I Love IKEA! A guide for IKEA newbies.

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 10 people | Log in to rate

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IKEA inspiration, guide to the store and shopping tips for newbies, IKEA resources and fun.

an addiction is born 

In the summer of 2005, a long-held dream of mine became reality when IKEA opened its doors in Frisco, Texas. Finally, I could submerge myself into a real, live IKEA store!

Once I breathed in the lovely aroma of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and unfinished pine, I knew I was a goner. I was immediately taken in by the sights, sounds and smells of the great IKEA. Life, and my home, would never be the same again.

never been to IKEA? no problem. 



IKEA is separated into four sections: showroom, marketplace, self-serve warehouse, and checkout.

  • The Showroom is a huge exhibition of IKEA's home furnishings. You'll find full kitchens and dining rooms, home offices, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and children's rooms. Some of the exhibits may have a theme such as "living in 350 square feet" - and that whole space will encompass living, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom!

    The Showroom is located on the top level. From there, you can take stairs or elevators to the lower-level Marketplace.

    Note: Every item in IKEA has a price tag that details price, size, color, measurements, features, and more. Price tags for larger items tell you the exact aisle and bin location of the item as it can be found in the Self-Serve Warehouse. This is where the pencil and shopping list you picked up at the entrance comes in handy!

  • The Marketplace is where you'll find home organization items, rugs, window treatments, linens, glassware lighting... pretty much everything that is not furniture. Shopping carts are available at the entrance.

    Note: Throughout the Showroom and Marketplace, there are clearly-labeled Shortcuts from one product area to another. These can come in handy if you're not interested in say, perusing the entire Showroom, and you're looking to check out only specific things.

  • As you leave the Marketplace, you'll enter the Self-Serve Warehouse. Large carts are available at the entrance. Use the aisle and bin numbers you've written down to find and load the furniture you want.

    Note: As you leave the warehouse to enter the Checkout area, be sure to swing by the "as is" section, where you might find a super deal on some lightly-damaged stuff.

  • You'll proceed through the warehouse to the Checkout, where you'll more than likely drop too much of your hard-earned cash, but hey - you're buying from IKEA, so you know you're getting good prices on great stuff.

    Note: As you leave the checkouts, there's an exit bistro and Swedish food market where you can pick up some tasty treats. I'm usually dying of thirst at this point, so the bistro is aptly placed. They sell a killer hot dog - who knew? I also highly recommend the cinnamon rolls.

it lives. it breathes. it necessitates links. 

IKEA
The official site
IKEA | Space planner
Use the space planner to design your room online
IKEA | Catalog Request
Join IKEA's mailing list and request a 2007 catalog by mail
IKEA | Kitchen guide
IKEA's interactive Kitchen Guide
IKEA | Download Kitchen Planner Tool
PC/Windows users can download this handy kitchen planner tool. Drag and drop kitchen units and appliances, and see it all in 3D.
IKEA at Wikipedia
Everything you ever wanted to know about IKEA but were afraid to ask
IKEAhacker
A blog compiling Ikea hacks worldwide. Creative ideas with Ikea furniture. The Ikea you never knew.
Shrine to the IKEA Jerker Desk
A funny fan site for the IKEA Jerker desk
Positive Fanatics
The Unofficial IKEA Web Journal
IKEA Fans
An IKEA fansite devoted to kitchen remodels
IKEA at del.icio.us
BoKlok
So, we know IKEA stuff is great in a home, but what about the home itself?

make the most of your IKEA trip 

  • Know the catalog before you go.
    Okay, so I don't expect you to be a freak and know the catalog contents by page number and item name, but a general acquaintenance with the catalog helps if you're going to look at specific things. If you don't have a catalog of your own, it's available online!


  • Be prepared.
    Make sure you measure spaces and places in your home before you visit IKEA. Even if you do not plan on making a major purchase the day of your visit, get an idea of what would fit where - you may be pleasantly surprised by a great deal that's too good to pass up. Likewise, take a vehicle that's big enough to handle your IKEA load.


  • Wear comfortable shoes.
    You will probably be in the store longer than you thought you would, especially if it's your first visit. Skip the stilettos and keep your feet happy while you shop.


  • Time it right.
    Don't go on a Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. if you can help it. My favorite times to go are about 2 hours before closing on a Sunday, or weekday mornings.


  • Take notes.
    Pick up a shopping list and pencil at the entrance of the store. They're handy to write down the location(s) of items you want to buy from the Showroom, or to remind yourself to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home.


  • Bring the kids.
    IKEA is family-friendly. They can shop with you or play in the supervised play area and ball-room (if your child is between 37" to 54" and potty trained, he or she is welcome to play in Småland for 1 hour while you shop.) Hubby and I went alone for our first visit to IKEA (and were glad we did.) Since then, our twoddlers to go with us and seem pretty happy to do so.


  • Have some meatballs.
    Or have something else, if you're a vegetarian. You'll find yummies to satisfy you either way at IKEA's restaurant.


for the IKEA-lovers bookshelf 

Great IKEA!: A brand for all the people (Great Brand Stories)

Great IKEA!: A brand for all the people (Great Brand Stories)

by: Elen Lewis

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

IKEA's Real Swedish Food Book

IKEA's Real Swedish Food Book

by: N/A

Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

The Book of Home Design: Using IKEA Home Furnishings

The Book of Home Design: Using IKEA Home Furnishings

by: Anoop Parikh

Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

if it's funny and IKEA, it must be here 

The IKEA Game
Test your knowledge of IKEA's product names with this fun game
Elite Designers Against IKEA
Designer van den Puup no likely cheap pricey
IKEA Claims Another 10,000 Lifestyles
The Onion takes on IKEA
Transblawg: Where IKEA gets the names
If you've ever wondered, then here you go
The IKEA Song
A funny song about IKEA by Jonathan Coultron
The Non-Expert: IKEA, by Matthew Baldwin
The satirical IKEA Walkthrough v2.3.1
Blind Date: IKEA's Anna and the Army's Sgt. STAR
What happens when two lonely hotbots get their wires crossed? By Dale Hrabi Ikea chatbot Anna goes mano a mano with the the Army's Sgt. STAR.
IKEA - Uncyclopedia
Uncyclopedia is an encyclopedia full of misinformation and utter lies. (Caution: gratutious profanity ahead.)
Boing Boing: IKEA insists photo of dog does not show human-like penis
oof!

the real world: IKEA (pg-13) 

A parody of MTV's The Real World, only this time there are 5 "roommates" instead of 7, and they are living in IKEA. (PG-13 rating for bleeped profanity, adult themes, racially stereotypical satire, and pixelated nudity.)

The Real World Ikea

Five Strangers Who Were Picked To Live In Ikea And To Have Their Lives Taped...but they should have told ikea.

curated content from YouTube

it can't be perfect 

IKEA Product Recalls
Oops! It happens to the best of 'em.
Chaos at Ikea opening
Five hospitalized after hundreds were crushed as riots ensued at England's biggest IKEA. Yikes!
IKEA Card Online
Just say NO!

sign in & show your IKEA love 

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by monicamoody

I am a wife, a mother of 2 preschoolers, creative director for a marketing firm, rock star in my own mind, and an artist. 

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