Inside the Designer’s Secret: Why the IKEA ‘As-Is’ Section is a Hidden Treasure Trove

For many shoppers, the IKEA "As-Is" section is a dimly lit, often-overlooked corner near the checkout registers, typically associated with slightly scratched flat-pack furniture or ex-showroom display items. However, for interior designers and savvy home organizers, this bargain zone represents a goldmine of potential. Aubrey Ament and William Glaser, the founders of the Brooklyn-based design firm Glam Studio, have mastered the art of navigating this space to elevate their own home, proving that with a discerning eye, you don’t need a massive budget to achieve a curated, functional living environment.

In their Brooklyn home, which balances the fast-paced demands of running a creative business with the everyday chaos of raising two children, the couple relies on a tactical approach to storage. Their home is populated with a series of wooden and bamboo boxes that keep their lives in order, holding everything from cooking spices and professional tile samples to the inevitable accumulation of bulky children’s toys. These bins share common traits: they are aesthetically pleasing, modular, and remarkably sturdy. Perhaps most surprisingly, they were sourced almost exclusively from the "As-Is" section of their local IKEA warehouse in Red Hook.

According to Ament, the "As-Is" area is frequently misunderstood. While many shoppers approach the section expecting to find broken furniture that requires significant repair, Ament views it as a strategic destination for organizational essentials. When browsing the aisles of the bargain room, she maintains a strict filter on what to ignore and what to pursue. She tends to steer clear of larger, complex pieces like chairs, sofas, or coffee tables, which often end up in the section due to significant structural damage or wear from heavy showroom traffic. Instead, she focuses her attention on the smaller, modular items that form the backbone of a well-organized home.

"The things I mostly look for are ubiquitous organizational tools, which is how I got to these boxes," Ament explains. Her shopping strategy is centered on identifying high-quality materials—specifically wood, metal, and natural textiles—that offer long-lasting, modern utility. Because designers often work within constraints that require balancing style with budget, she has learned that the best finds are often those that are "unscathed" yet discounted by as much as 50 percent simply because they were part of a display or a customer return.

Central to her collection is the Knagglig box, a slatted pine container that has become a staple of her home’s organization. Ament admits she is always on the lookout for these, noting that she would happily take as many as she can find. While the box comes in two sizes, she advocates for the larger version, which measures roughly 18 inches deep and nearly 10 inches tall. In her household, these boxes serve multiple purposes: they corral her son’s toys, house her collection of work binders, and keep important documents and large rug samples neatly tucked away. Critics might dismiss the design as too simple, but Ament argues that this simplicity is its greatest strength. "They create continuity out of your chaos, which is organization 101," she says.

Beyond the pine boxes, Ament frequently scours the shelves for the Uppdatera bamboo storage boxes. These lighter, more refined bins are her go-to solution when she needs to bring order to a kitchen pantry or organize delicate fabric samples for her design projects. The warmth of the bamboo makes them versatile enough to move from the kitchen to the bathroom or a home office, providing a consistent, natural aesthetic that is difficult to find at such an accessible price point.

The utility of the "As-Is" section extends beyond storage bins. Ament is also a consistent fan of the Bumerang wooden hangers. Regardless of whether she has recently updated her wardrobe, she never passes up an opportunity to snag these high-quality wooden hangers if they appear in the discount bin for a few dollars. She notes that IKEA’s wooden hangers are surprisingly durable, capable of supporting heavy winter coats or delicate blouses without the structural weakness often found in plastic alternatives.

Furniture that serves multiple purposes is another high-priority target. The Gladom tray table, for example, is a piece she keeps a watchful eye for. Because the design features a removable serving tray, it acts as both a functional side table and a portable serving surface, making it an ideal candidate for small-space living. When she spots such items in the "As-Is" section, she emphasizes that the window of opportunity is narrow; such items are usually snatched up quickly by other savvy shoppers.

For those looking to manage space more effectively, Ament also champions the Parkla storage bag. As a long-time resident of New York City, she is well-versed in the necessity of seasonal rotation for bedding and clothing. The Parkla bags are made from a semi-transparent, durable polypropylene, which makes them perfect for storing off-season patio cushions in a garage or sliding them under a bed for long-term storage. She has even utilized them to organize her children’s outgrown clothing by size, creating a labeled, accessible system that saves both time and closet space.

Laundry management is another area where Ament relies on specific IKEA finds. She speaks highly of the Purrpingla laundry bag, a firm, canvas-style hamper that is robust enough to stand on its own. Whether she is transporting laundry to a wash-and-fold service or simply carrying it between floors, the bag’s structure and durability make it a standout choice. Complementing this is the Slibb flexible laundry basket, a low-profile, portable option she keeps by her front door. It serves as a catch-all for shoes or as a quick-cleanup tool for her son’s toys. Its flexibility and low height make it accessible even for children to carry, helping to keep the living area clear of clutter.

Finally, Ament keeps a sharp eye out for natural textiles, including cotton and wool. She has been consistently impressed by the quality of the bedding and throws available at IKEA, noting that she often finds high-end feel at a fraction of the cost. A notable example is the 100 percent cotton Skogskovall bedspread, which she purchased last year. "I bought one last year and I was like, ‘How is this IKEA?’" she recalls.

For Ament, the thrill of the "As-Is" section lies in the unpredictability. It is not necessarily a place to find a specific, pre-planned item, but rather a space where a discerning shopper can discover high-quality, utilitarian pieces that can be integrated into a home to create a more organized and harmonious space. By focusing on materials like wood, metal, and natural fibers, and by prioritizing items that offer modularity and durability, the designer has turned a retail clearance section into an essential resource for professional-grade home organization. The key, she suggests, is not to be discouraged by the "As-Is" label, but to see it as an invitation to find quality items that, with a little bit of creativity and vision, can serve the home for years to come.