My husband and I awkwardly sat through some friends' ikea meltdown once The nice thing was that when it got really, really heated, we excused ourselves and got some meatballs :)

We rarely go to IKEA without knowing exactly what we're picking up, though, and usually don't stray from that list.

Even with an IKEA only 40 minutes away, my husband and I would always have at least one blowout while there until recently. I try very hard now to make sure I have a specfic list (which I make on their site before I go) and stick to it. With 2 littles ones in tow, it helps to eat first (fully tummies make happier, semi-sleepy children/husband) then quickly get what we need and get out.

Now if I can go alone or with friend (or even better my mom), I love to take my time, look around and enjoy the store. I love to look at all of the room setups. Plus I like to figure out what I can hack at home.

Hahahaha did you see the 30 Rock episode about this very topic?
http://curbed.com/archives/2012/02/10/watch-tina-fey-and-james-marsden-shop-at-ikea-on-30-rock.php

@IMANIMAMA that's exactly what I thought of when I read this post :)

I can never get my husband in an Ikea. The one and only time he went was enough for him. He couldn't get out of there fast enough.

It can be very over stimulating, even if you go by yourself. I find if I can manage to go on a weekday morning I practically have the place to myself. And I totally agree with the suggestion to take a list. I browse to my heart's content knowing that I won't forget the reason for going in the first place.

Hahaha...I know, it's frustrating! I'm surprised people don't run through the aisles, trying to find their way out!

I live close-ish to Ikea. It is as overwhelming as Times Square no matter how accessible it is.

This is funny. It must be because we have two Ikeas within 30 minutes of our place, me and my husband haven't ever had a meltdown (while there). The only thing that ever gets to me is sitting watching he and kids have hotdogs, while I (the vegetarian) look onwards, both disgusted and entranced by the love of cheap food.
OH, that and putting the furniture together...together. We joke about the time that we bought a half put together bunk bed off of craigslist, and spent hours trying to complete it...not realizing that the previous owners had messed it up and drilled holes where there shouldn't have been! That's when we started calling Ikea, the divorce maker. ;)

I live relatively close to an IKEA and it still induces stress to go there. Living in NYC, we usually rent a zipcar, which means we have to get it back by a certain hour--that's the first stressor. We must then make our way to Redhook, Brooklyn where the store is located and we always manage to miss an exit. Once we arrive, we must make our way through the hatefully designed labyrinth which is confusing and seemingly designed to force you to walk by every product for more impulse buys. All it needs is a Cyclops in the center and the maze would be complete. I always get separated from my partner and then must spend 10-15 minutes trying to find him. However, once we escape the hell of the store itself its always fun to put together the stuff we bought at home. Luckily, there is also a discount bulk liquor store nearby.

We have never had a blow up in Ikea. I'm not really sure why not - it seems an obvious place for it. On the other hand, I have had personal meltdowns there. I call it 'Shopping Fatigue'. I get to a point where I am overwhelmed and just can't make a decision.

So, I take a list. The Ikea online site allows you to make a shopping list, complete with pictures of the items. And it will save your list (if you register) so you can add to it over time. This focuses the shopping and helps me get through the whole place with energy to spare.

We live 30 miles north of Boston, the Ikea is to the south of Boston - probably a 90 minute drive. So we don't pop in just to buy lightbulbs.

Never a meltdown, but I once made the mistake of trying to an Ikea whilst on crutches. Never again!

I hear about this all the time and honestly I don't get it - just decide what you need before you go. That said, I live close to two stores and only go with a list and I never let myself buy off that list. My boyfriend and I have also put together quite a few pieces of IKEA furniture together and it's gone very well - I know when to hand the reigns over to him when I feel the smiling stick figures are making a fool of me and he gets the job done.

Sometimes I can get my husband to an IKEA. Sometimes he even suggests it.
But once we get there - he loses it completely. If I want to browse, he huffs and puffs like his head is about to explode. Now I go with very specific items in mind (usually picture frames) and little hope of browsing. In and out. Short and sweet. Or I go alone. That's the best scenario of all.

I live 6 blocks from IKEA while temporarily living in Tampa and I've learned to go in the store backwards. I hit the "As Is" section first, go through the marketplace and avoid the display floor as much as possible. So much more relaxing and that way I'm less likely to want a big purchase without going in knowing exactly what I want.

Of course, I'm like the others near an IKEA. If I want, I have the luxury of sleeping on it and coming back the next day/week.

We live about 15 minutes from an Ikea. My husband HATES it, and only goes if I promise to pick up a tray of cinnamon buns. We haven't had a meltdown there, but it's because we can just leave if we have to and I could go back by myself. Still, I try to be prepared and know what I'm looking for and if they have it in stock before we ever leave the house.

I try not to take any of the boys in the family, only me and my daughter go. :-)

I had no idea this was a thing! But then again, my husband and I rarely fight about anything. We don't really have arguments. Misunderstandings, perhaps? But we talk it out.

If we don't agree on something at Ikea, then it's kind of a, "Whatever, no big deal" kind of thing. He doesn't think we need another vase? Okay, that's fine, I can see the logic in that. I don't like the style of that lamp? We'll look to see if we can find one that we both like, and if we don't, then we won't get one today or we'll look somewhere else.

