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The Unexpected Kitchen Staple I Pick Up Every Time I Go to IKEA

Sofia Rivera
Sofia RiveraAssociate Lifestyle Editor at Apartment Therapy
The first thing I ever said I wanted to be when I was young was an interior designer. But, after years of waiting by the mailbox for my favorite magazines and seizing every opportunity to write, I decided to pursue journalism. I started my career at Boston magazine, before pivoting into strategic communications, and coming back to journalism when I joined Apartment Therapy in 2022 — the perfect union of my childhood dream and adulthood passion. I edit the Life section, covering wellness, money, career, small-space living, mental health, and all the items, habits, hacks, and pro tips that can help you level up your life at home. I love peeling back the curtain on the myriad fascinating ways people live at home, and relish writing and editing narrative essays, special content packages, and stories that answer that question you’ve always had. When I’m not editing a feature or chasing a hot tip about how to live your best life at home, you can find me rearranging my furniture, perusing a local bookstore (even though I’ve run out of shelf space), writing a newsletter about overthinking pop culture, or taking a veryyy long walk around the city.
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published Aug 17, 2023
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When I go to IKEA, it’s an all-day affair. I start the day off with a steamy mug of 99 cent (free, if you have an IKEA Family member card!) coffee and a slice of caramel almond cake. I use that sugar rush to sustain my prolonged tour through the showroom, imagining my life in homes of varying square footages while snapping photos of inspiring nooks and vignettes. Then, I head back to the cafeteria to collect my thoughts and sit down for a feast of Swedish meatballs smothered in lingonberry sauce and sides. Finally, I wind through the marketplace before rolling my sleeves up for the warehouse (and as-is section, of course), if I need to go there. 

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If I had it my way, I’d probably go to IKEA once a weekend. Despite the constant bright, white lights and maze-like floor plan, this big, blue, air-conditioned box feels like a second home. The problem is, I don’t often need a BILLY bookshelf or a POÄNG chair. There is one item, though, that I can always use some more of, and IKEA is one of the best spots around to get them: paper napkins. They’re small, inexpensive, and a little luxury that’s always nice to have on hand. 

ROSTVINGE Paper Napkin
$2.49
IKEA
Buy Now

I own cloth napkins as well — a gorgeous woven set that my friend gave me as a gift — and I use them all the time. They feel special, and I love that they’re a sustainable choice, too. Yet there are moments that call for paper napkins, like when you’re having a party or entertaining more than a couple friends (I haven’t grown my cloth napkin large enough yet), hosting a themed get-together and the napkins are part of the vibe, or your cloth options are all in the wash.

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And when the moment arrives, IKEA has never failed to provide such cute, cheap options. No matter what’s on my list when I make the voyage to the marketplace, I always toss a pack of patterned paper napkins in there. How could I not? Just look at these ones with a cheery, leaf-like print! Or these mysterious blobs, which would make for a very cool tablescape! For a more sophisticated look, these stripey rectangular napkins would set the tone.

Even if all you want is a pack of plain, white napkins, this set of 150 costs just $1.79. I’ve purchased so many patterns over the years (and, not so coincidentally, I keep them in my trusty LIKSIDIG napkin holder) and since the options are often refreshed, I can thankfully always find a reason to make a trip to IKEA.

Buy: IKEA SMAKSINNE Paper Napkin, 30 pack, $2.99

Filed in:
IKEA
Kitchen
Money