If you're heading out to do some IKEA Shopping, here are some tips you should know and things to watch for as you head to the store!
15 TOP IKEA Shopping Tips
You know IÂ love IKEA.
Like, L.O.V.E. IKEA.
So much so that I brought home an entire bedroom worth of furniture for my daughter's room home in my minivan not too long ago. 🙂
(Um, while we loved the furniture we did sell it not too long ago in a local buy-sell group because that bed was nearly impossible to make. But, I got back almost everything I spent!)
So, whenever the opportunity arises, I race into IKEA to hunt down a few tips to share with you. (Check out the Best Things to Buy at IKEA when you're there too!)
(My poor family ~ we were in the middle of Seattle, Washington on Spring Break when I saw an IKEA sign and I totally had to make them pull off the road to see what was there. Thankfully, they love their ice cream and it was a kids eat free day at the time, so we all survived.)Â
Did you know there really are extra ways to save at IKEA though beyond their fantastic prices? Here are some IKEA Shopping tips for the next time you go:Â
1. Join IKEA family ~ it's free!Â
Just by joining the Ikea Family (totally free to join ~ I love that!), you get a ton of great benefits. Here's what to expect:
- free coffee or hot tea at the IKEA restaurant
- an extra 30 minutes of time in “Smaland” for your child
- 90 day price protection guarantee – if something goes on sale after you bought it you have 90 days to get that price when you bring in your receipt
- chance to win a $100 IKEA gift card
- special “bonus” IKEA family pricing offers only available to IKEA members
Go HERE to sign up.
2. Start at the finish line.Â
If you've ever been to an IKEA before, you know that going in the front doors you'll be led down hours of hallways throughout IKEA's massive store.
However, if you go in through IKEA's exit, you'll go right in to their most deeply discounted “as-is” sales.
Watch for a ton of savings in this area, including couches marked down as much as 75% off. For example, the couch above with the stains on it was $700 regularly, marked down to $175. It looks to me like a sofa that was made to be slipcovered, so that's a crazy good price if you can stand the stain!
In this area you'll also find dressers, knick knacks, rugs and more ~ the store we visited even had a chair marked down to $6.50. If you don't mind doing a little work, you can save a bundle in this area!
3. Take advantage of free childcare while shopping at IKEA.
If you have young children, take advantage of IKEA's free Smaland childcare available as you enter the main entrance of the store. IKEA offers free childcare for an hour and don't forget that by joining IKEA Family you'll get an additional 30 minutes of childcare.
Kids must be between 4-10 years old and potty trained, and availability is limited based on the number of kids playing (meaning weekends and holidays are busy.) Go HERE to learn more.
4. Watch for weekly specials
Each week, IKEA offers weekly “specials” throughout the store. These are crazy good deals that won't last, so keep your eye out for them!
For example, the lovely pink sofa 🙂 above was on sale for just $179 (regularly $399) the week that we shopped. If you happen to be decorating a room for a girl (and have some space) that would make for some serious savings!
If your curious what the special offers are in your area, here's how to start:
- Go HERE
- Change your store's location to the one you're visiting
- Click on “IKEA Seattle (or whichever store you're visiting) Special Offers”
- Watch the list to see their special deals for the month.
Note: the information on the “special offers” tab varies a LOT by location. I noticed the West Chester, Ohio store shares their “last chance” deals, as well as new items in the store. The Long Island, New York special offers page showed only a few deals but offered discounted tickets to the New York Aquarium, Centra Park and Bronx Zoos. Be sure to do your research on the store your visiting's website before heading out!Â
5. Don't miss IKEA's last chance deals.
In addition to IKEA's weekly specials, they offer “last chance deals.” These will vary some by store, but you can snag some incredible savings with these! I was absolutely obsessed with the star lamp above but my hubby said we absolutely didn't have room for it on the airplane ~ I'm still a little sad about missing that one . . .
I tried to find a way for you to check out last chance deals online, and this *may* help (I'd love your feedback on this?)Â I noticed that the IKEA Portland website is lists their last chance deals online, so check these out and *possibly* they'll match up with your local store.
6. Watch for Member Only offers.Â
Since you're already signed up for IKEA Family (refer to secret #1) be sure to watch for IKEA member only offers throughout the store. Our store had the table and chairs shown in the above left picture for $149 (regularly $179), so keep your eyes peeled for extra savings.