We also love assembling furniture together. Different styles for different folks!

um yep. i like to stay on task, go on off days (like weeknights) when the crowds are low. But we always seem to end up going on Saturday mornings and its so overwhelming!

i have two ikeas within 30 minutes from where i live. that being said going to ikea is almost a relaxing activity for me and my boyfriend. we love strolling through the store and weighing all the options!

Ikea gives me panic attacks. I find it's impossible to make a list before visiting because the quality is so uneven--the exact right thing online might be horrifying in person. I hate the rat-trapped-in-a-maze feeling I get there so much that I've decided to just stick to craigslist.

The leading cause of meltdowns is that empty shelf where you know there is supposed to be an EKTORP, but there isn't one, and you've driven 40 minutes for it and before you know it, you're screaming "IF SOMEONE DOESN'T GET ME AN EKTORP, I WILL BURN THIS MOTHER F'N PLACE DOWN!"

Do both of us a favor: check the website for inventory BEFORE going to IKEA.

Another trick is to just skip certain sections. We always avoid the children's furniture, sofas, and beds because we are never there for any of those things. We stick with bookcases, cabinets, chairs, and accessories.

Also, learn the shortcuts. Every Ikea has shortcuts.

I can't stand Ikea. Even if I'm by myself I have a meltdown just trying to find my way out of the place. :)

I have never had a meltdown with my husband while there, but have witnessed many couples who have! We have an Ikea fairly close to us, my husband actually works within walking distance so if I see something I am interested in, he can go check it out on lunch (while it's pretty dead in there) and help me decide if it's something we really want or not. We also make a list and use those nice little "short cut" areas to skip over entire sections a lot.

I live close to an IKEA, but I have bailed on a trip or two because I get so so frustrated by the slow-moving crowds blocking the paths. I know I am sometimes part of the slow-moving crowd. There should be an express lane for when you want to get in, look at the quality (ha!) of a product and move on.

It's the line that kills me. At our Ikea it's not uncommon to wait on line for 45 minutes. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to just ditch my cart and run the two miles out to my car (...that parking lot!).

Forty five minutes away; never a meltdown; just some serious angst. It's a lot to take in. So, when we get to the point of insanity, we head for the restaurant area and chill for a bit. The best times to go seem to be Sunday nights when, for some reason, there are way fewer people there.

Our closest Ikea is a 6 or 7 hour drive, so I do all my shopping online with them and even then there are breakdowns..."What do you mean they don't sell this item online? My boyfriend and I just went through this recently over a credenza for the TV. A lot of yelling, not at each other but on how stupid it is that we don't have a flipping iKea closer than 7 hours away.

@Tequila Red - does yours have self-checkout? Ours does and I love it. We're at Ikea maybe once or twice a year, but the self-checkout is really helpful when you have fewer items!

omg this made me relate immediately. Once we went during A MOVE. We had a big moving truck with all our earthy possessions on it while moving from Columbus, Ohio to Texas. Fortunately went to the Ikea in Cincinnati where we stopped to see family, but we went to IKEA with this big truck + a nearly 3 month old. Good times. That was a very bad day!

My best friend and I get what we call Ikea rage brought on by the combination of the slow-moving crowds, the lack of adequate light, and the low blood sugar that occurs when it takes 4 hours to buy a table. Our coping strategy involves a)identifying purchases before entering the store, b)going Sunday afternoon when it's marginally less crowded, and c)visiting the food vendors before, during, and after. It helps, some.

My favorite thing about IKEA is browsing the website and catalogue BEFORE I go to the store. That way we can look at exactly what we want, make a decision (either before, or quickly there) and be done.

If shopping is stressful, you're doing it wrong.

No meltdowns for us. But when I lived in Marin County, we used to drive over to the Emeryville IKEA just to get an infusion of culture. All the shades and culturally blended families brought me back to normal. We also had a tendency to need something an hour before the store closed and I think we got a thrill from racing in like hyper kids and finding what we needed before they locked us in. Which is still a goal of mine: IKEA locked store sleepover. Who's with me? The lox is mine, all mine.

I have never been inside IKEA. The closest one is 2 hours away and of course 2 hours back home. I would rather not spend 4 hours in the car. I think I would rather take a nap.

Every time I leave I swear I won't go back, but soon I'm swooning for more! The most frustrating thing for me and my Ikea co-attackers is that you loose your cell reception. It's not easy finding a lost honey in that maze!

After our first trip to IKEA in which my sister and I both nearly ended up in tears (at least I had the excuse of being pregnant) because we couldn't find the way out, we've learned. Now IKEA shopping in more recon mission--make the shopping list online before going, skip display floor, walk quickly through sales floor, pausing only for a few kitchen gadgets oogling, get items, self-check, get out. Last trip, we were in and out in under 30 minutes, including stopping for a cinnamon bun. Of course, having a crazy two-year-old in tow helped limit the browsing.

I live in Kansas, nowhere near an IKEA. Anyone know why there isn't on in Kansas City? Seems like there'd be plenty of market for it. I've only been to one once, when I was in Oregon for a few days for work, and the person I was traveling with refused to go so I went by myself. It was alright, I guess, I didn't blow up at myself (ha) but by the time I made it through the store I was definitely ready to leave. I think the only thing I bought there was a bottle of water. I've never bought anything from the website, but only because I refuse to the exorbitant shipping costs. Shipping should not double the cost of the item, it really shouldn't.

