HOMCOM vs IKEA: Which Offers Better Value for UK Shoppers in 2026?

Most furniture comparisons get it wrong. They focus on price tags without considering what you're actually getting for your money—and that's precisely where HOMCOM and IKEA tell very different stories.

I've spent the past few months testing furniture from both brands, assembling flat-pack nightmares at 11pm, and measuring the wobble factor on everything from office chairs to shoe cabinets. The verdict? It's more nuanced than you might expect.

If you're hunting for affordable furniture UK alternatives to the Swedish giant, HOMCOM has quietly become one of the most interesting options on the market. But is it genuinely better value, or just cheaper? Let's break it down properly.

What is HOMCOM? The Brand Behind the Furniture

Before we compare anything, you need to understand what HOMCOM actually is. This isn't some fly-by-night Amazon seller—though I'll admit, I assumed exactly that when I first encountered the brand.

HOMCOM is one of six brands owned by Aosom, a global e-commerce company established in 2012. The parent company operates from London headquarters with five warehouses scattered across the UK. They're not manufacturing in some mysterious location; they're a legitimate operation with proper UK infrastructure.

Here's what surprised me during my research: Aosom has been quietly building an empire. Beyond HOMCOM, they own Outsunny (garden furniture), PawHut (pet products), Vinsetto (office furniture), kleankin (bathroom), and DURHAND (tools). It's a proper portfolio approach to home goods.

HOMCOM specifically focuses on home décor and furniture—chairs, desks, storage, bedroom furniture. Think of them as targeting the same market as IKEA but through a purely online model. No massive blue warehouses. No meatballs. Just furniture delivered to your door.

You can find HOMCOM products through major UK retailers including Amazon, Wayfair, The Range, eBay, and their own Aosom UK website. That wide distribution is actually one of their strategic advantages—we'll get to why that matters for value shortly.

HOMCOM's Product Range: What Can You Buy?

The HOMCOM catalogue is broader than most people realise. After trawling through their offerings, I've grouped the main categories:

Living Room Furniture

• Recliner chairs (their bestseller category)
• Accent chairs and armchairs
• TV stands and media units
• Sideboards and storage units
• Coffee tables

Office Furniture

• Desk chairs (including gaming chairs)
• Computer desks
• L-shaped desks
• Standing desk converters

Storage Solutions

• Shoe cabinets (surprisingly popular—searches for "HOMCOM shoe cabinet" hit 390 monthly)
• Kitchen pantry units
• Bathroom cabinets
• Wardrobes
• Bookcases

Bedroom Furniture

• Bedside tables
• Chest of drawers
• Dressing tables

Kitchen

• Kitchen trolleys
• Pantry cabinets
• Small appliances (air fryers, toaster ovens)

The range isn't as extensive as IKEA's—nothing is—but it covers the essentials most UK households need. Actually, I'd argue the focused selection is somewhat refreshing. IKEA's catalogue can feel overwhelming. HOMCOM gives you decent options without the decision fatigue.

One limitation worth noting: HOMCOM doesn't do sofas or beds in the same way IKEA does. If you need a sofa bed or a proper bed frame, you're looking elsewhere. They're firmly in the "complementary furniture" space rather than trying to furnish your entire home.

HOMCOM vs IKEA: A Direct Comparison

Right, let's get into the proper comparison. I've broken this down by the factors that actually matter when you're spending money on furniture.

Price Comparison

Here's where things get interesting. IKEA used to be the undisputed champion of affordable furniture, but those days are complicated.

In 2022, IKEA raised prices by up to 80% on some products due to supply chain chaos. Their famous JOKKMOKK dining set jumped from £99 to £179 practically overnight. Whilst they've invested £117 million in price reductions since then (cutting around 3,481 products by an average of 20%), they're still not as cheap as they once were.

HOMCOM operates at a different price point entirely. A typical HOMCOM office chair runs £60-£150. A shoe cabinet: £40-£100. Recliner chairs: £150-£300. These prices are often 20-40% below equivalent IKEA items.

But—and this is crucial—cheaper doesn't automatically mean better value. IKEA's £179 dining set might outlast a £90 HOMCOM alternative by years. You need to factor in longevity.

Price Verdict: HOMCOM wins on initial cost. The value calculation depends on how long you need the furniture to last.

Quality Assessment

This is where HOMCOM reviews get mixed, and honestly, I have to give you the unvarnished truth here.

ReviewMeta analysed 47,178 HOMCOM product reviews on Amazon and found an average rating of 4.2 out of 5. That's decent, but it masks significant variation between product categories.

What HOMCOM does well:

• Recliner chairs receive consistently positive feedback. Customers praise comfort, padding, and the surprisingly high-end features for the price point.
• Storage furniture (shoe cabinets, bathroom cabinets) generally meets expectations. Simple designs, functional, does the job.
• Office chairs get good reviews for comfort, though durability concerns appear after 12-18 months of heavy use.

Where HOMCOM struggles:

• Assembly quality varies wildly. Some buyers report "super easy" builds whilst others encounter warped panels and missing parts.
• Material quality is firmly "budget tier." Expect MDF and particleboard rather than solid wood.
• Long-term durability is the consistent weak point. These aren't heirloom pieces.

IKEA, for all its flat-pack frustrations, has more consistent quality control. Their KALLAX shelving unit will probably outlive us all. Their PAX wardrobes, assembled correctly, last decades.

Quality Verdict: IKEA offers more consistent quality and better durability. HOMCOM quality is acceptable for the price but variable.

Assembly Experience

Both brands require self-assembly—no escaping that reality in the affordable furniture world.

