26/06/2024
✨ How to shop at IKEA like a pro! 😉 ✨
After the success of our Dragon mart post, someone mentioned we should do one for Ikea.
My best tip? Shop online and avoid that place 😅 That's how I feel now, with a 1 year old and a 2 year old in tow! But there was actually a time when I really enjoyed going through every single section, it would take me the whole day and I would come home exhilarated and with a full car (and I would spend way more than planned 🙈).
Now there's nothing wrong with a nice day at Ikea. But if you'd like to save some time, and probably also money, go for online shopping or plan your visit well. Either way, make sure to register to the IKEA FAMILY program for free (you don't need to have kids and you can even do it for visitors if they have a valid phone number) and never shop without a plan- make sure you know exactly what you're looking for. Take all measurements beforehand.
The benefits of online shopping are simple:
- there is free delivery on furniture until November 2nd for all Ikea family members
- it's much easier to keep track of your selection and spendings
- the website makes it very simple to look for what you need (as opposed to the catalogue which I always found a bit confusing tbh)
In-store shopping is cool because:
- as an Ikea family member you get free coffee if you go on a weekday. Some like the restaurant's food, some don't but it is affordable without any doubt. If you go with young kids, you can let them play in the little circular play area while your sip your coffee and watch them through the glass panel. Plenty of high chairs, kids' plates and cutlery, even baby food is available and you can use microwaves to reheat the food you brought from home, too.
- we all wish we could live in one of those teeny tiny, amazingly decorated showroom flats! (I live in a house, but never mind lol! Every time we see those perfect 18 sqm apartments my husband and I sigh "if only we had had this when we were students!"). It's definitely great for inspiration.
- the clearance section with ex-display items sometimes has amazing deals. Make sure nothing is damaged though.
- if your kids are older, you can let them play in the SMALAND play area for free (Ikea family members can play longer btw) and buy them a 1 dh ice cream later
- I love using the shortcuts - they're like secret tunnels haha. Take a picture of the map - or save this post for future reference
- take pictures of the item tags instead of writing them down (Ikea provides little notebooks and pencils but hey- think of the environmental impact 😉 ). If you're organised well you should have a shopping list with all references beforehand. The Ikea website allows you to make a shopping list which you can take with you. You don't want to be at checkout and notice you forgot something from the first section and rush through the store- I've been there 🙈
- it's good to see items before purchasing them, especially larger furniture. Check the colours which might look different than on the screen, try out your next sofa, armchair, mattress, see if there are different options you might have missed online
- I noticed some clearance items are only found in the store, for example sofa covers in discontinued colours
- use the self-check out counter to avoid queues but ask an employee if it applies to all your items before starting the whole process
Now this is not a "Dirham Stretcher" but if you buy large furniture, for your own sanity - and probably also for the sake of your marriage - pay for delivery and assembly. Assembly is a little bit cheaper for Ikea family members but if you exceed a certain amount it is free. If you need several pieces, don't place separate orders - make sure to buy everything at once so you're eligible for free services.
I hope this helps!