I would love to have a wall to do this - add crown molding on the top and bottom for a built in look. Quite the wow factor, plus great storage.

We have two 5x5s in our basement next to each other. Not for kid stuff though.

This is fantastic! What a visual statement! Oh Ikea, is there anything you can't do.....

This I might be able to get home in my car - the 5x5 is too long for such a long drive.

How do people get that thing to their house anyway? Do they actually pay more than the cost of the item for the IKEA delivery charge?

My dreams come true.

eskkimmo, I remember hauling our 4x4 home in our Chevy Cavalier. Seats folded down and some of that handy twine they give you to hold the trunk shut. And we live <10 min from Ikea, which was helpful. The 5x5 may have exceeded the car's capacity!

Waaaaaaaaaait, you buy these things already put together? I thought they came in boxes! I have never been to Ikea but have plans for a major trip next month for nursery shelving and a crib..

Nooo! They are always in boxes, unassembled. Don't worry!

The expedit is really, really heavy though.

Ikea delivery is $79 for as much as you want, so I just plan ahead, get everything I need and have a neighbor do the same. We split the cost and they delivered 24 hours later. Worth it.

OR Zipcar pickup trucks, after 6pm is only $30 for the overnight (6pm-8am). Go then. Easy peasy.

Atarichamp: You can buy pieces pre-assembled if you go to the as-is room near the check out. We have bought bookcases for $25 a piece, twin beds for $100, dining room chairs $30, an IKEA playhouse they were getting rid of for $40. Some things you have to take apart there (bring tools or they might lend some to you) or try and fit into your car. I think every IKEA has an As-Is room, I've lived in 3 states that have. Good Luck!

I was super impressed until I realized that our 2 5x5s have more storage space. ;) We got two 5x5 boxes (so actually four boxes I think) home in a Prius with no problems, so look into the dimensions of your car again. Granted, we didn't have kids at the time, but I've been amazed at what we could take home from IKEA in what is a smallish car.

I do have to say, I am very impressed with the Ikea website and dimensions. We live 3.5 hours from each Ikea, and when we needed to go make big purchases and weren't sure what vehicle to take down there (for gas mileage purposes) the website was great at box dimensions,

I once fit a pre-assembled 2x4 in the back of my little hatchback. Where there's an IKEA will, there's a way!

I love, love this set-up though! I'd kinda gone off the expedit, because you see it everywhere. Home tours, friends houses, work, shops, hair salons, cafes etc etc.
If the above were my house, I'd put one of those sliding library ladders along the join between the top and bottom bookcases!

I hope my kids never have so much stuff that they need that many storage cubbies.

I hope my kids *do* have enough books to need that many storage cubbies. If it were entirely full of toys I'd definitely agree with musikmama, though.

I don't have enough stuff to put in there. And I have a lot of stuff..

Does anyone know where those kids scoop back chairs are from?

That really looks great. Our twins would love it - what about this expedit bookshelf http://www.blaetterrauschen.de/2009/04/03/monster/

So many possibilities with IKEA. I just measured, I could put four of the 4x4 units in a two by two configuration in the living room but I wonder if the lower units are really designed to hold the weight of the upper units. It'd also be good in the kitchen as a appliance barn if each square was just a couple of inches larger (18" square would hold any counter top appliance I have). Those with smaller mixers and blenders could have a good time using it.

I wonder if the lower units are really designed to hold the weight of the upper units.

Well, you could always support the upper unit on metal brackets bolted to the wall. But I'm pretty sure the lower unit would have little trouble supporting the weight of the upper unit - those things are pretty sturdy if you don't move 'em around too much.

I just wouldn't load the upper unit with a lot of heavy stuff.

Muriam- I'm not sure, but my daughter has the green Room & Board ones that are similar (http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19425&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuCategory=198&menuSubcategory=162)

i fit a 5x5 in my car with no issues. also a huge huge dining table before. i had to fold down my front seat and half my back seat.

A friendly tip for anyone who is planning an out-of-town trip to Ikea... check product availability before you go! We drove 3 hours to one of the biggest Ikea stores in the country, only to get there and find out that they were out of the Expedit in the size/color I needed.. and would be getting more in the next morning. I was not a happy camper! That probably sounds like a no-brainer, but as big as this store is, I couldn't imagine them ever being out of such a staple item.

My friend's mom has an entire long wall full of the 5x5's that she uses for fabric, and then on her short wall, she uses the billies. The expedit is such an awesome piece of furniture. We had three in our house at one point, and I'd love to have another. They make bookcases for people with OCD.