IKEA Micke Desk

Affordable, simple, fit for purpose – The IKEA Micke desk has been perfect for lockdown life in an apartment, as it doesn't take up much space, has a convenient drawer built in to store stationary and a cable hole to keep things tidy. I have the white desk which has the clean design lines we have all come to expect from an IKEA product. Given it cost a mere $69, it is hard to find any complaints at all.

Garbage, poor quality, missing bolts – I purchased this desk on 24 Aus 18 at Tempe. Was missing half bolts so could not assemble. Pre drilled holes poor so split when assembling. Got 70% assembled then run out of bolts/screws so could not assemble. Emailed IKEA, less than helpful. Wanted me to pull apart, return and they would decide if would give me refund or bolts. Add the 2 hours of driving and assembly then the same for a return, 4 hours for nothing Would not even give me bolts. Will chop up, dump in their car park. 100% waste of money. Would never buy an ikea flat pack again.

HIGH QUALITY, STYLE & FUNCTION AT A GREAT PRICE – I bought four Micke items from IKEA at Tempe: the small desk for a bedroom, and the larger desk with storage cabinet plus the four-draw cabinet unit on casters for our study. For the larger desk, I also bought the matching shelf unit to provide more storage for speakers and other odds and ends. All the items were in white. I was impressed by the finish. Not one panel was damaged in any way - all perfect. Despite the surprisingly low price (probably due to being made in China), it's obvious that IKEA has really spent a lot of effort designing and developing these items, and maintain high levels of quality control from their suppliers. The fit was excellent too: no unsightly gaps or non-flush edges.

The solid MDF tops and sides are quite heavy and solid, and allay any fears that you've bought the kind of sad, flimsy "furniture" that you see in KMart et al.

I particularly love the larger Micke desk that I use all the time when using my PC. It has a ton of storage and the three lower adjustable shelves in the cabinet swallow all manner of large items, including big flat items like large envelopes, foolscap folders and copy paper. The central hole at the back of the tabletop allows wires to be tucked away neatly.

The top drawers slide easily and are designed to close automatically when close to shutting. The main one (same as the one in the small desk) is so wide and deep that I put in a bamboo kitchen organizer to store all my stationery items, with plenty of room to spare.

There is nothing cheap or rickety about either desk. The different parts of the well-thought out dowel and metal faster system work together well, and results in a very solid structure that I expect to last for many years.

I've read some criticism of the fact that the storage cabinet on the larger Micke does does not have a back, leaving the shelves exposed at the rear. I don't see a problem with that as it provides ventilation. However, if you don't plan to put it against a wall, it might cause an aesthetic problem, requiring some DIY back panels.

I placed the four-drawer on casters unit next to my desk to provide more storage and a place for my printer. Like the desk, it is very sturdy and good-looking.

Another great thing about both Micke desks is the option to have the cabinet (large desk) or open sided metal side (small desk) on either left or right.

I also like the simplicity of having no handles. You just grip the top or bottom edges of the drawers and doors. It's practical and looks very clean and neat. The drawers move very easily courtesy of nylon wheels on metal runners. No worries about sticky drawers due to humidity.

My only advice is to take your time to read the instructions carefully, identify all the panels, and think about what you're doing. For the larger desk, it's best to have an assistant to help with some of the final stages that require moderately heavy lifting and co-ordinating multiple fitting placement.

My other advice is to check off all the small fitting items against the list on the instruction sheet. I found that the some packets of dowels, screws etc. contained MORE than you need, which can make you think you left something out once the unit is assembled. I put all the correct number of fittings into small bowls before assembly so I knew I hadn't missed one, and put the extra ones aside.

All I can say is that you can buy the Micke range with confidence. You'll be getting something that's sturdy and looks clean and classy. It's refreshing that something cheap doesn't have to be nasty.

If you do buy the larger desk with cabinet and door, don't buy the shelf unit if space is at a premium because you'll need space on the desk top for your printer. I had planned to put my Epson XP-410 printer behind the door in the cabinet section, but it was too narrow. But if space is not a problem, get the four-drawer cabinet unit for your printer, and you'll have the bonus of heaps of extra storage for your home office.

Easier than I expected – I purchased the Micke Desk and put it together with my 12 year old daughter. It took us almost 3 hours. We had a few minor interruptions but I went slow to make sure we didn't miss a step. It was easy to put together and I was impressed with the quality. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because in step 1, when I turned the screws, the finish cracked slightly. I was afraid it would happen with every screw but it was only with this step for both drawers. I like the space underneath the desk that holds a power strip or cords. I didn't notice it when shopping at the store.