The Clever IKEA Storage Gem Replacing a Discontinued Favorite (and It’s Even Better!)

When you find a product you really like at IKEA, there’s a good chance that you use it often and perhaps you’ve even purchased multiples of it — just in case! But, like all big-box retailers, things at IKEA can be discontinued; before you know it, your fave product is waving goodbye as it heads toward retail extinction.

That’s what happened to IKEA’s beloved HEMNES shoe cabinet, which was quietly discontinued last month, much to the dismay of the product’s fans. You can still buy it, but note that it’s marked with “last chance to buy.”

Immediately I started looking for a substitute shoe cabinet to replace the HEMNES’ practicality-meets-style vibe. Lo and behold, the company has now rolled out the IKEA GULLABERG shoe cabinet, which is basically HEMNES’ doppelganger — except the main difference is that it’s missing the black knobs. Actually, I might venture to say that this cabinet is better, as the black knobs could have a chance of clashing while this one is altogether neutral.

Priced at a lower price point of $130, the GULLABERG is virtually the same size as the HEMNES, and also holds eight pairs of shoes. If you were mourning the loss of the HEMNES, you can take comfort in knowing that the GULLABURG is pretty much its twin.

Popular items tend to sell out fast at IKEA (which could be the GULLABERG’s fate), so if you can’t find it in stores or maybe you don’t live near an IKEA, you can opt for this similar, cheaper shoe cabinet that’s available on Amazon for $115.