IKEA's assembly instructions are famously wordless, relying on those little cartoon figures. Love them or hate them, they're consistent. IKEA has refined their assembly process over decades.

HOMCOM assembly is... less polished. Customers frequently mention instructions with "only pictures" and occasionally missing hardware. The learning curve is steeper, particularly if you're not comfortable with flat-pack furniture.

Here's my honest take: If you've built IKEA furniture before, you can handle HOMCOM. If flat-pack assembly gives you anxiety, HOMCOM will give you more grief than IKEA.

Assembly Verdict: IKEA's assembly process is more refined and user-friendly.

Shopping Experience

This comparison favours neither brand definitively—it depends on how you prefer to shop.

IKEA:

• Physical stores (with restaurants!) for hands-on browsing
• Click and collect options
• Delivery available but can be pricey
• Showroom experience lets you test furniture properly
• New Oxford Street and Brighton stores opening in 2025

HOMCOM:

• Purely online purchasing
• Available through multiple retailers (price comparison opportunity)
• Generally free or low-cost delivery through Amazon Prime, Wayfair, etc.
• No physical showroom—you're trusting photos and reviews
• Returns can be simpler through retailers like Amazon

If you're furnishing a first flat and want to see everything in person, IKEA wins. If you know what you want and prefer the convenience of home delivery, HOMCOM's multi-retailer approach works brilliantly.

Shopping Verdict: Personal preference. IKEA for tactile shoppers, HOMCOM for online convenience.

Design and Style

IKEA's Scandinavian aesthetic is distinctive. Clean lines, light woods, minimalist approach. It's a look that's dominated affordable furniture for decades.

HOMCOM's design philosophy is... broader. They offer Scandinavian-style pieces alongside more traditional designs, industrial looks, and contemporary options. Less cohesive overall, but more variety for shoppers who don't want their home looking like an IKEA showroom.

Neither brand is winning design awards. If you want genuinely stylish furniture, you're probably looking at Habitat, Made.com, or stepping up to mid-range retailers.

Design Verdict: IKEA for consistent Scandinavian style. HOMCOM for variety (though less design cohesion).

Quality and Value: Is HOMCOM Worth It?

Let me give you the straightforward answer I'd give a mate asking this question.

HOMCOM is worth it if:

• You need furniture for a temporary living situation (rented flat, student accommodation)
• Budget is the primary constraint
• You're furnishing secondary spaces (home office, spare bedroom)
• You understand you're buying 3-5 year furniture, not lifetime pieces

HOMCOM isn't worth it if:

• You need furniture to last 10+ years
• You're furnishing high-use areas (daily-use dining tables, main sofa)
• Assembly frustrates you significantly
• Quality consistency matters more than price

The sweet spot for HOMCOM is storage solutions—shoe cabinets, bathroom organisers, kitchen trolleys. These items don't face heavy stress, and HOMCOM's prices are genuinely attractive. A £50 shoe cabinet that lasts five years is perfectly reasonable value.

For items facing daily use—office chairs sat in for eight hours, kitchen tables hosting family dinners—I'd lean towards IKEA or look at brands like Furniture To Go or Yaheetech as alternatives.

Where to Buy HOMCOM in the UK

Part of HOMCOM's value proposition is availability across multiple retailers. This creates genuine competition on pricing.

Amazon UK – Often the lowest prices, Prime delivery available, hassle-free returns

Wayfair UK – Good selection, frequent sales, reliable delivery

The Range – In-store and online, good for seeing items physically

Aosom UK – Official retailer, complete range, direct warranty claims

eBay UK – Competitive pricing, watch for authorised sellers

TJ Hughes – Budget department store option

My recommendation: Check prices across at least three retailers before purchasing. I've seen £30+ price differences on identical HOMCOM products depending on the platform. Sites like Grocefully can help you compare supermarket prices for groceries—apply the same comparison shopping mentality to furniture.

The Bigger Picture: Budget Furniture in 2026

Here's where I'll offer a slightly contrarian view.

The budget furniture market has fundamentally changed since IKEA established dominance in the 1980s and 90s. Today, IKEA faces genuine competition from brands like HOMCOM, JYSK, Dunelm's furniture range, and online-first retailers.

IKEA's response has been interesting. They've invested heavily in sustainability (using recycled materials, offering furniture take-back programmes) and convenience (smaller city-centre stores, improved delivery). They've also cut prices on thousands of items.

HOMCOM and similar brands have carved out a niche: even cheaper than budget IKEA, purely online, decent enough quality for furniture with limited lifespans.

Neither approach is inherently better. They serve different needs. Someone furnishing a forever home should probably invest more per piece. Someone furnishing a two-year rental flat? HOMCOM makes perfect sense.

When browsing home and furniture products, think about your actual use case rather than defaulting to brand loyalty.

The Verdict: HOMCOM vs IKEA

After all this analysis, here's my final assessment:

Choose HOMCOM when:

• Price is the primary concern
• You need furniture quickly with minimal effort
• The furniture is for secondary or temporary use
• You're comfortable with "good enough" quality

Choose IKEA when:

• You want to see and test furniture before buying
• Long-term durability matters
• You prefer consistent design aesthetic
• Assembly experience is important to you

Best of both worlds: Use HOMCOM for supplementary pieces (storage, accent furniture, home office items) and IKEA for anchor pieces that need to last (wardrobes, shelving systems, kitchen storage).

Neither brand is categorically "better value"—it entirely depends on what you're buying and how long you need it to last.

For more furniture options and to explore all furniture brands available through UK retailers, browse the complete range on Grocefully. You might discover home furnishings and decor options that fit your budget perfectly.