i try to avoid ikea at all costs. unfortunately, when budgets are low and it's time to move into a new place, it's hard to beat their prices for substantial pieces. i moved into my first place last year and bought my sofa there. i can't wait to upgrade down the line to something more timeless.

how do i feel after? equal parts exhausted and irritated, with a dash of thankfulness that i scored that 9x12 rug in the "AS-IS" section.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for my wallet!) the nearest Ikea is a 4-hour drive away, so I only go when I can make a weekend of it. I do often spend a happy hour sitting on the couch with a highlighter and some post-it flags daydreaming through the catalog, which can be almost as fun (and free!)!!

I go between two and four times a year, depending on who I know who I can hitch a ride with. We also go for small mundane things that we can't find anywhere else. Usually, whatever it is, is much more stylish and more reasonably-priced. I am pretty good with sticking to only buying things that really have a use. Occasionally, however, we'll splurge on a plant. We always go before lunch so we can stay for swedish meatballs!

I don't know if it's fortunate or not for us, that we have an Ikea within less than a half an hour of us. We got basically when we want or need something. I try not to spend too much there, because I'd rather find something that I can repurpose, but it's easy to get lured into their clean lines and inexpensive prices.

i try to go once a year, but it's about a four hour drive for us to Chicago or Minneapolis. this also means usually a hotel stay, so add another $125 to the trip.

I also sit down with the post-it notes beforehand and mark up the catalog, write a list, and figure out how much it should cost.

the beginning of the trip is exhilirating, and by the end of the trip, it's exhausting. then there is the fun of trying to fit everything into the car, and hoping you don't get a flat on the way home!

I love ikea (its hard to beat for affordable furniture that can take a beating from kids) but its a long drive. 2 hours to E. Palo Alto or Emeryville...not to mention the hours of aimless wandering, and the need to find a babysitter, and the lack of space for everything I desire in the car! I find that making a shopping list, and adding/deleting things over the year helps me from going completely nuts once we get there. I just wish their shipping costs werent so crazy...

3-4 times per year for me, and an IKEA trip always makes me happy... the anticipation, the actual time there, and the satisfaction upon returning home. What I look for -- and always find -- are smaller items (textiles, frames, mirrors, trays, fabric, candles, etc.) that I like. And YES, always a stop at the cafe/restaurant for a bite. And in the food section, their mueseli is great, as are their frozen potato latkes and their chocolate cookies. Also pick up a bottle of black currant syrup to add to white wine (for a kir) or champagne (for a kir royale). If they don't have the black currant, lingonberry works equally well.

I used to live about 10 minutes from an Ikea... yeah, we went a lot (sometimes just for a cinnamon roll from the front cafe thing) and I picked up lots of things, but mostly just little useful things here and there - a silverware tray, storage boxes, a lamp, (really cheap) mirrors for my wedding centerpieces, etc. Now we live about 1.5 hours away from the nearest Ikea, but we pass by it every time we take the trek back to visit family (who still live next door to a different Ikea), so we make it in sometimes. But now my habits have changed a bit - instead of Ikea being one of the first places I look for stuff, I now weigh how much I need the item and how impossible it is to find anywhere else to how annoying it will be to get into an Ikea on a weekend (since I can no longer stop by on a Wednesday night).

i live a delightful 4 miles from Ikea in Atlanta. It's great that when something is not working, like my newest dimmer, I can run down there and grab a cinnamon bun with a friend and exchange it. But with that proximity, I think my impulse purchases are fewer... I know I can go back in a week for something I regret leaving behind!!!

I used to live about 15 min away from IKEA so it was my main home store for bits and bobs as it's so cheap for T lights, lamps ect. Now I don't have a car and live about 45 min drive from one. I still go a few times a year (with a list). Once I'm there I buy some stuff that catches my eye if it's good value. I feel that I can justify this as I go rarely.

I would look to secondhand shops for furniture first but in an upstairs flat sometimes we need flat pack.

What's really bad is when you not only live near an IKEA, but you have an Inside Man. You know all the awesome endcap displays they have at the Minneapolis/St. Paul IKEA?
I know that guy. And her husband. And her cats.

Ikea's only 40 minutes away, and I love it. Usually I don't buy much or anything at all, but I'm planning on going tomorrow to buy an Expedit bookcase. They're perfect for record storage, and I can't beat the price.

I live 10 minutes from an Ikea. I go 6-7 times a year and I always spend more than I want to. I also ALWAYS forget to bring the 10+ giant reusable Ikea bags I've purchased on my previous trips. Ugh. I went to Ikea for frames this weekend (2.5 hr ordeal - w\out my bags) and ended up spending $120 on all sorts of things... I did get my frames though.