DITTO, easypeasy! LMAO... my hubby usually starts to get antsy by the kids dept, and by the time we get downstairs into the marketplace, he flips his shit and starts screaming at grandmas to get out of his way! Right when I start to feel the urge to browse through housewares for a nice little impulse buy. (Which is my sad attempt at making the trip feel worth it, since we just spent an hour debating the merits of that thing we went there to buy in the first place, which he then decides is 'stupid' and refuses to buy) And good luck getting to look through the "As-is" section! bah-humbug!

My husband has never been to an IKEA. Whenever he asks me about it, I always tell him it's not his thing (and it probably isn't; they have no tractors there). I have no interest in any meltdowns.

Toronto luckily has TWO ikeas, both connected to transit. But I rarely get someone to drive me, so I make a list and try to get it all in time. I look online and pinpoint the things I want to look at in person. I dont find it overwhelming once I am there.

One time my dad and I went to Ikea and he had a panic attack and we were running through the store to try and get to an exit so he could get some fresh air. It was quite comical in retrospect because you CANNOT escape ikea easily!

I don't understand fighting in public about anything, much less furniture. Life is too short.

I used to live in Saint Louis, and I did the 5 hour Chicago Ikea trips several times, however I then discovered this service (on craiglist of course) where you can order whatever you want from Ikea and they bring it to your door. They charge a certain %- I can't remember exactly how much now but very reasonable- based on the price of the item you order, and then there is no hassle. They usually do a weekend trip to Chicago with a big truck and bring back their weekly orders. So you can go and spend the weekend in Forest Park instead. No melt-downs :)

We decided early on in our marriage that I would choose stuff for the house, and my husband would be OK with my choices if he didn't have to step foot in an IKEA or any other furniture store, ever.

Keys to a stress free IKEA experience (learned from many a meltdown):

1. Whether buying 1 item or 12 and whether you have a list or not allocate AT LEAST 2-3 hours, with huge stores, parking, checkout lines etc. this is just how long it takes to get through IKEA.

2. Think hard about who you are bringing with you and why. Are you bringing your spouse/partner because you actually want their opinion or becuase the boxes are heavy and you like having company. Make sure your person knows why they are there.

3. Have what you need to succeed. Bring measurements, color swatches, pictures, etc. The only thing worse than spending 3-4 hours in IKEA picking things out is coming back to spend 1-2 hours returning items.

4. Take a break before you start assembling all the furniture. After spending hours in IKEA nothing is more stressful than looking at all the flat packaged boxes and calculating all the time it will take to turn it all into furniture. So, before you open everything up, grab some food, take a nap, or just relax for a second. Once your mind is clear- open a bottle a wine, put on a movie, and bust out your allen wrench- you will have amazing furniture in no time.

IKEA has a policy that you can hang out in their beds as long as you want. I highly recommend taking full advantage of this policy. Usually we laugh so much at IKEA, it's probably the last store we'd get in a fight in.

Meltdown, angst, anxiety attack---yes, yes, yes. Everything about going there is stress inducing. I don't have a car, so that's number one: getting a car and going through usually heavy traffic and back. Parking. Crowds. Layout. It makes your head explode. In the past, it's caused me to avoid it for literally years. I once had to return something and I think it took a year (they gave me a credit instead of cash because I waited so long--but at least their return policy is liberal).

But, I think I've now got a method. I only go when I take a weekday off work --but not a holiday--and I try to get there early. That reduces crowds in the store and on the road. I have a list of what I want. I go to the cafe whenever I please for a break. I drink lots of liquids. Very important: I get a store map. I've actually kind of adjusted to the layout and the little shortcuts that let you hop around like chutes and ladders.

When I've planned well, I can also tour the whole store and just look around, without getting a panic attack. There must be no crowds, or it is awful.

Finally, I have to get out before any traffic congestion occurs.

Also, I once was there after Xmas, the lines were a nightmare, and I ended up in a self-checkout line (when the lines are long, you can't tell which line you are in) and all of them were malfunctioning. It's taken a long time to trust any self-checkouts and I will never go in one at IKEA.

Some may say, why do this? I've often asked that myself and stayed away for years. But, the goodies there are so good and cheap. And it can be fun. Really, it can...

My IKEA rules:
1. NEVER go on a weekend. Weekdays lunchtime is best.
2. ALWAYS get a snack / drink upon arrival. Hydrate, people!
3. NEVER take a loved one. Ignore this if you are hardcore and have a divide and conquer strategy.
4. ALWAYS have a list. Wander aimlessly through the catalog, not the store.
5. ALWAYS go to the bathroom first. Finding your way back is not for the faint of heart.
6. NEVER stop in the Marketplace. You will just end up with useless crap.

And above ALL ELSE - when returning an item, get number then a frozen yogurt. It makes waiting so much more pleasant.

I never comment on posts here, but I just have to now. I'm in the LA area, a mere 20 minutes from several stores. Probably our (let's be honest- my) biggest meltdown to date here with my husband was in the window coverings section. Yes, I could go back just about any day to make a purchase, but the fact that it's huge, CRAZY overcrowded and confusing to navigate is enough to keep me away for long stretches of time!

