Small Space Dwellers Rejoice: IKEA Has a New Store For You

New Yorkers, our tiny apartment cries have been heard. The IKEA gods are debuting their very first IKEA Planning Studio to the concrete jungle, helping locals (myself included) with unique organizing solutions to make our cramped spaces seem, well, less cramped.

Opening to the public on Monday, April 15, the three-story Planning Studio is designed with small spaces in mind. The 17,350-square-foot store is much more compact compared to the traditional blue box havens, which makes sense since it’s rooted in Manhattan. But don’t let the size fool you: It packs in a bountiful amount of resources for its pedestrian consumers.

Take the planning stations located on the basement level, for example. Shoppers who need assistance with bringing their dream spaces to life can book an appointment with an IKEA planner, who can advise on everything from kitchen storage solutions to designing a layout from scratch.

On the top floor, IKEA-goers will find themselves in the familiar interactive showrooms. However, each of these setups cater to a different city-living persona, all of which focus on utilizing the most of a teeny-tiny area. In other words, if you’re looking for some decorative inspo, this is where you need to be.

Before whipping out your big blue FRAKTA bags to fill to the brim, an important note: You can’t physically buy anything from the store and bring it home. Instead, there are multiple devices throughout the Planning Studio that you can purchase items from, then have it delivered right to your building. While the store has limited products on display, you can order the full range of IKEA items.