When IKEA was new here to the US back in the 80's, I loved making the occassional trek there - it was like going to a branch of the Swedish Embassy and bringing cleverly designed Swedish things home...
...but now IKEA is now just across the bay from me and everything there is so cheap - and it's impossible to find anything that's made in Sweden - so I haven't been in at least 7 years.

There's nothing I need that I can't get elsewhere of better quality, nothing I want from them - and I can't think of a more miserable way to spend a day.

Me and my husband make a trip out to Ikea about twice a year. When we moved into our first apartment February 1st we got a cool entertainment unit with lots of shelving, as well as an affordable duvet and duvet cover. I will sometime make him stop in just for a look around the bottom floor on our way home from San Francisco just to make sure there is nothing I 'need'. Oh, and we bought our centerpieces for our wedding at Ikea, black lanterns, love them. Its only a 45 minute drive for us, and after reading about it so much, I may need to stop by this weekend ;)

Prefer to wait and only by when it is available and really need it. Why spend money on cheap inexpensive stuff. Rather recycle, upcycle and worry about long term life of the product

I go once or twice a year. I live in DC, 25 minutes away from the nearest IKEA, but I have to rent a Zipcar to get there. So, it's usually an all-day excursion with Home Depot/bulk groceries/other errands thrown in, with a home delivery scheduled for the end of the day. I enjoy going, but it's very draining, so I can't do it too often.

I'm in Tucson, and our nearest IKEA is up in Tempe (Phx), 2 hours away. We love it, and make a day of it a couple times a year. I know there's a lot of anti-IKEA snobbery out there, but I think it's brilliant. You get to look at cool stuff with your hands free, and just about the time you're tired, you can stop for lunch. And then you can get your stuff at the end and go home. I don't have room for any more furniture in my house, so we can't come up for a reason to make the trip anytime soon, but I may go back eventually to get a cabinet to hack into a guitar cabinet. I imagine if we had one in town, it could be dangerous. Another shout out for the Expedit; they're awesome.

Never been. There isn't even an IKEA in my state.

It's possible to survive without IKEA (or any other furniture store for that matter). I'm living proof. I own zero new furniture. Everything was secondhand or repurposed.

Doesn't mean I wouldn't like to go to IKEA to check it out. But I'll have to wait until someone decides to build one within a day's drive.

I go three or four times a year--I'd actually like to go more often but, honestly, NYC summers make Brooklyn feel like a schlep from uptown. Thus, I never go without a plan. Last trip to IKEA: sixteen Tekla dishtowels, the closest thing to floursack I've found and only .79 cents.

And even after what should have been a half-hour trip, I was exhausted beyond all understanding...

Nearest IKEA is over 400 miles away. Much too far for me. So my IKEA habits are mostly seeing something on Ohdeedoh and wanting it then looking for the next best thing.

I live 3.5 hours away from Ikea. I've tried buying similarly cheap stuff from WalMart or Target, but they can't match the quality or style. I've been buying their Ivar bookshelves for 25 years now -- and who else is going to keep a basic in production that long? (Though I'm not crazy about the recent switch to plastic ends on the shelves.) I just put together a Sauder display unit in my new house and it's AWFUL in comparison to Ikea furniture. I go about 3-4 times per year when I really need something or when I'm in Dallas for some other reason. I take a list but allow some wriggle room for impulse purchases. I have certain rest stops and gas stations I hit, and I try to make it in time for free coffee in the morning!

I have no Ikea habits. Closest is 5 hours away. When I'm trying to be economical, I go to auctions and tag sales and re-purpose quality furniture. And my home is much more interesting, soulful, and does not look like everyone else's.

"they've hit my IKEA Achilles heel"

You mean your IKEAles' heel?

Sorry. It's been a long day. I'm punchy. I've managed to hold out re: Ikea, mostly because it's a small hike for me, but if there was one around the corner, I would definitely indulge in those hanging planters. They'd look spectacular with my container garden.

And you always have to check the returns section when you go! You never know what cool stuff you'll find, even if it's not whole.

I bought a fully assembled futon (yay!) for my office that I sleep on when I have company. Perfect working order and cheaper than a new one I'd have to assemble myself.

I also bought a half-circle table top for like $5. It's from the table that attaches to the wall and folds down. See, my kitchen table is oval, so the half circle slab of wood fits perfectly on one end. It's my cutting board/work board for when I make pasta.