Besides making a list of the items you want to buy at IKEA, they also can tell you the stock of a specific item, the bin number and the lot you can find that item at the specific ikea location. So a few months ago, I went straight to the storage area, located the 3 items i needed, and walked out with my purchases...

Uh, hell no we don't have IKEA meltdowns, if we did we wouldn't shop there again. Between the catalog and their website, we have all you need to prepare for a trip, we double-check measurements but don't even bother going if the items we want are showing as 'in stock' at the nearest IKEA. If you use their websites shopping list feature, and print it out, you can arrive and first find out exactly where to pick up each item in order to make it a quick trip through the showroom & warehouse. We're in/out in under 20 minutes, even buying furniture, and that often includes getting soft serve ice cream cones before we walk out the door.

I check the catalogue before I go and make absolutely sure that I want the item. I've never had a bad personal experience, but then again, I live only about an hour away. OTOH, my boyfriend couldn't wait to get out of the store, for some reason. I think the place just sets off a bad reaction in some people.

In Houston there is a ground floor door by the stairs/elevator that leads directly into the Marketplace. I scarcely ever visit the 2nd floor display area.

BTW, I couldn't disagree more with Heather's advice to stay out of the marketplace. My favorite glass base lamp came from the Marketplace. I love it. I love it more than the ones I had seen that were similar in other catalogues that cost hundreds of dollars more. It's perfect for my living room.
I also love the dishware. Dirt cheap, colorful and practical. AND most of my curtains are Ikea plain white Matelasse. They're cheap and elegant. There's a lot more good stuff there if you use your imagination.

My guy doesn't usually go to IKEA, but when he does, we don't have any problems. (These days I more often go with a male friend who has a new apartment and is more interested in decor.)

We pre-plan any big purchases, especially measuring the space where something is supposed to go, and then checking the online descriptions. We do follow the maze keeping an eye out for small things we might not have planned to get, but we walk briskly and pass by most stuff rather quickly. We ALWAYS eat lunch before shopping since it's about a 2.5 hour drive from our NH town to the south-of-Boston store. Not being hungry or thirsty helps... I think IKEA is fun and fascinating. I don't love every product, but compared to the other furniture stores around me, they at least have modern lines and reasonable prices.

After the first visit, though, you have a clue as to the quality and appearance of various things, there shouldn't be much to argue about if you plan before leaving...

I live about an hour or so away from 2 Ikeas (why does Illinois have two so close together and Wisconsin have none???). But my meltdowns usually are because I check and see if they have the item I leave and yet some how it's gone when I get there.

Or I have a meltdown trying to fit everything into my Honda Fit (I always win even if my sister can't sit in the front seat and has to sit directly behind me).

Either way everything is solved with their crack infused cinnamon buns.

The marketplace is my favorite section! I love the accessories! Lamps, textiles, plates...you can't go wrong with those basic mixing bowls.

The only way I can manage Ikea is by doing it the same way every single time. The only thing worse than following the road through the store is trying to go against the flow of traffic because you were skipping around, missed what you needed and have to back track. If I stick to my method, I can be in and out relatively efficiently. I try not to go with my husband because he'll want to gallivant off and ruin my carefully laid plans.

Going to Ikea always causes sensory overload for me. I can last about half an hour to 45 minutes, which usually gets me through most of the furniture, and then just when my nerves are beginning to fray, I find myself at the beginning of the Labyrinth of Accessories and I lose it. I call it going Ikearazy.

I loathe going to ikea, you can't just go there and buy the one thing you want, it absorbs a couple hours.

One cool trick that I found though is to carry around an allen key. If you can't get to where you want to go just go up to the wall and remove a wall panel. 4 'bolts' later, Voila you're in the next hangar. Bring a compass and remember if the parking lot is N, S, E, or W

My husband and I barely EVER fight. WE have had less than 5 "fights" in almost 9 years, and one of them was during our first (and most recent) trip to Ikea...I think it was about some Expedits, I can't even remember! I think the only thing we ended up buying was a $5 step stool. I didn't know it was a "thing" to have a blowout at Ikea!

I had my one and only agoraphobic anxiety attack on my first visit to IKEA. It was so much to take in.

Now I'm good though. I live close enough that I go to IKEA just to walk around and get ideas and see new products (like flipping through a catalog while walking!) And my husband will go too, so long as we aren't on ANY time crunch. Come to think of it, it's only been while we're actually looking for something specific that there's any frustrations.

I have been to Ikea once. I went by myself on a weekday and early had an anxiety attack trying to find my way out of the store. Why is it that you cannot just go out the same way you go in? I literally went down the elevator from the food court area to the first floor and back up 3 times and could not figure out why I could not get back to the front door.

I have done several major home/condo/rental property renovations and at one point got to know my way around and all the shortcuts in my local IKEA store. I probably could have donned a yellow polo shirt and pretened to work there because I was there so often and had memorized so many of the product names- especially when doing kitchens simultaniously . I have had my share of frustrations but just knowing that I will need to make more than one trip, knowing that I may forget or something may just be broken or not packaged correctly is the only way to go for a major project like a big kitchen or built ins. But for me now the joy is going to IKEA because I want to, now that all the major porjects are over it is a treat to just take it all in and see what they will come up with next. Tip, go at lunch time or Friday late afternoon through dinner hour- the shelves are stocked for the weekends and nobody is there. And, if you go through it backwards, you can make better time going upstream against the crowds if you are in a hurry......

