It’s not a healthy obsession, but over the last two years I’ve slowly let my addiction take over my living room, dining room, office and bedroom.

 

My drug of choice: Ikea. I love the low prices, the versatile collections, the accessories. I love the fact that you can buy a couch in a box, stuff it into your car and screw it together when you get home. I love the fact that each section sets up entire rooms down to fake clothes in the closet so you can see yourself in that space, with those rugs and that chair. I get excited when the Ikea cataloug finally comes in the  mail.  I love the aisles of accessories on the first floor—from salt and pepper shakers to framed photos—and the storage area is like a grown up Easter egg hunt. Adults with push carts fly up and down aisles looking for the correct bins.

 

This weekend, I got a bright green rug, brown, woven accessory balls, candle sticks and a shelf for my husband’s office.

 

I’m not exactly proud of my addiction. I mean, I know how much of a yuppie it makes me. And believe me, when I see mother’s walking the aisles with those free yellow Ikea bags on one shoulder and a little golf pencil in the other checking off things they’re about to buy, I feel a little ill. Am I one of them?

 

“Oh my gosh Chrissy. Wouldn’t this be just darling in your room?” says blonde mother in need of a root job to daughter a few feet ahead sucking on a Smoothie King straw.

 

“I don’t know mom,” says a very tan Chrissy, “I want something for fluffy and pink.”

 

But perfectly normal people shop there too. There’s just something about indulging in the need for a well decorated room I can’t resist. And I’m not the only one either. Sites like IkeaFans.com, Ikeahacker.blogspot.com and The Ikea Blog are dedicated to all things Ikea. From spotting furniture in TV shows, to getting the squeak out of a bed and desk set. And in 2009, during the worst of the recession, sales at Ikea grew 1.4 percent, or $21. 5 billion Euros, according to Ikea.   

 

But with over 267 stores in 25 countries, there are Ikea haters too, including local folks who won’t make the trip to the big blue box off the tollway in Frisco. I understand their resistance. I too fought my urges. I made fun of Pottery Barn whores and Z Gallery idiots who pay way too much for a damn lamp. I made Walmart finds work for me, and I still like Target home good sections—though their prices are too high in my opinion. And the bargain hunter in me was ready to hate Ikea on my first visit. But that first trip up the escalator, past the sweet smell of cinnamon rolls was my undoing.

 

If you’ve never been to your local Ikea (or if you have) there are some things you should know to make your trip more productive.

 

1)      Wear comfortable shoes. It may not seem like you’re walking that far but you’re walking for what has to be miles on concrete.

2)      Kids are OK: You can drop them off in the free child care center or take them into the kids section in the store. Plus they have a café inside the store too.

3)      Search the “As Is” section. There are lots of deals. And if you’re handy with a hammer, you can make a chipped table work for your room.

4)      Take pictures of the item’s tag. Sometimes when you write down the aisle and bin of your item but if you don’t write it down correctly, you’ll be stuck in the storage area looking for your piece. Take a picture instead.

5)      Be patient. There are a lot of people around and not always a lot of help when you need it. Weekends are much worse. Go during the weekday and the personal service is much better.

6)      Requires assembly is no joke. Putting Ikea items together takes an army. I can’t imagine how you’d get a kitchen all put together.

7)      Lots of things in Ikea lose their tag. I’ve gotten a couple of pillows that way. If a tag or item can’t be located, you get an “As is” price which is cheaper but you can’t return your item either.

8)      Bring the right vehicle. You have to assemble your larger items but they come in boxes. So a smart car isn’t the ideal vehicle for this place.

9)      Ikea food isn’t bad. I know those Swedish meatballs are a top seller but I usually avoid the food court. But like everything else in the store, it’s cheap!

10) If you can’t find it at Ikea, there are tons of home furniture, mattress, rug stores etc. directly across the parking lot.  

P.S. There are a lot of Ikea coupon scams. Be careful. The only Ikea coupons I trust come in the mail. Besides, most of Ikea’s stuff is already on sale.  

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