I've been a regular IKEA customer ever since they opened their first store in the United States. No matter where I live, whether five hours or five minutes away, I always find a variety of useful items available at any price point. Contrary to what is often stated on this site, many of my purchases have been of excellent quality even though in the beginning IKEA furniture was primarily made of solid woods and veneers. My favorite times to shop are midweek to avoid the crowds and during the various annual ticketed food festivals.

Im 1/2 European. I'm sure I was conceived on a bed made by IKEA so its needless to say Ive been a customer since before it made its stateside debut (In fact my mom shipped some IKEA stuff to America when they moved here- my first bed was from there)

I go once every 3 weeks or so for little things that pop up and they for whatever reason have a good and cheap solution to it. Mine is about 20 mins away and surrounded by a ton of to other stores so I hit it up when I go to target etc. I never go on the weekend. That is just asking for death by Ikea crowds.

I really have no idea why people hate IKEA. I have several IKEA peices in my home, and theyve fared better and held up just as well as the 1k Gabberts furniture handed down from my folks- in many cases, it's actually held up BETTER than the expensive peices. Even that $5 standing shelf I bought in college is still 100% studry and still in use.

In St Paul, IKEA is practically a date spot. You can hang out as long as you want, nest with your sweety, and get shockingly good food for very little money. you see couples and young families wandering through holding hands and looking dreamy all the time.

IKEA is my go-to place for lots of little things, and it's nearby, so we go quite a bit. I expecially love them for frames. We have a million tiny peices of art, and for something like that I want affordable matching options that I can go get more of a year later if I want to.

Plus, where else am I going to be able to get eight solid wood folding chairs for $120? (total, not each) Nowhere, thats where. None of the local thrift stores have even come close to that in all the time I've been looking (2 years). And I can buy them one at a time as our budget (and my volkswagon bug) permits.

Ok, so I live about 10 minutes away from our local Ikea. Which is very dangerous for my wallet. Whenever I'm bored and want to get something new to add to my apartment or just want to browse I go to Ikea. I go, maybe 10 times a year. It seems lately I've been going more often. I usually buy things like plant pots, accessories and the like. I have bought a bookcase and some chairs there. Been eyeing a dresser lately. ;)

ElaneB - Oh, yes, Ikea bags. I have a whole bunch - never actually taken them back to an Ikea, but I love those things. They're great for filling up with weeds while gardening, I used them to carry stuff in the car (they were prefect for my wedding shower presents), they've been great while we were moving... the list goes on and on! However, I HATE them for taking to Ikea. They are a pain to remember, kind of annoying to carry around while you look at stuff, and once I was accused of stealing them by an Ikea employee (he thought I had taken them and didn't pay for them before bagging up my goods). I just use my normal reusable bags for small things and carry the larger things separately.

Shame on me, I can't leave Ikea without tons of... napkins. Because I usually go to Ikea when someone else is going. Helps me save money. But I still buy napkins.

Ours opens tomorrow!!! (in Denver) so I've yet to find out. Before this, the closest one is 8-10 hours away (in Utah).

I did get a chance to swing through the one by the Pittsburgh airport two years ago... I was in and out in 15 minutes... so I saw a bunch but didn't really get to inspect anything.

It'll be nice to have some options when you just can't find what you're looking at an antiques store... and American Furniture Warehouse stuff is crappier (and more boring) than what I can imagine IKEA to be!
(Room & Board is still out of my price range.)

Where do you live, Tess? If it's SF, CalTrain to the EPA Ikea might be a better bet.

We live in Eastern Alameda County so the 45 minute drive to Ikea is worth it when we make a move to a new place. Too bad Dublin decided not to get an Ikea after all.

Yeah I'd rather spend more and support an indie chain, too, but in the meantime I can't actually afford to spend more, and yet I still need furniture on which to eat and sleep. Them's the breaks.

I live about 20 minutes away from an Ikea (and work 10 minutes away from it). I go there about once a month on my lunch break and pick up odds and ends, an inexpensive lunch out, some tasty snacks to take home and things that take my fancy in the As-Is section. I know where every short cut in the showroom is and I usually know where every item I want is located in the marketplace. My coworkers are amazed by the speed at which I can cruise through that store and still pick up everything I need.

ooh, Ikea plush rats! Inspired by the new Brooklyn location, perhaps?

http://tinyurl.com/3qd366x go to page 134-135.

