpiece, choose IKEA for a versatile, practical backdrop.
Quality & Materials
Both brands aim for affordability, so don't expect solid heirloom oak. Structube heavily uses MDF, engineered wood with veneers, and metal frames, which provide a sturdy and visually clean product suitable for years of normal use. Construction feels solid for its intended market.
IKEA famously relies on particleboard and fiberboard for its most affordable lines, which can be less durable and susceptible to damage. However, IKEA also offers product families made from solid wood (like the HEMNES line) that are extremely durable for their price point. In general, IKEA's quality control is very rigorous, but the longevity of a piece depends heavily on which product line you shop from.
Shopping Experience
Your experience at each retailer will be vastly different. Structube offers a more traditional, boutique-style shopping trip. Their showrooms are smaller, curated, and focused solely on furniture and decor. The atmosphere is calm, and sales staff are readily available to help.
An IKEA visit is an event. The massive warehouse stores are designed as a one-way walk-through of staged rooms, leading to a sprawling marketplace and then the self-serve furniture aisles. It can be overwhelming but also a great source of inspiration. For convenience, both offer robust online shopping and delivery services.
Sustainability & Ethics
IKEA takes a decisive lead in this category. For decades, the company has made sustainability a core part of its business model. This includes responsible wood sourcing (aiming for 100% FSC-certified or recycled wood), phasing out single-use plastics, investing heavily in renewable energy, and designing products for a circular economy.
Structube does not publicize its sustainability efforts to the same degree. While their products meet safety and quality standards, eco-conscious consumers will find far more transparency and commitment from IKEA.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands provide great value, but they cater to different shoppers with different priorities.
Choose Structube if:
- You prioritize contemporary style and want your home to look chic and on-trend.
- You're furnishing an apartment or condo and need appropriately scaled furniture.
- You prefer a calmer, more curated showroom shopping experience.
- You're willing to pay a little extra for a more design-forward piece of furniture.
Choose IKEA if:
- Your number one priority is a low budget.
- You need a vast selection of functional, practical items for every part of your home.
- You value sustainability and want to support a brand with strong eco-friendly commitments.
- You need modular or highly versatile furniture that can adapt to changing needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Structube or IKEA cheaper?
IKEA is significantly cheaper than Structube on a product-by-product basis. IKEA's massive global scale and self-assembly model allow it to offer some of the lowest prices on the market for home furnishings.
Which has better quality furniture?
Quality is comparable for the price, but it varies. Higher-end IKEA lines using solid wood may be more durable over the long term than some of Structube's MDF-based furniture. However, Structube's pieces often feel more substantial and stylish out of the box than IKEA's bottom-tier options.
Which brand is better for small apartments?
Both are excellent choices for small spaces. Structube specifically designs many of its collections with a compact, urban aesthetic in mind. IKEA is famous for its small-space solutions and clever storage products like the KALLAX or PAX systems, making it equally suitable.
Do I have to assemble everything myself from these stores?
Self-assembly is the standard for most large items at both stores, which is how they keep costs down. However, both IKEA and Structube offer home delivery services that include optional assembly for an additional fee.
Is Structube expanding to the US?
As a Canadian company, Structube's physical presence is currently only in Canada. They offer cross-border shipping, but American customers should factor in shipping costs and duties.
Which brand follows trends more closely?
Structube is much more trend-driven. Their catalogs are updated frequently with new styles that reflect contemporary interior design trends. IKEA follows trends too, but its core collection is rooted in timeless Scandinavian design principles.
Can I return furniture to both stores?
Yes, both retailers have return policies. IKEA generally has a very generous policy. As with any furniture retailer, always check the current return policy before purchasing, especially for large items, as rules for unassembled and assembled furniture can differ.
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