My name is Caro and I have a bit of a thing for IKEA.
There. I said it.
It’s been one of my favourite places to shop for the last 25 years, ever since the first time, when I joyfully accompanied my mum to choose stuff for university.
But when you find yourself suggest the IKEA café for a date-night with your love, you know you’ve got it bad.
Those iconic yellow and blue buildings are not only filled with fab things for the home but I have a real love of their meatballs too.
And bumper packs of mini Dime bars.
Food and homeware. For me — that’s a heady combination.
I also love the fact that their canteen is full of their own furniture — plates, cutlery and glassware — ALL own brand.
And more recently they’ve started doing soap and hand-cream, so if you go into an IKEA loo the hand-washing facilities are also now their own product too.
It’s SO clever. For someone who has worked in brand development, these little touches certainly don’t go unnoticed ;)
You could literally move into an IKEA store and have everything you need.
Comfy beds, tasty food, an ever-changing supply of lovely cushions. I LOVE it.
Every time we visit our local store, I am heard (at least once) to say;
‘Aaah I could live in here!’
IKEA hacks have taken the western world by storm; people are creating bespoke items using their products as a base.
I created a bathroom bench from a shoe-rack, for example.
Most people you know will have at least one item from IKEA in their home.
We’ve got a fair few, even though some of them don’t look quite like they did when we bought them.
Their furniture makes such a fab blank canvas and sometimes is just crying out for a makeover.
The chest of drawers in our bedroom had a little face lift; it started out life as an unassuming little unit but with a lick of Annie Sloan — and some lovely new handles — it was transformed into a thing of beauty.
Our home is full to bursting with RIBBA frames, GLIMMA tealights, plants of the week — and I regularly get told off for ‘just popping in for one thing’ and ending up with a carboot full of stuff I never intended to buy.
So that’s it.
I just thought I’d put that out there.
I heart IKEA.
Do you have any shops that you’re a little bit obsessed with? Please tell me it’s not just me!! ;)
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
Just love their stuff too! You are proof that a home doesn’t need to look like their catalogue either! Love what you did with the chest of drawers. Looks like a classic piece!!! Super post Caro and it’s making me want an Ikea trip!! xx
Thanks for being a fab co-host :) #HomeEtc
It’s funny isn’t it? For a relatively cheap homeware store, they’ve managed to span the generations and come up with some real classics!! Totally love it! :)
Just love their stuff too! You are proof that a home doesn’t need to look like their catalogue either! Love what you did with the chest of drawers. Looks like a classic piece!!! Super post Caro and it’s making me want an Ikea trip!! xx
Thanks for being a fab co-host :) #HomeEtc
Haha!! I LOVE it — I don’t need any excuses for a trip to IKEA!!! Just the meatballs alone is enough to make me want to go!! ;)
We used to live a short drive away from the Bristol branch & I loved going there…always in the evening when it’s quieter. It’s a rookie error to go on Saturday afternoon or in January sales or the school holidays…have you seen the size of the queues?! We haven’t made a trip to IKEA for over a year now since we moved away from Bristol. Your post has made me want to go back! #HomeEtc
I haven’t been for a couple of months and am getting withdrawal symptoms!!! I think an IKEA mission is in order!! ;) (on a Wednesday evening obvs) ;)