Admit to some want for other things. The big cushions are nice.

closest Ikea is 3 hours away ... by plane ...

and that's one thing I really miss about our old home. We'd go to ikea for the $1 breakfast and then have a fieldtrip. We'd always stop through the as is. then poke through other things. mostly we wouldn't get anything at all. but sometimes something small.

as for cheap and not well designed: our dining table and chairs are proof that this oft-cited claim is just wrong. we bought them 16 years ago and they're still going strong. as are our couches, now 8 years old and lived on/in with small children.

I miss our ikea fieldtrips. now I go once a year if I happen to be in a city with one.

Im in denver with ClickChick, ours opens tomorrow! Very excited. Always visit when I am in a city with an Ikea, and am always so limited in what I can take home.

I totally see myself there once a month right now haha, although I am sure the novelty will wear off after awhile... or I will run out of space!

I live about half an hour from Ikea. When I go I usually have something in mind I am looking for, but I also like to look at their displays for decorating inspiration. I've only walked out empty handed once! Everything I've bought there is holding up well.

I am powerless over IKEA. I was a student in Sweden many years ago when I first fell for it, and I've been there for all kinds of things I couldn't afford anywhere else. When I first moved into my present apartment, for instance, I had donated many items before moving across the country, leaving lots of functions to fill, like shelving for books and display (Broder, which looks nicely industrial/rustic with wood plank shelving and cost me a song for 9 linear feet of floor-to-ceiling storage), kitchen work surface (Varde), pantry unit (Pax), TV stand, wood blinds, and dresser (Hemnes). The key quality-wise is to search out the pieces that are solid wood; I have avoided their upholstered furniture, though my mattress is great (Sultan Hansbo, I think). And I love the food section, which I visit every couple of months to stock up on my favorite Swedish condiments and such. Now that my apartment is pretty well set, I am better at curbing my impulse buys. I only go early on Saturday to Paramus and set myself a time limit to be done in an hour, to avoid the crowds.

I love Ikea! I live about 20 minutes away from one, so I usually go every three or four weeks.

It's really hard to beat their prices, and everything I've purchased has been extremely durable.

The only downside I can see to Ikea is that many of their pieces are so recognizable. I have at least four things from Ikea in each room, yet I don't think my place looks Ikeafied. I only have two pieces which scream, "IKEA", my Expedit and my Grundtal hangy-bar things in the kitchen.

I'm in Toronto and there are 3 Ikeas within a 20-40 minute drive from me. I go about once every three months. However, each visit usually requires multiple trips, as I constantly find myself returning or exchanging things - sometimes due to the piece not quite working out in the space as I envisioned it, and sometimes due to buyer's remorse. I think if I didn't have the luxury of proximity, I would be a lot more disciplined with my approach to Ikea. Is it just me?

"In St Paul, IKEA is practically a date spot. You can hang out as long as you want, nest with your sweety, and get shockingly good food for very little money. you see couples and young families wandering through holding hands and looking dreamy all the time."

St Paul must be really boring.

Argh....i live less than a mile and a half from ikea. I ride my bike there for breakfast. Someone help meeee!

Never been to an Ikea. I don't know anyone who has any Ikea stuff.

What I've picked up from this thread, though, is that I shouldn't ever go there on a weekend. And that there is apparently a catalog I need to look at? I have seen their website but hardly anything is available on there, and I have admired things from Ikea on various sites like this one....but still an Ikea virgin.

Chicago has 2 Ikea's, like the Schaumburg store the best! Being from Europe- I really like certain items, like dish brushes or European size mugs and glasses...so yeah, for kitchen stuff, rugs and fabrics, Ikea is the place to be. For furniture- only the real wood items, the rest is pretty overpriced considering the fact that it's hardly more than cardboard... I'd rather have thrift store finds usually, but if I really can't find it, I go to Ikea, at least 4 times a year. When I go, I try to buy timeless, durable items.

There is no Ikea in Hawaii, sadly. They say there is not enough affordable land to build one. But, I've been to an Ikea in Hong Kong, in Causeway Bay of all places (crowded, urban, not cheap land). It ran underground of several highrises, kind of crazy. So I say if you can make one in Hong Kong, you can make one anywhere.

I live about 30 min from Ikea and I've made several trips in the past month, as I've decided to crochet a rag rug and Ikea has sheets for 3.99.

But my rule for shopping there is to stop right before the cash register and purge at least one thing. It's very easy to grab lots of small stuff as you weave through the maze. I like to stop and ask myself if I really like the item, or if it just looked really great in the showroom, which looks nothing like my apartment. And buying the pillow/throw/vase/storage boxes is not going to give my place sage painted walls and beautiful hardwired pendant lamps, which are what I really loved about the showroom in the fist place.

