To the rest of the world you may be wondering – who on earth needs a beginner’s guide to IKEA!? Well my friends, the answer is Atlantic Canada. Tomorrow morning (September 27th) our brand new store will be opening in Dartmouth Crossing. The first store in Atlantic Canada since the late 80’s meaning an entire generation has grown up here having never had access to a local IKEA store. When it was first announced that IKEA was in fact going to bring a store back to Nova Scotia the excitement was high. Everyone has been talking about it for well over a year and as the weeks and months have crept closer to the Grand Opening to the ne IKEA Halifax the excitement has escalated.
When I announced I would be taking Monday evening off to attend a media event at IKEA two days before the opening I had more people envious and ask to come with me than for any other event I’ve ever attended. And to be honest, I was pretty excited too. I had never been in an IKEA, any time I’ve travelled I’ve not been in an area where IKEA was over accessible, and when on vacation, home goods aren’t exactly in the forefront of my mind. What also excited me was the opportunity to get to check out – and shop – the brand new store without mobs of people. Because make no mistake, these next few weeks that store is going to be busy!
So while many patrons will have had the chance to shop at other IKEA stores over the years, many will be like me – a total IKEA newbie, and this post is for you. A short guide on navigating your first trip to IKEA.
Do Your Research
This is one time in particular you want to do some research before you head to the store. It will be busy probably for the next few months, especially if you find yourself there on a weekend, so equipping yourself in advance will make the trip that much smoother. What are you looking for? If you are looking for furniture or storage solutions make sure you have all the relevant measurements with you.
I heard more than once last night, “I really should have taken measurements.” I had taken measurements. And I had double checked them and put them in a note in my phone where I wouldn’t lose them. Especially for those who are travelling from a distance, my goodness – KNOW YOUR MEASUREMENTS.
Have A Plan
You’ve got your measurements and have a general idea of what type of items you are looking for, now make a plan. The store IS going to be busy, so the more you can plan before you step foot into the store, the better. Not only did I have the measurements of the space I was looking to organize, I also had looked up the product options in the catalogue for that area and had done the math figuring out how many I would need. That too was saved in my phone along with a short list of other items I wanted to pick up.
Don’t have a catalogue? No problem, download the app (which can give you inventory levels for your store) or go online. This is one place you want to have a list (either tangible or mental) before you enter. There is so much you can get easily overwhelmed and off task and can leave without ever having bought what you went in to get!
Wait — kitten? Of course I need this! Oh wait, I was looking for a shelf…
Pace Yourself {and wear comfy shoes}
The store is larger than 4 football fields. It has 1000 parking spots. And if not careful it can be like getting lost inside a home decor maze. This isn’t the place for uncomfortable shoes, and is a great place for sneakers and collecting steps on your Fitbit. 😉 A little handy tip from the girl who was lost for a while – follow the arrows on the floor.
They will guide you through the show rooms. I know I missed a huge chunk of the store because I didn’t follow those arrows.
Leave The Kids At Home
If this is your first trip do yourself a favour – get the kids a sitter or use their child care services. But honestly, I’d be concerned for this first little while that the child care services might be full when you arrive since all of Atlantic Canada is excited to get to the store.
Save yourself the headache and head out without them on your maiden voyage. There will be lots of time for return trips for you to bring them along and make it a fun outing. I mean they do have a ball room in the child care area…
Get A Snack!
If you’ve never been to IKEA you may not realize they have a restaurant in store (with delicious Swedish Meatballs) where you and your family can enjoy a snack or meal during your visit. The new Halifax location is no exception and has a beautiful area for you to enjoy while you eat!
Give Yourself Extra Time & Have Fun!
Having IKEA return to Nova Scotia is so exciting for us all, but please.- if you choose to head in over the next week or two when the crowds are likely to be at their biggest, give yourself extra time to get lost, distracted, and caught up in the fun to ensure you have the best first trip ever!
I uploaded my Instagram Story from yesterday to YouTube so you can see a bit more behind the scenes action from last night below 😉 That freeze frame pretty much says it all, hahaha
Checkout my first IKEA haul!
Other IKEA posts you might like:
Wow! Very big!