[skystorm]

I've found that the cheaper items at Ikea are just that -- cheap, and often not very durable. Once you move up to their higher-priced choices, however, things are a lot more solid in my experience. My parents recently retired a full set of tall bookshelves that was probably 25+ years old and still in very good shape. My computer desk here is still going strong after 10 years or so, and our extendable dining table, while basic, has taken some abuse over the years and is holding up well.