Love it -- have ever since the first store opened in the DC area. Had a 20 year drought after moving to DFW, so I reaaally love it. Let me count the ways:
- love the logic of the stores' layout, while stile having neat nooks & crannies to explore,
- love the ingenuity of their use of space,
- love the clean, modern lines of so many of tge products, balanced by the wood of Swedish country,
- LOVE their textiles!
- like their staff quite a lot,
- love getting home and having a whole NUTHER level of fun, assembling my goodies (and, y'know, bonding with them),
- and I dearly love that they inspire people to the point of IKEAHackers.net and IkeaFans websites. Pretty amazing.
- oh, and their prices ain't bad either.

Thanks for the shout-out BodiceGoddess!
As she pointed out, I work there so my habits are a bit different. Often, at the end of the day, I just want to go home. This is helpful, as if I put it off long enough it sells out and I save some dollars. Or, if I still want it badly enough after looking at it day after day after day, I wait until there's a really slow day and pick it up after work. Another advantage of working there is getting to check out as-is every day to see if something I need has shown up. I had to make a rule because of that, though. I am only allowed to get something if it is on the "need" list.
We downsized recently and have had to rethink our storage and display at home...this catalog has provided me with lots of inspiration. Now, if only the perfect shaggy cowhide would come in I would certainly stay after work to get it!

Making my first Ikea trip this weekend. Hoping that I don't buy the entire store while I'm there....

I'm not sure why some might be bothered by having pieces that are identifiable as being from IKEA. As an example, the Expedit is an inspired piece of engineering. Form, function, and value in one package.

I'll be making my first IKEA trip in a month or so. I look forward to seeing in person what I've only been able to see online or in the catalog.

dude dude dude, the cream colored white enamel pitchers in three sizes for putting flowers in!!!!... and now the small one comes in a baby blue

I have 5 Ikeas within a 7-9 hour drive. Nothing closer. Seems they don't like the center of the U.S. I still make the drive about once a year or con friends or family who have one to pick up things for me.

Emeryville, huh? If (when!) I move to SF, I'll definitely keep it in mind!

I love Ikea. Love it. We only go a couple times a year (the nearest one a fair drive), but I just... love it. You know why I don't care that my Expedit looks like it comes from Ikea? Because I like how the Expedit looks! Mindblowing, huh? ;)

A good chunk of my room is Ikea furniture. The accessories? Yeah, they're much more varied. But I love clean straight lines, so the Malm bed and dresser, Expedit shelves, and Mikael desk suit me just fine.

I work a 5-minute walk from Ikea, and as there's nothing else in the area I often pop in on my lunch break...often don't buy anything, but it's good to see what's new in, pick up bargains or "As Is" purchases. It also means when we do go for large purchases, I know my way around and save time that way!

I live about 1 hr from Ikea and go 1-2 times per year. I usually go with a specific list. The only problem is that once I enter the store, I am instantly overwhelmed by everything and just start grabbing things I suddenly think I need. Luckily, my husband doesn't give in to the Ikea lure and takes everything I grab and asks me how often I will use the item and where we plan on storing each item.... I usually respond by pouting, admitting defeat and placing it back on the shelf.

Actually, we started a rule of skipping the top floor. It's the displays and maze-like floor plan that really distract and exhaust us.

Oh and of course, I have to grab ginger cookies each time I visit! Yum!

I live 5 mins from IKEA and it's an addiction in a country where pretty much all the other interior shops are expensive. A trick I've discovered for overshopping there is use two yellow bags, one for the thing I came for and another for all the pretty things I see on the way round and can't resist. Then when I arrive at the checkout I just dump the second bag and buy what I came for. Sorted.

I live 5-10 min drive from Ikea AND I work there so i go there a lot. It's great to shop when I get a 15% discount of all the products. No furniture store beats that. :) I usually buy just small things, mostly something that's pretty and useful.

luvsssss IKEA..i live 20 mins from IKEA (Singapore)-stuffs is vital for most of our housing which in my case is a 90sqft 4 room flat- its been a 'shrine' for my weekly visits bcos i don't want to miss out on the latest available(will always go home with something like a coloured spatula or $1 toilet roll holder- even if i don't need at that point or it will be sold out fast..my bedroom is almost like the showroom, been using the mattress and steel single deck bunkbed, sofa bed etc etc for almost 10 years now- still good not showing signs of giving way anytime soon- so ppl YAY for IKEA..i lame joked that i'm gonna marry the IKEA boss in future just to gain access to IKEA or the least work part time there;p..
ps: i wld say almost every household here have at least 1 piece of IKEA in their home xxx

is it just me or is the whole ikea experience sliding down a slippery slope?

