IKEA (Ikea)

Member Name: Fat_Kat

Product:	Ikea
Date:	07/01/10 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun shopping experience, good value, great designs, very child-friendly

Disadvantages: Sometimes you can't find the items you are looking for when you go to pick them up

I love going to IKEA, it's fun, and it's always an adventure taking two small children with you! Because they are in warehouse-style buildings, it's a totally different shopping experience. My local IKEA in Ashton-under-Lyne is huge, and has loads of great stuff on display.

When we go, we usually have something specific that we are looking for, but we usually look round all of the store in case we see something else we might want. The model rooms that they have set up give a great impression of how their products might look in your home, and the kitchenware items on display are also presented very well.

There is loads of space to get trolleys and baby buggies around, but my children seem to want to play with everything in store - not so bad in the children's section, but when they start jumping on beds, it gets a bit embarrassing! I find the children's toys in IKEA a little quirky, but they are good fun, and my children really love them. We usually end up buying something new for them while we are there as it's not too expensive.

The restaurant is good value, but sometimes the service is a little slow. The ample highchair and children's cutlery provision is a great idea, it makes it a lot easier to take my small children shopping with me, and get lunch while we are out.

Buying your furniture at IKEA is not going to break the bank, the flat-pack instructions are simple and easy to follow, and a lot of the stuff is well-designed. My fondest IKEA memory is that every student house I lived in had at least one of those paper-and-cane globe lampshades (I think they still sell them!).

If buying large items, you pick these up from the floor nearest to the tills. In the warehouse, it says on the display tag what location on what shelf it should be found, but unfortunately it's not always where you thought it might be and sometimes they have none in stock - which you don't find out 'til you've gone all the way round the warehouse. However, you can order stuff and get it delivered, and the staff are usually very helpful.

Summary: Good value, a bit different, and a student landlord's dream!