I don’t like how some people decide to take multiple generations with them (15 to 20 relatives) and block the main passages and don’t allow people to go around them and when you do say, “excuse me” to get by or around, they give you threatening looks. They aren’t really buying anything because you don’t see them writing down inventory numbers, but, who knows?
Have you ever tried to return something? The lines are backed up for hours and this is when they first open!
The only times I go is when we are out of town and the kids need quickie furnishings for their college apartments.
I have been to two IKEA stores. One was set up over three floors with central escalators and lots of natural light. The other was on two floors with low ceilings, no natural light, and the escalators at the far end of the building. Two totally different experiences.
I purchased cloth from there and did very simple, economical home makeover projects.
IKEA is very easy to navigate-follow the arrows! How hard can that be? We’ve never had a problem. Their display rooms are fun to look at, their accessories and kitchen items are good quality and well-priced, and their bookcases can’t be beat. I’m not s big fan of the contemporary style of their furniture, but we’ve had their dishes for almost 20 years and we’re happy with them. Nice, clean lines, no frills, go with everything.
We lived in Switzerland for several years and loved the Ikea there. Good English skills are not particularly important for furniture salespeople, and in Ikea we could find and buy what we needed without having to talk to anyone. Eventually we could manage in German just fine, but Ikea was a comfort at first. Still have some of the Billy bookcases.
There is no IKEA in HI. I have been to one in LA a few times with S, who likes the prices. He returned something rather quickly there and had no problems. I had lunch once at one in Taiwan. It was ok–we were hanging out with others and one of them headed into the store as it was near the hotel.
I find it interesting but am glad I have never gone there intending to buy anything. I bought some notecards from a tent just outside the store.
I love Ikea for the “spend half a day wandering and getting ideas” thing but hated it when we moved and I kept having to go in and find specific things (even tho I know the back ways). I will say that I believe when I looked on the website under “my store” to see if it is “in stock” it told me what wearhouse aisle and space it is in…so you can go straight there.
Definately need to wear sturdy shoes…no cute flip flops. And heave forbid there is ever a fire.
I have an Ikea close enough to run over at lunch. I tend to run in through the check out area and get what I want, skipping the showrooms. I never walk the arrow path – just cut through. My feet can’t take it most days. They do have great prices on basic linens, drapes, quilts and I’m obsessed with the pillow covers. Change a room for $4-$8? Yes! Pinterest and Ikea hacks are fantastic and the bloggers have put me onto great uses for many items.
I like the clean look of the merchandise, but not the ‘throw-away’ culture it seems to encourage. I tend to favor buying vintage or using hand-me-downs, both for their craft and histories. I also think ultimately re-using pieces is a far better ‘green’ alternative. Still shop at IKEA, however, primarily for the accessories. Have not found the furniture particularly comfortable or well-built, so skip the showroom level, and head straight for the market level.
I was surprised when a colleague specified IKEA cabinets for a LEED design home. However, she shared that at the time, the IKEA cabinets were built to a stricter green standard than most US manufacturers. Not sure if the same is true today.
We put in IKEA kitchen cabinets when we redid our kitchen about 13 years ago. It was a nightmare. Various pieces were out of stock (although we were told they were in stock by the sales associate) so we had to put the kitchen together by piecemeal - each day a new cabinet piece came in the mail. The cabinets had a 25 year warranty, but now that the doors are falling apart, IKEA has changed our kitchen cabinet door style, so we cannot replace the dilapidated doors, and they are not honoring their warranty.
We had originally loved the idea of IKEA kitchen cabinets because we could just change the kitchen doors on a whim. Now, we will have to redo the cabinets completely. I would never recommend IKEA kitchen cabinets.
The key to navigating an IKEA store is to find the somewhat hidden doors in the middle sections of the store, and walk right through to the other side. It saves a ton of time.
On a side note, one of the funniest things I ever heard at IKEA was someone remarking, “IKEA means ‘out of stock’ in Swedish.”
I have two Ikea stores I can get too. I have been to the College Park location. If you can go on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds that makes the experience better. If you must shop on the weekends it’s best to reach right when the store opens so that you can park close to the entrance by the elevators in the garage and be out before it gets really crowded.
I like walking the yellow brick road on the top floor just to get some decoration ideas. If I know what I need I just go to the ground floor (market place). I like their food market and Christmas shop. I usually look over the catalog so that I know exactly what I am shopping for before I go in.
Since I have been to the same location a few times I know where to park and how to get in and out of there. The worst thing is getting stuck there on the weekends when it is crowded and you can’t get ahead because there are so many people browsing and walking slowly in front of you.
I go about twice a year but usually for small items nothing big lately as we are trying to downsize. It helps that there is a huge outlet mall within a mile of Ikea so if I am driving there I can visit both places in one trip.
I still have some furniture pieces from years ago that I still use for example a white kitchen table with chairs that is a 6 seater that extends to eight when I have guests over. It is good for decorating small spaces.
No one has mentioned the cinnamon rolls? Six for $4, and they are as good as my mom’s homemade ones. We drive every couple of months (45 min) to browse, eat, and get ideas. We almost always find something we need to take home. Houseplants, pots to put them in, picture frames, the white dish towels with the red border for 79 cents?? We love Ikea. We don’t always walk all the way through, often the Marketplace is enough for us to get what we want.
Here in Portland (OR), there is an Ikea quite close to me. I only go there on rainy dreary days when I feel like a long walk but don’t want to be out in the rain Twice through the store and I’m entertained and I’ve put in a few miles.
That aside, there are a few things that are so affordable at Ikea that I go there specifically to buy them. They have microfiber bathmats in about ten colors for $10 each. The things are indestructible, pick up dirt and hair, and in general keep the rest of the house clean.
I hate everything about IKEA including the shoddy merchandise, layout and food they serve. Actually the layout may bother me the least, as I keep walking hoping to see why others like this store. I guess I just never come to that area.
Twice through the store and I’m entertained and I’ve put in a few miles.