a recent visit to the emeryville store(on a friday afternoon) revealed a messy showroom, very unclean restaurant and really nothing new and different for sale. and the one thing i went in for, a $9.99 lamp, had gone up 3 bucks and was out of stock in the color i needed.

plus, when are they ever going to actually sell online? i live 100 miles from the closest store and simply don't get why in the second decade of the 21st century this company resists an actual online purchase ability. have you ever found anything in the online catalog that you could actually buy "online"?

when i wrote a fairly detailed letter about my concerns to their "contact us", all i got back was an obvious "robo-reply".

i will give them one more chance as every store has a "bad hair day" every once in a while. but, if my next visit is as bad as the last, it really will be my last!

I wasn't going to go this year either, because of budget reasons, but I too have been taken in by those gorgeous planters. damn you Ikea!

I LOVE IKEA. I love the store, the adventure, the discovery of new pieces, the craziness of shoppers and the swedish meatballs. I also love the concept that good design and pretty things are NOT only reserved for the rich! yes! And although much has been said about IKEA quality, I actually like the fact that things wear out and need to be replaced as opposed to feeling that something was so expensive that it must be kept for an eternity. Yeah IKEA, I heart you!!

Thanks Tess, I'm stoked for the shout out! So cool!

I can practically walk to the Ikea in Emeryville from my house. So needless to say, I go there a lot and spend more than I should every time.

I live 20 mins away from an IKEA, and despite that, my IKEA shopping has always been fairly restrained. I go in with a goal in mind and I don't pick up other things along the way.

yes, i am buying the lacy planters too. even tho i have to DEVISE an elaborated plan and carve our a space esp to house them. But this is the problem with 'eyes' - once you see something you like even tho you dont really need it, well... im gonna go get them anyways. and tell myself "everyone benefits with more Green! - generates oxygen!!"

I was going to thank @lurker2209's for his/her "purge one thing" tip - and then I saw @jilly37's method. Pure genius.

Although, like some one prior said, it's the impulse grabs that I put back that linger the rest of the week and make me return for them...only to find them sold out! This happened with the happy broccoli stuffed toy. I had to try a few workers before I found one that spoke English well enough to know what I was after.

Only when absolutely necessary, and then I try to consolidate everything into one trip (about once a year). Some of their things are quite nicely designed, and the quality is OK for the price.

I totally forgot to mention this earlier: if you don't live near an IKEA, you can still shop online or subscribe to the catalog. Not every item is available but since IKEA now offers delivery service, it's worth checking out.

Love the title of this post because it's so true. I hesitate to bring my gf to IKEA knowing that we'll end up ringing an item or two at the register - But to balance things out for guys, I guess I don't mind so as long as she allows me to eat as many tasty swedish meatballs as i like =)

Scored the Lacey planters weeks ago. Two house Feka plants and two house pencils and office supplies. Oh, and nobody at my local Ikea gives me dirty looks for spending time there and walking out empty-handed, unlike the smaller, independent retailers. The more lookey-loos you attract, the more you will sell. Too bad so many mom & pops can't seem to figure that out.

Ikea and living in SF is always a difficult task. Do I rent a ZipCar or do I limit myself to just carry items for the bart? This past time I had a printed shopping list from the website with notes and post-its all over it. We rented the zip for 3 hours and were in and out of ikea in 45 mins and staying on budget. (surprisingly!) The drive and finding parking in Lower Nob took longer.

Living in New York, where people are constantly moving, I can not tell you how many times a day I walk past ikea beds, dressers, tables, chairs, etc. that people are discarding.

I'd much rather have something of higher quality (pottery barn, crate and barrel, etc.) from craigslist than the cheak ikea version.

Someone mentioned buying from Ikea online. If you ever try to do this (which I have in Ikealess rock in the middle of the ocean, Hawaii), there are so few items available for delivery. The really annoying thing is they still list it on line and when you try to purchase, it says visit our store. I get really ticked cause its a waste of time. I recommend they separate their "on line store" section of their website from their "only available in stores" section. I have yet to click on something that I could actually order.

Ok... rant over.

Just discovered the best reason to go to IKEA, your spouse and kids don't want to go! AND it always takes forever so you can go get a pedicure and then pick up a plant or something and you've gotten a 4 hour break!

Hi mauishopgirl. Sorry about your frustration. After you do a search for your item, to the right at the top of the results screen is a check box so that it shows only products offered online. G'luck.