7. Watch for specials on fabric remnants.
If you sew (or are just a wee bit crafty), watch for discounted prices at IKEA on their fabric remnants. Their regular prices on fabric are pretty reasonable as well, so be sure to check out the fabric section while you're there.
8. Don't miss price drops on all things random at IKEA.
While shopping IKEA you never know what item will be dropped ridiculously low. For example we noticed soccer balls for $4.99 as a price drop, which was such a weird deal to notice in the middle of everything else at IKEA!
Also be sure to look for fleece throws, pillows and even wrapping paper when you're there. Their fleece throws are almost always under $5 (they were $2.29 at our store), and are perfect to grab for yourself, as well as one to donate to your local homeless shelter in the winter.
9. Buy kids playroom furniture at IKEA.
The prices on kids playroom furniture (think easels, small tables and chairs, etc.) are incredible.
(That easel above? Just $14.99, compared to $40+ on Amazon.)
If you have small children or even homeschool, there is no other place to get everything you need at crazy good prices, so be sure to watch for those while you're there. (Especially since kids tend to abuse these pretty quickly, there's no reason to pay more!)
10. If you're shopping with kids, check to see if there's a kids eat free day!Â
Tuesdays used to be “kids eat free” day at IKEA. Some stores have changed this and offer other special promotions in addition to discounts on kids meals (for example, this week Seattle's IKEA had kids eat free all week), so be sure to check the special offers area at your store for any additional savings in the IKEA restaurant before you shop.
With any purchase at IKEA, you'll get FREE baby food in the IKEA restaurant with any purchase. They also have high chairs to use while you're there.
12. Get $25 off your $250 purchase if you're moving.
Especially if you're a student starting college (or have just moved), this is a great way to save. Go HERE to sign up.
13. Don't miss the discounted hot dogs.
Pick up 50¢ hot dogs (note – I *think* these have increased a BIT in price lately …. but still VERY cheap!) and $1 ice cream cones at Ikea, and you may want to grab a 6 pack of cinnamon rolls for the road priced at just $4.
14. Be on the lookout for incredible prices in the bathroom and curtain sections at IKEA.
While I love the entire store, I always notice the very best prices on curtains and just about everything you need for the bathroom at IKEA. (99¢ toilet brushes? You can't beat that!)
Curtain panels are as low as $4.99 when on sale, and a great way to quickly save while you're there.
15. Check out the IKEA catalog before you shop.
Go HERE to view the IKEA catalog before you shop, and sign up for email updates which may include local savings as well.Â
Be sure to check out my top 22 best things to buy at IKEA, and leave a comment if you've found other ways to save when you shop at IKEA. I love hearing from you!Â
Coming from someone who has worked in child welfare for 10 years, let me say this. Never, ever, ever take advantage of free childcare (even for an hour) from people you don’t know and have never met. Yes, you hope Ikea did the correct background checks and these people are ok; however, things happen and you can never know for sure. I see all sorts of red flags with this situation, seriously. So either stay home with your child, get someone you know and trust to baby sit, or let them shop with you. Just a word of loving caution!!
Something I have recently learned the hard way is that different colors of the same item can cost different prices. For example the Henriksdal chair covers range from $9 to $39. So, don’t be like me, see the $9 price, get super excited for such a great deal, only to be crazy disappointed.
Hi my name is Tracy Rosario and have been trying to contact you to cancel my membership for the recipes. We never used them. I have been trying to email you with no luck. Can you please let me know if you get this and it is cancelled.
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
Sending you an email right now Tracy!
I adore ikea and these are great tips….. But that chair isn’t $6.50…. The cushion is.
I go with my mom- she always ends up buying something for my kids, lol! Savings right there!
I bought the star lamp, painted it metallic bronze and it looks like a high end piece above my cabinets, now one would guess it was less than $10. It came all folded up flat in a box. You should have grabbed one!
I should have bought one Debbie – I have regretted not grabbing one ever since we left Ikea! I bet it looks great in bronze. 🙂
I was surprised to find complementary diapers for baby in the family bathroom. Ikea is awesome!
I love that Marla – thanks for sharing (that’s such a nice little bonus!) 🙂