You might remember a little over a week ago when I introduced you to Amanda from Everyday Elements. She was embarking on a Home Office Makeover and going to take us along for the ride! I always love seeing makeovers and it is fun to see one happen before my eyes where I don’t have to spend a cent!
Today for Part Two of this Home Office Makeover series, Amanda is going to take us on her IKEA shopping trip. If you have never been to IKEA, you can experience it through Amanda’s eyes. And if you have been, I hope you’ll share your best IKEA SHOPPING TIPS in the comments! Take it away, Amanda!
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First I want to thank Melissa for sharing about my office remodel here at The Inspired Room. You’re the best, Melissa!
Melissa shared with you shots of my many-windowed-bedroom-turned-office, which seriously needed some attention. I wanted this done before my first in-person photography workshop, so I knew I need to kill a lot of birds with one stone. What better place to do that than IKEA?
On April 16th, my husband, sister, niece and I headed to IKEA in Charlotte, NC, about 2.5 hours from my home. My sister drove her own car, as she was heading back home to Raleigh, NC. We were taking my Dodge Grand Caravan (that does not have the “stow and go” seats), so my husband took out the two back seats and was going to take out the middle two also, but I said “oh, don’t bother, we won’t have THAT much stuff to bring home.” (Yes, I later regretted those words).
TIP: Make sure you have PLENTY of room in your vehicle to bring home your IKEA finds.
We grabbed the ready-to-be-loaded down IKEA buggy and started on our way.
My sister, who is a big The Inspired Room fan, wanted to be “in” one of the pictures without really having her picture taken, so when I went to take a shot of the buggy, she put her hand in quick. Hi, Kirstie, love you!!!
The main thing I wanted to get accomplished first was finding the desk. For me, everything was going to revolve around the desk. Well, this proceeded to be a bit of a problem because I wanted simple and user friendly, my husband wanted non-girly and sturdy and my sister wanted attractive and fashionable.
I think they shot down the first three desks I liked. I was not a happy IKEA shopper at that point. And, if I liked a desk that my husband sort of okayed, then he would wiggle it, shake it, press down on it, look under it and if it was not deemed structurally sound, it got vetoed.
Me: Oh, this one is simple and functional, I like it.
Him: Let me see. Wiggle, shake, look under….nope.
Me: Oh, I love this one. A bit traditional but simple and all I need.
Him: Too girly, and….wiggle, shake, look under….not sound enough. Veto.
After about five vetoes (I am not kidding), we stumble across a desk that both my sister and husband like and it fits my qualifications, so I consent. Of course it is the most expensive one. Wonderful. See, it’s easy for them to pick when it’s not their money being spent.
Oh, and notice this one is not girly…. Which at that point I had to ask him why did that matter? It is my office mister! Love you, Sweetheart. Kisses.
We then went on a hunt for book shelves and a credenza type thing for behind my desk. That was a whole new adventure. Oh, and I didn’t mention that it was BUSY that day and I am not such a good crowd person so my stress level was getting on up there.
After that we work through the bottom floor, looking at lights, frames, drapes and other accessories. I wish I had pictures of lots of little things I bought for the office, but really other than some frames, two baskets that I don’t need now, a set of drapes I have to return and a trash can, I didn’t do much buggy filling on that floor. Well, I had a stool that I later couldn’t buy in there, but that is a story I do not have time to tell.
So, now we are on to the warehouse to collect our goodies. Being newbie IKEA furniture shoppers that we were, we were NOT prepared for this part. Oh. My. Word. I cannot tell you how upset I was by the SECOND time I had to go back upstairs to find out all the little parts we needed for something.
TIP: If you are planning an IKEA trip for furniture, take along a notebook and pen and write down EVERYTHING. Trust me. Do it.
Below is a shot of our buggy, and one cart. Foolish us. Thinking one cart was all we needed. 
By the time we got all we needed and pushed out way to the checkout, this is what our little buggy train looked like:
TIP: You will probably need more than one cart if you are doing some serious shopping.
Now is the time I start doing some recalculating of my items and I think I am at around $930. Praying I figured everything correctly.
Hey! Not bad, I was $70 off and just barely over $1000, I’ll take that.
That is when I remembered that I had not given them the ticket for the top of the desk, something we just had a paper for, to pick up in a different area. That was another $130. I was too sad to take a picture of that. 
So, I put my big-girl pants on and moved forward. Now, let’s get this stuff loaded up. After arranging and rearranging, my husband did manage to get everything in the back of the van. Barely. Sure with those middle two seats had been taken out.
There you have it, my office IKEA adventure. Good news: most everything I needed to build my sleek new office came home with me. Bad new: I went over budget.
I am actually writing this from my new desk, in my freshly painted office. Things have come together nicely with just a few hiccups here and there. Next week I will share a few more in-process pictures then reveal the after shots, so you can see how things worked out!
Thanks Amanda! That was fun and I cannot wait to see how your room comes together!
IKEA SHOPPING TIPS
As long as we are talking about IKEA, I thought I’d share my top five IKEA shopping tips:
1) Measure your rooms and spaces and write all measurements in a notebook that you bring with you.
2) Bring a measuring tape.
3) Don’t bring early grade school boys with you if you need to actually SHOP while you are at IKEA.