I usually go to Ikea once a year (sometimes twice). I live about 20 minutes from one. I have become much more selective about what I purchase from Ikea. I do like those hanging lanterns and I saw they had a cuddly blanket that is a lot nicer than the free fleece one I have laying around. I'm looking forward to my end of August trip.

I'm housesitting for a couple who has a lot of 90s ikea going on... it's infinitely fascinating to me that although it is shunned as "disposable furniture" the truth is, if you aren't crazy, it will last like 10-20 years...

@356style: YES! I go to Ikea when I want nobody coming with me :)

I try to limit the furniture I buy from there. I tend to keep a running shopping list on their website and after so much time I go buy then things I actually still need. I refuse to walk in there without a list because I think it'd hurt my wallet too much.

I go to IKEA at least 3 or 4 times a year. Sometimes it's just for the trip, like the boat ride to their store in Brooklyn. I have been to both the stores in NY state and NJ, all 3 in PA, plus AZ, IL, MA, MD, MN, OH and one in Canada.

I always get the kid's meal which is plenty then go to As-Is first. Got my Ektorp sofa bed there for $300!

I live so close I can smell the cinammon rolls. Still only go in a few times a year. Once you've seen what's there it doesn't seem to change much for a year.

I go whenever I want because it's only 30 minutes away (College Park, MD location). I used to go for kicks, but now I only go for something specific. I just beeline to it, bypassing the same old same old. Going a lot lets me see how much stuff is there I don't need. Ikea is smart not to have stores everywhere. Most people don't live close to one and probably get excited/impulse buy when they make that long trip.

I actually just went to Ikea today. I live about 25 minutes from a really nice one, and go pretty often.

I'm in a transitional phase of my adulthood, and live in a tiny 600sqf apartment, so Ikea is great for me. I'd love to have expensive furniture that'll last me the rest of my life, but my taste in furniture is fickle and my wallet is a bit tight.

When I got my own apartment, I needed a bed. I got a mattress, bedframe and all the bedding for under $500. I love the mattress and bedding, and I'm okay with the fact that I spent $70 on a frame that I won't keep for more than a year or two. It was either that or keep my mattress on the floor.

Now that I have all my basic furniture (computer desk, office chair, bookcase, coffee table, end tables, TV stand, a ton of kitchen essentials) for less than the cost of a designer sofa, I go back for the little decorative things, and to slowly replace my old big pieces that were handed down from my family.

I go 4x per year whenever we fly into Miami from Jamaica. I love their napkins, straws, 3.99 rugs, and bath towels. Ikea is my amusement park with the AC running!

I live about 15 minutes from IKEA and rarely go there unless I have a specific product in mind. I find the entire experience incredibly stressful, akin to navigating through a gigantic airport, and I don't think the quality of their products make it worth the trip. My husband likes their free breakfasts, though.

My husband said he'd rather be waterboarded than go to IKEA. So I go alone about once a year.

I live 15 minutes from Ikea and it was great to drop my daughter off in Small Fry Land and go upstairs and grab a cup of coffee and some kid free time. I would go every weekend. lol My daughter is now too tall so now I go every other month or so.

When I was in college the closest Ikea was about 600 miles away & on the way to my parents house. Every road trip home involved a stop & I can honestly say that every visit ended with me crying because whatever life changing piece of furniture I had fallen in love with would not fit in the trunk. Nowadays, we go maybe once every 2 years or so? If we need to replace the piece that fell apart after frequent moves or not using coasters (I'm looking at you, desk). There's one about an hour away now, but we never seem to have the 4 hours (or cash) that trip would take.

I live 10 minutes away from Ikea and it's conveniently located between work and home, but I only go 4 times a year. Whenever I go I pick up tealight candles and replacement bulbs. I also walk the entire showroom because I can't help myself and end up walking out with frozen meatballs, sometimes bed linens and picture frames in addition to light bulbs and candles.

We live about a 20 minute drive away from IKEA. Since we are retired, we like to bop over there for lunch and to pick up lots of tasty foodstuffs, going early on weekdays to avoid the crush of families and those dad-blamed strollers.

I usually don't buy furniture, because I don't need anything new, but their accessories rock. And, we love to linger at the kitchen room vignettes.

But, I still have my eye on the BESTA wall storage system, the one with the doors that have the look of high-gloss tiger wood. OMG!

I have never been to IKEA. Seriously. The nearest one is a couple of hours away, and I'd heard of it but never really looked into the products. I will definitely be going sometime! I love that everything there seems youthful and stylish. I'm so tired of sifting through tassled, floral stuff at the places close by and never really finding what I'm looking for.

