Should you buy IKEA Outdoor Furniture? The Lowdown on Skarpo and Applaro

If you’ve been eyeing off the IKEA outdoor furniture range and you’re contemplating a purchase, read this review first. I’ve put both the IKEA Applaro and Skarpo range to the test over the course of a year or more – across multiple states and weather conditions – and here’s the lowdown.

Oh, and if you want to see the latest and greatest outdoor furniture releases from IKEA and similar brands, this post has you covered.

IKEA Outdoor Furniture Review: Skarpo and Applaro

Skarpo Outdoor Armchair

I’d just moved into a new home a few years back when I was still living in Sydney, and I was desperate for some armchairs for my apartment’s second-storey balcony. It was close to New Year’s Eve and we had a great vantage point of the city skyline (hello fireworks show) so I needed something to sit in.

I was on a tight budget at the time (aren’t I always?), and IKEA Tempe was just minutes up the road from me, so off I went to secure two Skarpo outdoor armchairs.

Originally, I purchased them not intending to sit on them for long. I mean, they don’t look particularly comfortable and they’re made from plastic, but the idea wasn’t to use them for hours at a time. And I thought I might purchase some cushions for them down the track if needed.

The Good and the Bad

I’ve gotta say (and I’ve had them for two years now), they’re so much more comfortable than I thought – and that’s without cushions.

I also like that you can stack them on top of one another, so when we moved house they were easy to transport. They also have a drainage hole in them so they don’t catch the rain. And mine haven’t faded. Or if they have, the grey colour has faded in a way that’s gradual and still looks great.

For $69, I was pleasantly surprised by the Skarpo. Do keep in mind though, they are large. They take up more floor space than you think, so I wouldn’t recommend them for small balconies. They certainly dominate the area.

Only downside: You’ll have to wipe them down regularly if left outside uncovered. Around the small drainage hole on the seat, dirt collects. But that’s not a huge deal.

The plastic also gets hotter than the sun on a warm day, so do bear in mind that you’ll have to cover them up if this is of major concern.

Applaro Outdoor Furniture

I actually completed a balcony makeover using the IKEA Applaro Furniture range in 2014 when I was still living in Sydney (check out the post here), but of course, you never know how outdoor furniture is going to hold up over the years until you’ve experienced it over the course of a few summers.

At the time, I purchased a tonne of cushions to go with the setting, because an outdoor area needs softness and mine was a bit gloomy looking because of its positioning, tile colour and overhead roof.

I was in a rental home at the time, so I did my best to jazz it up. Since then, I’ve moved from Sydney to Melbourne and now the furniture sits outside in the direct sun – so it’s definitely copped its fair share of rays.

The Good and the Bad

The Applaro range is made from Acacia wood and it comes in pieces, so as with most IKEA products you will be getting acquainted with your Allen key again. The assembly was pretty easy though.

You buy the range in one-seater sections for $85 each. This section is just the chair with a back and no arms. Or you can opt to get a chair with a side arm/corner section for $100. Because my balcony was small and I needed multiple layout options, I opted for no corner section. The corner section does curve out and take up a bit of room, and at the time I just didn’t have the space to spare!

I think selling them in pieces is a genius idea. It allows you to completely customise how you want to lay the furniture out. You can also attach singular chairs together so they form a two, three or four-seater lounge (and so on), or you can leave them unattached. I leave mine unattached, just for versatility’s sake.

Note: You have to buy cushions to go on the base and back. Well, you don’t have to, but sitting on the wood alone is not going to be comfortable. I purchased the HALO back cushion and seat cushion for each chair and they’re great. Do wash the cushions regularly though, and bring them inside when it rains. I neglected mine and they got mould on them, which I now can’t get out. #epicfail.

The biggest upside: In over a year outdoors the wood has not needed oiling. This was the most amazing part of the whole experience. I once had a competitor outdoor setting that was wood and every six months it needed to be re-oiled. And it never looked the same as when I got it. So far, the IKEA range hasn’t faded at all. Winning.

Want more info? Explore the Outdoor Furniture range from IKEA here.