I guess my wife and I used to get into small debates about what we needed. But since we have an Ikea within 15 minutes of our house, we've come to realize making the decisions aren't that important. I overanalyze and she will make snap decisions, so we've found a good balence by simply looking at something and thinking about it, then walking away and coming back later.

Or maybe that's just a product of having been together for around 10 years.

Never had a meltdown in IKEA, but I did make the mistake years ago of going to a newly opened right before the holidays. Bad, bad idea.

It was standing room only to progress through the showrooms and took about 3.5 hours of penguin shuffling to see everything. Lots of children had meltdowns along the way and who could blame them?

So funny! I actually voiced out this thought to my husband after our last Ikea trip: it was the least stressful trip ever. Before we had had serious meltdowns and grumpiness on our Ikea trips.

The secret? I packed lots of water to drink and refilled at the cafe (I get a headache if dehydrated), we stopped to eat BEFORE getting famished (usually too much in a hurry to eat), and thirdly, we for once were not stressed out about overspending. So we shopped a bit of everything.

The amazing thing is, that we did not get cranky, even though we had been walking at an antiques show for 4 hours before heading over to Ikea. So it had the potential to get ugly, but didn't!

I have a Ikea about 2 miles from home, but I tend to avoid it because of the crowds. If I'm going to venture there, I may do it during my work lunch break because it's the only time of the day that it's sparsely populated. And, a key point is to NOT bring the significant other... :)

My husband loathes IKEA. We went once and it was very dicey. Now that there is one in Red Hook, maybe I'd try again by myself, but that trip to Elizabeth, NJ on the shuttle? The store was bad enough but everybody wedging onto that shuttle WITH their purchases, then navigating Penn Station...? Oh my god. It is a testament to civilization that more murders were not committed in that parking lot. If we went again, I'd make very sure of cinnamon rolls.

You know there is a novel called "Things Fall Apart" that is written about Ikea furniture. Ikea is a commercial expression of the impermanence of life. Just when everything is jake, the drawer falls through. Their bent plywood rocker is the bees' knees, though.

No meltdowns for us yet. Maybe because when we go, we do it backwards - against the pedestrian flow. Just for fun. ; )

I have good Ikea memories. For the past 2 years, my now almost 5 year old and I have had our "buddy trips" to Ikea. Always on a weeknight, we enter the front door, go up the escalators and immediately buy him 10 meatballs and some pasta. Then we sit by the windows and watch the planes from the Portland airport. After dinner we go down the elevator and exit through one of the "secret" doors that get you right back to the entrance without needing to walk the entire circuit. My only bad memory is showing up one time in December and finding a line at the restaurant. It was some type of all you can eat Christmas buffet. So we waited in line 30 minutes and were then allowed to pay something like $12 for the meal. He had his 10 meatballs and I had some cheese and crackers. The rest of the food looked nasty. Not cheap, but he gets so much enjoyment from these outings that it is worth it.

We drive 4 hours from Green Bay to Chicago to go to IKEA about once a year. We haven't had any fights since I have every last step preplanned on an Excel spreadsheet with quantity, cost, sales tax, and sorted by department. But we do get the shopping fatigue as mentioned above. Start off with a good breakfast for 99 cents, don't go on the weekend, and don't hurry in the warehouse, as much as you want to get out of there after 4 hours. We rushed through the warehouse 2 weeks ago and I'm still trying to get the white bedrails that go with the MALM twin we bought....not the mismarked dark brown bedrails we came home with. UGH.

I cannot believe people drive five hours to get to an IKEA!!! Why? Don't they deliver where you are? Anyone would have a meltdown if they drove five hours to shop.

That aside, I appear to be a bit of a loner in finding the layout of Ikea to be really easy and intuitive to navigate but it can still be stressful. Thankfully Ikea seem to be aware of the stress inducing circumstances inside their stores and have thoughtfully placed hooks all over the place so you can leave your shopping bags and take a break outside to breathe into a paper bag and tear your hair out.

Or, grab a bowl of tepid soup and a cup of thin coffee and recline as far as you dare in the poorly constructed plastic seats of the in house cafe, amid the screams of cranky children and the ashen faced resignation of grave husbands. Failing that, try to take pleasure in the tiny pencils as you play the game of finding thinly veiled rude and inappropriate product names lurking amongst the Swedish.

Good luck :)

This makes me SO glad I'm single! ^_^ I have a love/hate relationship with IKEA. On one hand, it's shopping, and there's a bunch of cool stuff! On the other hand, it involves some of my least favorite things: Crowds, noise, and people in my personal space. It's fun when I have time to browse and a few vague ideas of what I want. If I'm on a strict schedule, if it's a weekend, or if I'm feeling overly sensitive, I stay away.

The closest IKEA to us is about 2 hours one way so when we go, we usually take the whole day and try to go one a weekday. Arrive when the store opens, browse until about lunchtime (no rushing allowed) discuss potential purchases over meatballs, then head down to grab a cart and go pick things up. The only time things have gotten stressful was the day we decided to get an entire kitchen on the last day of a kitchen sale (don't do this. EVER.) but that was more poor planning on our part than a failure on IKEA's.