They just opened an Ikea near Denver, CO and I am going for the first time tomorrow. I am super stoked and prepared (as I have highlighted and sticky noted my catalog to death) and especially looking forward to my free breakfast. Yay!

What is making it bad for me (and BodiceGoddess - since we're sisters) is that we have stumbled into a variety of projects in the past couple years that make the 10 minute drive to Ikea on a Tuesday night (that's their slow night, Mpls/St. Paul area) very appealing.

First, I moved into a house where I didn't have a bedroom at first (I had the family room), so an entertainment center and a closet were necessities.

Then I got married and got a bedroom, so new shelving and coat hooks where the old "closet" was turned one spot into an awesome entryway. We also got 20 lanterns and a TON of wedding stuff there. Oh, and a dresser for the bedroom.

Next, my dad moved to NYC, so he needed something quick and easy for furniture that wasn't going to kill his budget. He got a ton of shelves from Ikea once I assured him they could deliver it and it could hold all of his stuff (held my roommate's nursing books quite well!). My trip to Ikea for him rendered a tool kit and a desk lamp - housewarming presents.

Now, we're in the process of redoing my mom's bedroom. Paint, furniture, duvet cover (Ikea), some new lighting (some from Ikea)... it's going to be perfect when it's done.

BodiceGoddess (not sure she mentioned that... :D ) is also getting ready to move from an apartment into a house... I know there will be Ikea trips for that too.

Then there are the quick trips because my roommates needed something, we wanted a little inspiration, or we were just in the area...

Here in Ottawa, IKEA is opening the biggest store in Canada. It seems that folks in the National Capital area (Ottawa and Gatineau) can't get enough of it. Craigslist and Kijiji are overrun with IKEA furniture. Sadly there aren't many vintage stores or vintage items on the local lists. Perhaps a function of a transient population?

That said, I am watching the construction of the new store with anticipation!

I went yesterday. It was my second time going this month. Granted, I just finished my second month in a new apartment and actually needed something. I really wanted a sofa bed, and ended up with buyer's remorse last night after struggling to put what I bought together. However, it was probably the only thing that would have fit in my apartment's living/dining room and still leave open space. I came up with an idea to modify it (open it up into twin bed mode but pile it with cusions and pillows, thus making it a DIY make-shift day bed... it actually looks pretty good already pre-pillows and throws).

I'm young, single, still climbing the corporate ladder, and living alone for the first time. It's good on my budget. Yeah, I'd rather have Ethan Allan or Restoration Hardware, but I can't afford it. Someday, I will, and I'll also someday have a bigger apartment, more space, and maybe be living with a boyfriend or husband, and I can buy higher quality furniture. Plus, my best friend CAN afford Ethan Allan and Restoration Hardware and owns several pieces from each, but she can't decorate worth crap. What's the point of having expensive furniture if it looks goofy?

I don't know if I spend more because I live about 20 minutes from an Ikea, but I do believe I feel less pressure to buy anything. I pretty sure I've spent my money mostly at the bistro/restaurant and as-is. Being so close makes As-is a viable option when looking for something in particular. Sort of like thrifting.. but at Ikea. BTW, I probably go every other Friday. Never a weekend, and standing ina long line to buy a couple things is a great deterrent.

We recently bought a fixer upper that is 10 minutes from the Carson Ikea. So we go frequently. Last week I got out of there for $32!!! Lime green flat twin sheets were on sale for $2.99 so I bought one and hemmed it into a curtain for my boys' reading nook in their closet. And I'm painting three of those little spice racks ($3.99 each) to turn into book storage in the nook.

The Ikea hack concept makes the store doubly fun. I also like that they have measuring tapes and pencils everywhere. The Ikea culture respects the thought that people put into their living spaces. And I like that they feature products for small dwellings.

Plus, we all look so cool and Euro shopping there!

Oh, and I forgot to mention previously that before this article, I didn't know that IKEAs serve food. So I'll DEFINITELY be going sometime. <oink>

I wish there was a way mute other users because bepsf's pithy snark adds nothing of value.

I miss living close to ikea. grew up with them in germany and loved going there.

A couple of their basic household accessories are useful when hacked, though, and their designers offer a lot of creative space saving solutions. However... Disposable particle board furniture hurts my soul and clogs up landfills. So no, I don't go to Ikea a lot.

We don't have an Ikea here, which sometimes I think is a good thing. I don't need more cheap crap. On the other hand, it is hard to get decent furniture here, and some of the Ikea stuff is well made.