4) Eat the meatballs and lingonberry sauce for lunch. Do it.
5) Oh, and buy the lingonberry sauce for later. You can make anything tastier with that sauce.
Have you been to IKEA?
What are your tips for making the most of your IKEA shopping trip? Please share them in the comments!
A note from my awesome sponsor Sarah at Three Boys: In honor of earth day, Shaklee is offering FREE MEMBERSHIP {$19.95} value if you purchase $30 in products, click here for details. Plus for all new members, a special Three Boys promo! You can email Sarah for details or just see your surprise at check out.
We are getting a brand new Ikea in the Denver metro area and I seriously can’t wait! Thanks for the good tips. I plan to spend at least a full day exploring everything. The funny part is the community is having such a stink about the huge Ikea sign…They just don’t get it.
josephine recently posted..41 things at 41
ALWAYS save your receipt! (I bought a bathroom light, got home, found it did not have the parts to attach the shade when I went to put it up, and when I went back they needed the receipt because the hardware was in the box with the light…I had to buy a second one to get the hardware!)
I love the drapes at Ikea, and have also bought props for the theatre there….I’ve found some great lights that have not been advertised in the catalog or the website… Got wonderful kitchen lights there.
Twitter: berrymorin
says:
Shop with a plan on what you want to buy. If you don’t you’ll end up spending more then you wanted.
Consider putting in your budget assembly. For those that are mechanically inclined this is a must have.
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Twitter: berrymorin
says:
Make sure you have ample transportation. Consider renting a Uhaul truck.
Rona recently posted..Sarahs Summer House at The Inspired Room
I have to say, I admire your husband. I can’t get mine to step a foot into IKEA. If he did, he would also test all the furniture! Can’t wait to see your office!
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As a recent college graduate and outfitting my first big girl apartment, let me first say, I love this site! I’m a huge Ikea fan. I used it when I had a place with 4 other girls and the stuff can be cheap (price and quality. However now with the end of house parties and the freedom to decorate my own way I set out to Ikea to get my bedroom and living room furniture.
My biggest advice for newbies to the store is utilize their online catalog, order or pick up a paper catalog in store and spend at least one day just browsing and taking notes. Their catalogs have great advice on how to use furniture in small spaces, and make the most out of your room. If you come to the store, you can really see the quality of the furniture itself. A big thing I’ve learned from a friend who worked there in high school, if the piece is not for display on the floor, do not buy it. There is a reason they aren’t showing it to you. Yes it’s available, but it’s better suited to college frat houses. That being said, there are some wonderful buys. Read the product descriptions so you know what its actually made of, and know what you’re actually getting. Like everyone else said have plenty of room to haul your purchases (I filled the backseat of my parents van, plus came back later for some other things I had to order).
Once you arrive home, the hardest part is ahead of you. Warn your husbands, boyfriends, etc that their directions do not have words. They pack an incredible amount of parts into small boxes. I sometimes wonder if they build their furniture off of how they can pack it. I think the most frustrating part is the assembly. It took myself, my boyfriend and a few friends to get it all together. DO ONE PIECE AT A TIME! Don’t try to start 8 different things at once if you’re building furniture. They have tons of small parts. I know setting up to put my Hemnes 8-Drawer Dresser together, we spent about 45 minutes checking all the parts were there before beginning.
I know this is crazy long for a comment, but Ikea has so much to offer, it’s good to know everything! Happy shopping!
Be comfortable enough to sit down and hang out where you need to “shop.” I just bought a new desk last weekend–on the ill-advised saturday (I, too, do not like crowds.) Rather than wandering around the desk section, I took a seat at one of the pre-assembled desk set-ups where I could see almost every desk option from where I sat. I was out of the flow of traffic and able to really contemplate the pros and cons of each option. Sitting where I was, it only took ten minutes of contemplation–rather than the “dance” of working around others in the same section.
Where is the finished product of this office redo?
Megan recently posted..Painting a dresser
I love IKEA, it is a great place to get furniture for a dorm room because they seem to specialize in small space furniture.
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Ikea shopping tip: Enter through the exit (near cashiers), purchase a refillable drink in a paper cup, then proceed upstairs. You can refill the cup upstairs (where they only give glass glasses to drink from) and carry it around the store with you!
Oh IKEA! How I have had a massive love affair with you over the years! IKEA is a shopping experience, and it is not for the faint at heart! I suggest reserving an entire day, because once you get inside, it’s kind of like the fun house at the fair {you’re trapped and have to keep walking through the whole thing}! This is well planned on their part {lots of time to throw things into your giant yellow bag), but it can be very over stimulating if you’re not mentally prepared! Also, make a list before you go. Just do it and stick to it! Although “cheap”, your total really can rise quickly! Lastly, while the meatballs for lunch are a MUST, you also have to buy some Swedish chocolate for your drive home! That’s a tradition of ours.
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Visited as a young girl my first Ikeastore in 1967 , and it did such an impression that I still can remember some of the displays.
Been many trips that way since then.
Beginning to feel like a veteran when it comes to Ikeashopping.
In Sweden most husbands hates visiting Ikea.
So my best advice is “leave your hubby at home ”
Welcome to take a peek at my blog, Ikea almost built our home. Mixed with other finds , heirlooms and crafts.
Regards from the swedish Ikealady