Another tip: If you live near a college, do not go to IKEA at the beginning of the semester, or any time that parents might be visiting en masse.

The biggest fight my fiance and I have ever had started at IKEA and l lasted HOURS afterward. I mean door-slamming, shouting obscenities across the parking lot, flurries of emails back and forth when he went to work the night shift. Within 24 hours we were laughing about it and learned the following things.

1.) "Interesting," no matter how sincerely intoned, is not an acceptable response to someone sharing their opinions about something. A little effort here goes a long way. Trust me.

2.) Decide what kind of trip it is. This is not to say that there can't be hybrids, but communicating whether you want to go to browse or to get a specific list of things is essential. Maybe say, "I have a list of these five things, but I'd like to test out some couches, too."

3.) Write stuff down or take pictures with your phone. If you like that lamp in the awesome fake living room, take a picture of the tag or use those golf pencils. Don't just assume you'll find it later. Or remember that you wanted to get it, even though it wasn't on your list. You'll remember, but only like a week later.

4.) Check for quantities on the website. DO IT.

I think my husband and I have divorced at least 4 times over IKEA. Its mostly because I can't just look at the catalog--I need to see things in person to get a better idea of how it would be in my space. Online shopping just stresses me out for some reason--I need to touch and feel things. I usually have a general idea of what we need and then I allow myself one item that I just irrationally want--under 10 dollars. A vase, a plant or picture frame--otherwise everything is agreed upon by the two of us. That way I don't go super crazy buying things we don't really need.

Yeah, what a few people above said. You've got a catalog (either paper or online), use it to narrow your choices ahead of time. Set a budget. The store has shortcuts clearly marked - don't need dining furniture? Don't go through dining furniture. Don't go on a Saturday afternoon or, god forbid, holiday Monday. Eat before or during. And remember, it's just frikkin' furniture.

That said, I have one in between home and work, and my favorite technique involves stopping by on the way home from work (empty) and going in the exit door and straight to what I need.

OMG... I thought I was the only one... I feel better now!

technique: after making purchases, we get the soft serve frozen yogurt, sit on the couches around there eat it, relax a little and only then do we try to pack things into the car.

OMG, I was just telling my bf about this phenomenon! You start to see it down by the dishes. Then in the textiles section kids are screaming at the top of their lungs and people are arguing openly. At the checkout lines, everyone looks beat up. Just when you think you're out, you still have to deal with the parking situation to get your stuff in the car.

I take a break in the middle with a cone or some food at the cafe. Also, just go straight to the section you need to go to. No need to go through the whole maze.

I work so close to an IKEA that I go for lunch there a few times a month. After a casual meal ($2 chicken Thursdays) I grab what small items I need downstairs.
If I need more stuff, I will go on a weeknight when it's quiet.
The downside is since I'm there so much, I'm sick of looking at most of it, so I don't buy big ticket or patterned items, just neutral storage and organization products.

Cinnamon buns at the end of the journey make everything better.

Living back home, we were 10 minutes from a (not very busy most of the time) Ikea. My then boyfriend/fiance (now husband) and I would stop by all the time, and we had several large fights at Ikea (one of which ended up in me almost walking home - it was one of our worst fights ever!). The odd thing is, now that we live two hours away from the nearest Ikea (and 7 hours from the Ikea we used to live by), things are always fast and efficient and never results in fighting. I think all the driving makes us not want to waste any time in there, which results in us not getting into any arguments.

As is the case with most things in life, Amy Poehler summed it up in a clever little truth nugget: "IKEA is Swedish for argument."

Our Ikea is only 20 minutes away, but years ago the worst public blowup my husband and I have EVER had happened in that very store (we've been married for 25 years). A disagreement about whether or not we should have storage baskets on the wooden shelving unit we'd both agreed upon - I wanted baskets, he didn't - quickly deteriorated into an ugly shouting match involving a fusillade of F-bombs on both sides, I am ashamed to say. And we NEVER swear at one another.

Some poor woman started to come up to the shelving unit in question, carrying a basket (she obviously had the same idea I did), saw and heard what was going on, and backed away, wide eyed and terrified. It was so bad I stormed out (he had the car keys) and I dug change out of my pocket to take the trolley and bus home.

We laugh about it now - we call it "The Ikea Incident" - but at the time it was horrible and we've never behaved badly in Ikea - or anywhere else - ever again.

Wow! I didn't realize we were part of a whole dang phenomenon! Lol. My husband and I totally had an IKEA meltdown at the Round Rock one. Not in the store, but boy did we let each other have it when we got back to the car! For some reason, that one is just awful. Like Walmart on steroids. We recently went to the one in Phoenix and had a grand ole time. There didn't seem to be less people or anything, it was just such a different vibe.

One time, standing in the loooooong queue at Ikea, a man waiting in front of me said to his mate "When people ask me what I did today I'm going to tell them I stood in a corner and hit my head repetitively with a hammer". I knew exactly what he meant. Ikea induced headache anyone?

We feel so lucky that we live 10 minutes drive away from the Ikea in Emeryville. I've been there so many times that I pretty much have the layout and shortcuts memorized. Lessons I learned early on are never go on the weekends and only go to the sections with things I need to buy. Returning stuff and picking up large items can be frustrating because there's always a wait. I try not to go more than once a month...

