7 Ikea Shopping Tips & Tricks You HAVE To Know

I remember the first time I walked into an Ikea, it was massive and confusing, yet exciting all at the same time. Once I got used to the system it was an awesome set up and I thoroughly enjoy shopping there.

If you haven’t had a chance to shop there, yet, make sure to put it on your list of things you HAVE to do! Cause it’s an experience for sure.

7 Ikea Shopping Tips & Tricks You HAVE To Know

There’s no denying it— Ikea is an awesome place to shop for all your furniture needs and more. Not to mention, the place serves delicious Swedish meatballs that is a huge draw for most shoppers.

But if you don’t have a plan for how to shop at Ikea, your trip to the warehouse-sized store can easily turn into an all-day event. With all the multiple sections, showrooms, self-serve areas, and much more to see, it’s so easy to get lost in the store.

This is why this list of 7 Ikea shopping tips and tricks you HAVE to know will help keep your next visit from leaving you feeling lost. Check them out:

Best Time To Shop

Here’s a little secret you need to know: Don’t go to Ikea in July or August.

Or if you really have to go, make sure that it’s on a weekday and that you visit when the store first opens. This is an important tip to save your sanity, trust me.

This is because Ikea sends out its latest catalogs in July and August. This time coincides with college back to school shopping – so you’ll likely end up in a sea of first time college kids and their parents looking for great deals, save yourself the headaches and crowds and shop any other time.

Make Sure To Subscribe To Their Catalog

Make sure you subscribe to Ikea’s catalog. Unlike other catalogs that show up in your mail, Ikea’s catalog is one that you actually want to flip through.

That’s because it’s a thick paperback book that resembles a coffee table book. They have carefully curated their items to display in their catalog that exhibit some serious furniture envy.

You can use the Ikea catalog to get inspiration for design ideas when you are redecorating your home, as well as find great pieces to add to your existing decor.

Know Your Way Around

Since Ikea’s stores are massive, it can be so easy for you to get lost as you make your way around the store. In order to avoid wasting precious time on your visit to Ikea, it’s best that you familiarize yourself with the way Ikea structures its stores.

The good news is, Ikea puts each store’s map on display. They divide their stores into two sections, namely the Showroom and the Marketplace. Take time to get to know these sections and look for any shortcuts that will help you navigate the store more quickly.

Focus On One Room At A Time

When you’re familiar with Ikea’s store and you’re ready to start shopping, it’s important that you focus on one room at a time.

It’s always a good idea to have a plan in place before you head to Ikea. Otherwise, you can end up getting confused and sidetracked by all the furniture and items you’ll find while wandering around aimlessly.

Be Ready With Your Measurements

One thing many people forget to do when they are shopping for furniture is to measure the size of their room and the item they wish to purchase.

But in order to be a smart and savvy shopper at Ikea, it’s important that you’re ready with the measurements before you pay a visit to the store. This will save you from spending a lot of time, money, and trouble.

Check With The Store Ahead Of Time

One of the awesome things about Ikea is that you can check for a specific item before you go to the store. This is a convenient option for most as often Ikea’s aren’t in your neighborhood but, far from where you might live.

Before you head out, you can see if what you’re looking for is actually in stock by looking on the website. This way, you won’t have to go all the way to a store just to find out that the item you’re looking for isn’t available. You can simply check the available stock before you visit the store.

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Have Missing Parts Delivered To Your Home

Another great thing is if you happen to make it home and find that the product you purchased may be missing pieces – (how frustrating is that?), you can actually have your local Ikea store deliver them to your home.

All you have to do is to find out the missing part number (you can find this on the assembly instructions) and ask for a replacement. Ikea will then mail you the missing piece free of charge.

If you want to save on that cost, you can just bring our own bag. It will make your shopping experience at Ikea even better.

Leave Your Kids At Småland

If you happen to bring your kids along with you to Ikea, you can leave them at the daycare called Småland. Ikea allows you to leave your kids in their own playland for a free hour of daycare while you shop .

Also, if you are an Ikea Family member, you can get an additional 30 minutes on top of the free hour. This way, you can focus on your shopping without worrying about your child being bored, hungry, having to make multiple trips to the bathroom, etc.

Get 90-Day Price Protection

Ikea offers a 90-day price protection on purchases made by Ikea Family members. With this, you can get a refund on the price difference when they change the price of an item within 90 days.

All you have to do is keep your receipt so you can get your refund. Earny can watch for price drops for you, too, so you don’t have to keep checking, and it’s free.

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Get A Free Meal For Your Kids

And if the free hour of daycare isn’t enough, every Tuesday Ikea lets kids eat for free at their Swedish-style cafeteria. You just need to purchase an adult entree and then your child can get a free meal.

Enjoy A Hot Beverage

In addition to the free meal for your child, as an Ikea Family Member you can enjoy free coffee or tea when you visit the store, too.

Do Returns In The Morning

Lots of people go to Ikea regularly. That’s why you’ll want to make your returns in the morning— around the time when Ikea first opens its doors.

This will help you avoid the number of people who also may have returns – you can zip in and out and skirt the crowd.

These are just some of the shopping tricks that you need to know when you’re visiting Ikea. Do you have any secrets that you use?