If you've ever been to IKEA, you've probably gone through the emotional stages of IKEA shopping: first, you're excited, then overwhelmed by the marketplace maze, followed by a dose of distraction, then frustration when your furniture is out-of-stock, finally relief at leaving—only to feel all of it a second time when you're assembling your flat-pack furniture at home.
In the midst of this emotional turmoil, it's easy to make shopping mistakes that cost you time and money. So before you step into IKEA again, here are some common mistakes to avoid.
Take it from us—IKEA is not the place to browse or window-shop. If you're going to IKEA to "see what's there," expect to come out with 12 mason jars, a new set of kitchen knives, and a handful of other things you probably didn't need.
So, first, use IKEA's website to make a list of essentials. You can also use their home planner to plan and design your rooms, using exact measurements. Don't forget to measure your space, too: you don't want to assemble a couch or mahogany table that doesn't fit.
Nothing is more annoying than seeing furniture you love in the marketplace—only to realize an hour later that it's out of stock in the warehouse. Yes, you may see "in stock" on the IKEA tag. But those aren't always up-to-date.
To avoid this frustration, bring a friend or spouse. Have that person wait in the warehouse while you shop in the marketplace. When you see something you like, text them the aisle and bin number. Then, they can double-check to be sure the furniture is actually there.
Yep, it happens all the time. Your furniture may come in multiple boxes, which means you'll have to go to several bins to get the right parts. Make sure you get the right colors and the right features: if you want a round coffee table, be sure you don't accidentally pick up a square top.
The IKEA marketplace is massive. But you don't have to walk through every section to get to where you need to go. To stay focused, grab a floor layout map when you walk in. This map will show you the shortcuts, so you can skip unnecessary sections and save time.
Your flat-pack furniture may come with an Allen key or a hex nut wrench, but don't expect it to come with a screwdriver, hammer, or pliers set. Make sure you have the right tools to assemble your furniture, or you'll be making another trip to the hardware store.
A day at IKEA is about as exhausting as a day at the gym. What's worse is unknowingly buying furniture that's extremely difficult to put together, which leads to overlooking the instructions, making mistakes in the assembly, dissembling furniture to resemble it the right way, or even breaking parts.
If you want your furniture assembled fast and right without the fatigue, we can help. Our crew at On Point Assembly can assemble just about anything, and we'll clean up the space after we're finished. Request a quote today to find out how we can help you assemble your IKEA furniture.