This post is not enjoyable.

Oh, no blowouts for me and my fiance at Ikea, yet!

i think maybe it's certaain places where the ppl are known to have short fuses where this happens?

i thought of the 30 rock episode, i have never heard of this happening otherwise.

of the many, many yrs i have been going to ikea, i have never even heard ppl disagree or argue while shopping.

It's very clever of them to have the restaurant with the meatballs half-way through, and then the cheap hot-dogs at the end. It makes it much easier to convince him to come to the IKEA with me =^).

We've never had an IKEA meltdown. I'm the high-strung one, he just shrugs, or asks if we really need X when we already have Y, or whether we really have room for something. I'm more more even-keel when I'm around him than when I'm not, just through osmosis or something.

So, no IKEA meltdowns.

(Though my dad claims to have gone into one ONCE, to have nearly starved as he spent three hours vainly trying to find the exit, and swears he's never setting foot into one again. He says he never saw the restaurant).

@particleman (particle man, doing the things a particle can..) I think you mean a minotaur, rather than a cyclops? ;^)

Never visited IKEA but wanted to until I read this thread. The hubs actually offered to escort me one weekend this summer...a precious gift since it's 3 hrs one way and he hates to shop. He'd be giving up a whole day, knowing in advance he'd be miserable. Mm...I think I'll pass on his sweet offer & just consider it's the thought that counts.

The *How to Shop at IKEA* link on their website set off alarm bells for me to begin with. This thread just confirms them. Thanks, but no thanks.

bummer.

No Ikea meltdowns for me. My closest Ikea is about 1 hr away, maybe slightly less, depending on traffic. The worst part about the trip to Ikea is that I have to take a highway where the speed limit is quite low, at times only 60 km an hour, and it is notorious for patrol cars in hiding and ready to slap you with a speeding ticket.
I don't think I would be willing to drive for 4 or 5 hours to Ikea, I would probably pay to have it shipped.

driving 5 hours to ikea? hm, doesn't seem worth it to me. i would never go with the pressure to get everything for our home. i go to have fun looking and usually end up leaving with a frame and some plates or something. guess i know now not to risk my marriage!

free coffee with your IKEA card = lifesaver. So are free Monday breakfasts- the restaurant is where I'll drop my husband with book when we hit IKEA for stuff (:

We love Ikea. But why the one-hour limit for the kids at Smaland? It's not possible to make it through that store in an hour, and in our family, it's only the kids who have ever melted down there. However, I want to melt down when I look at their website. Worst pictures ever.

I'll tell you what gives me road rage at Ikea ... those stupid carts! Are they the same everywhere. They travel sideways as well, which makes me feel like I'm participating in a WWE match. I HATE 'EM!

BUT I LOVE IKEA ... and my house proves it.

I must be an alien from another planet. I've gone on VERY long rides to the Montreal store before the one in CT and MA opened up. Never felt stressed or overwhelmed. I was really confused the first time but once I figured out a few key things it all seemed very simple and logical. I always enjoy my trips to IKEA- I eat some delicious food for next to nothing, get a few things for the house at a great deal, and grab some unique foods from the Swedish market on my way out. Over the past 8 years I've gone by myself, with friends, and with significant others. Never a problem. Some others with me have had freakouts though due to being overwhelmed by the options, scope, and sheer # of people. I've left early a few times to accomodate, but never got into a fight or anything.

Concerning IKEA it's a privilege to live in Europe, esp. in Germany.
I basically grew up with IKEA. You never have to drive more than one hour to got to the next store.
Yet it can be nerve-racking ... depends on whom you're going with.
When you know that your shopping partner has a different view ... go "online shopping" in advance! It's much easier to agree on something at home - where you can take additional measurements - than in the actual store.
Then go to the store and take a look if the color is really the one you imagined or if the sofa is as comfortable as it looks.
It's so easy ^^

When have to go there, we spare some time just to go to the sofa section and hang out at the TIDAFORS ... it's so comfy and soft and awesome! Sad that we already do have a super cool sofa plus a tiny apartment :/

For those of you driving long distances to get to an Ikea: Can someone explain to me why you do that? Seems like a hassle (not to mention really expensive) to get to a big-box store. Is IKEA really the only option for cheap furniture?

I watched that 30 rock episode and was so confused. haha. I always have a good time at ikea, and I always go with my boyfriend. We don't tend to buy big furniture though. I love ikea for their smaller items. Anything there with drawers are crap.

LOL The thing with Ikea is to know in advance what you are looking for and wear comfy shoes. Before you go looking at anything, go and eat before walking the maze. A coffee break before going to the marketplace is optional although necessary if you have a newbie with you. Then, you are all set to finish the trip with the least amount of tiredness and drama. Have a water with you in the maze, that helps too if you are too hot.

I can so relate! Our closest store requires a day trip. We look online, make lists, but inevitably someone forgets a measurement, is hungry and irritable after the car ride and walking though the maze, gets distracted by all the 'stuff', ends up not liking the item in person or we become indecisive on what we thought we wanted to get, or what was in stock now isn't. Yes, thank goodness for the cinnamon rolls. I'll be using some of these tips for next time.

