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Photos courtesy of Carrie Edelstein.
A girl's bedroom designed by IKEA.
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The MOLTE chair at IKEA.
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The KLIPPAN loveseat at IKEA.
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Smaland, the children's play area at IKEA.
Know Before You Go:
If you haven’t been to an IKEA store, here’s how it works: go in, get the urge to redecorate your house, pick out a few things, and write down the “location numbers.” Then, find the products in the downstairs warehouse, wheel them to your car, go home and assemble. For an additional fee, a customer service rep will do all of that for you. Delivery and assembly services are also available. But in many cases those costs can defeat the purpose of IKEA’s affordable offerings.
Ask any IKEA “regular” who knows the goods and he or she might recommend the KALLAX shelving units, the EXTORP sofa, the POANG armchair or the BILLY bookcases. But for a family of newcomers to the store, we suggest starting small, taking it all in and going for the pieces that can make a dramatic difference in your spaces without requiring too much assembly time.
Couch for the Playroom:
The KLIPPAN loveseat comes in several shades, but we like the multicolor/rainbow option to add an element of fun to a playroom. It’s large enough to fit adults and small enough to tuck into your child’s bedroom for a reading/lounging space for tweens and teens.
Decorative Pillows:
The LUKTASTER cushion cover, priced at $9 and in velvet, adds a touch of bold to bed sets, nursing chairs, floor play spaces and tents. Grab whatever you like from the bins near the living space showrooms, there’s no need to go find the items in the warehouse. If you decide on a sham, pillows and inserts start at $1.99.
Storage tables:
The multi-tiered IKEA PS 2014 storage unit, priced at $69, can be used as a low table for kids to scribble and sort. It features three trays that open for easy and spacious storage. Next to that display find a side table for $9.99, if you want to coordinate another low space for drawing.
Desk Chairs:
All you need to know is the height of the chair you’re looking for before browsing through the selection of desk chairs. Bright yellows, pinks, blues, reds and patterns dominate the selection of space-conserving chairs for a child’s first desk or craft space. The MOLTE chair is priced at $14.99.
Check out the “As Is” area
For those of us who find the endless rows of products and parts too overwhelming to choose from, go straight for the “As Is” area near the registers and Bistro by the exit doors. The room is full of furniture tested by IKEA sales people. The plan is for the area to be a space for items that are being offered at a discount based on returns and potentially defective merchandise. The point is it’s out of the box, somewhat assembled and ready to put in the car and take home.
The perks:
Sign up for a Family Card and receive free coffee, special offers and promotions and discounts. Your children will also be eligible for extra time in Smaland, the store’s childcare/play area, which makes it easier for parents to focus on shopping. The first 41 customers in line for IKEA’s opening weekend will win prizes ranging from free couches to gift cards and meatballs. From September 30-October 4, customers can enter to win one of 10 $1,000 gift cards. IKEA will then match that and provide $10,000 worth of furniture to St. Louis’ new Health Works museum, which is set to open early next year.