I have definitely learned that it's "a thing" over the past few years... So much so that our theatre company here in Brooklyn has developed a brand new play about it! It's called "Leaving IKEA: a play in two cantos". Couples are trapped in a blue and yellow purgatory, unable to escape until they solve the problems of their relationship. And every time I tell friends, colleagues, strangers about the premise for the play they share with me *their* trip to IKEA story...

If you want to witness the theatricalized IKEA meltdown, here's more info!

Leaving IKEA: a play in two cantos
June 7-24
at the Brooklyn Lyceum
Produced by The Artful Conspirators

"A coming out gone wrong, an angry gnome, and two hundred pounds of Swedish meatballs: welcome to IKEA, friends. As two couples venture through their local Swedish superstore, they become trapped in a blue and yellow purgatory; unable to escape until they solve the problems in their ailing relationships. Will they be able to put all of the parts together without any instructions? Will they ever get home? Join two ordinary couples as they take an extraordinary journey to find the arrows that will lead them out of the relationship inferno that is IKEA."

For more information, visit The Artful Conspirators site.

It's not just you, I've noticed the same thing. The long driving distance makes decisions more stressful. It helps to take along careful measurements and print outs of what I want. Their restaurant also helps to keep the experience pleasant.

I always go during the week, preferably early. And, if I have to bring my husband, let him spend at least half of the trip in the cafeteria with some swedish meatballs. Also, please note that there is a very nice irish pub one block away from the ikea in Brooklyn. VERY CONVENIENT!

now i'm off to watch that 30 Rock episode everyone keeps talking about. thanks for the tip!

I would never take my husband to IKEA. He would curl up in the foetal position within minutes.

I like to HAVE the opportunity to have a meltdown in an IKEA - Kansas City is IKEA deprived! The nearest ones are Denver, Mpls, Chicago and Dallas????? 12 to 14 hours one way OMG.

Hey, IKEA management - KC Metro is 2+ million people and if you add in all the colleges and towns within a two-three hour drive, I think that there'd be a large enough customer base to support one.

when my boyfriend and I go to Ikea there are no fights (its only 20 minutes away however).... he silently follows me through the store as I enter my ikea mind zone...

Yes.
The first time driving there, i was thrown from the front of the van to the front, bloodying my nose inside and out and jacking up my neck. I shopped anyway. Mild concussion caused me not to even my pin number upon checking out. All i wanted was a stiff drink and could not even have that, due to PA's whack liquor laws.

Needless to say, I am always happy to go back.

I feel like i have found the cause of these male/female IKEA meltdowns. It's that i do in saying i want a lamp, rug, and chair, and we come out a cart-full later. It's that the extra items are not expected and the partner wonders why you didn't trust them enough going in, to tell them what all was going on. I'm a woman, i shop as i go. I shop on inspiration, even when i do come in with a list.

Communicate. But this is the goal everywhere, no?

The comments are funny. If your partner does not enjoy shopping and has NO OPINION about home furnishings, I think the kindest thing would be to go to Ikea without them. It seems mean to impose a hellish experience on an unsuspecting partner during their day off.

Check the web site and catalog first, make a list, check the store inventory, have a snack and a drink and try to go at "off hours". IKEA is the worst on the weekends mid day with overstimulated children and grumpy parents.

I now live less than five minutes from an Ikea. I also go over options with the hubby on the computer at home. We still have the Ikea blowouts. Most often over furniture we don't have any intention of buying. The most recent was about a couch when we were actually there to buy a bed. I think it actually helps put some zest in our relationship. At least we can always agree on the cafeteria.

We discovered IKEA about a year ago when we started renovating our 80's rancher. I figured at first that the hub would have his traditional meltdown midway through and I was right.....the first time. However, when it began to dawn on him that we were about to save an incredible amount of money, he quickly became a convert and now it's not too hard to get him to go. The best way to insure success- feed him while we are there. We live about 45 minutes away from our local IKEA. We have furnished our great room and bedroom with IKEA purchases. It didn't take either of us long to realize that we were going to be able to buy quality furniture at reasonable prices and the only drawback would be putting it together ourselves, which also hasn't been a terrible hassle since the first attempt. We've learned how to make the process go fairly smoothly since. There would have been no way for us to purchase quality pieces on our budget. Even saving for something usually doesn't work because either by the time we had saved enough we found that the store didn't carry it anymore or the price had gone up and we needed to save some more. I have been very pleased with everything I've bought from IKEA and have enjoyed the many compliments I've received on how my home looks now. And the hub continues to always be ready to hop in the Beast (91 Suburban) and haul something new home.

This thread makes me happy.

My boyfriend and I recently went to Ikea together for the first time... the four hour drive one way combined with our long shopping list probably precipitated the gigantic meltdown we had in the bedroom section. Over our bedside tables. Needless to say, we had to take a break for some meatballs, and then my sweet boyfriend sat down in the living room section while I finished our shopping.

I think they put something in those meatballs, because after waiting for 45 minutes in the checkout line, I remained relatively calm when our credit card was declined. Apparently, Visa thought spending over a thousand dollars at once in a city four hours away was suspicious activity. :) Good thing we brought a debit card.

We have two IKEAS within an easy drive, and I sometimes use them for cheap lunch and an hour of child care when I just really need an hour to myself -- a cup of coffee and a book in the cafe!

I have never been and after reading this, I never will.