Ikea must haves

[monkeysmama]

I am going to Ikea on Saturday to stock up on crockery for my new kitchen .

Frequently I see things I like in other peoples' homes and they always say "it's from Ikea" but when I go I forget what to look at and get a bit lost. What Ikea must haves/pretty stuff/useful things do you have?

TIA.

[ditavonteesed]

apple slicer, casserole dish that is lovely, storage boxes, tea lights, always go for a couple of things and comme back weith a car full.

[littledawley]

Flannels!! They do ten for £1 (or something like that) I use them so much - just keep a stash in the bathroom and use a new one every night to wipe down the bath, dry the taps etc.
Plastic tubs, bowls, jugs also good. Their cheap glass tumblers are more indestructible than any others I have bought. They also do really good stainless steel roasting tins in small sizes with handles on.

I could go on.....

[SagacityNell]

Whatever you do you must always follow the arrows . Everytime we stray we get lost for hours !

[scrappydappydoo]

Bath mats
meatballs in the restaurant
ice cream in the cafe afterwards
If you have young children - plastic plates, cups and cutlery
recycling bins
EVERYTHING!! ;)

[thighsmadeofcheddar]

We bought a new cheapy cotton duvet cover the other day which everyone has commented on. white with small red flowers. Something like £14.

Second kids plastic plates etc
Paper napkins

[monkeysmama]

Is their bedding a different size to normal
UK sizes? It always seems baggy on our bed cover.

Thank you- good suggestions I am adding to my list. Keep 'em coming!

[2madboys]

Mini Daim bars!

[CarmelitaMiggs]

washing-up brush with sucker on the bottom

I have a giant stash of them just in case they're discontinued

heart-y/star-y ice cube trays

toy teasets/play cookery stuff

storage jars

herrings in mustard sauce

I always grab an orchid, thinking that this will make the bathroom look swanky and grownup. (DH calls this The Orchid Moment.) I pledge that this one will be different, and will live forever

They all die in a matter of weeks

[scrappydappydoo]

Oh yes - the toys!! - lovely cheap wooden kitchen and 'proper' non plastic play saucepans, own version of hama beads, wooden toys...
plastic storage boxes

[MinnieMummy]

Cheese graters - they have tupperware ones with a grater on top so you don't grate your fingers off

I third plastic plates and cups for the DCs

Second tea lights as well!

Steps for young DCs (you'll see these EVERYWHERE - white with blue spots usually!)

Glasses (for everyday use only of course )

And your 'Billy' bookcase of course (do they still do them?)

[expatinscotland]

frozen meatballs, of course.

[FreeButtonBee]

second the cheese grater. Also good food storage jars in lots of sizes if you have "Sleeping with the Enemy" OCD re your cupboards.

I like their lamps actually - really good selection and they don't look like they come from Ikea. Have a good rummage.

Picture frames - you can never have too many

They always have lovely scandanavian fabrics and soft furnishings - I like them alot.

[loopyloops]

Third here for the cheese grater.

[omnishambles]

atm its white round solar lights for the garden to hang up - they look like paper lampshades and are fab...

Also picture frames - I always need some of those for blown-up photos.

[wubblybubbly]

Brightly coloured round bath mats scattered around the play room.

Somewhere for the DC to sit, jazz the wooden floors up, non slip and pop in the washer no problem.

[GypsyMoth]

magnet pinboard...

carrier bag storage...

clear underbed storage boxes with lids...

metal shelving units....freestanding

[treedelivery]

Those non-slip childrens steps are good good good. We have one under every last light switch in the house for dd1. Problem solved!

That almond cake thing in the freezer.

Plastic cutlery and plates and bowels. Something like £1 for 6, and all your tea parties/BBQ's/childresn events are taken care of for ever.

Their massive shopping bags. Utterly brilliant for laundry etc.

You will spend exactly 3 times what you intend. It is the law.

[paisleyleaf]

Those £1.50 curtain rods

[Fizzylemonade]

Measure up spaces you may wish to fill (rather than wondering if the lovely storage basket/box will fit)

Picture frames,
Washing up brush with sucker on bottom (I dishwasher mine every few days, lasts ages)
Mugs
Glasses
tea light holders & tea lights
Plastic plates/cups for kids (doesn't EVERYONE have these already?)
Magazine files
Flannels
Towels

I could go on forever!!!

Did I mention my Ikea is just 5 mile away I heart Ikea.

[ninedragons]

Weirdly, Ikea is a very good place to get a proper, woven-in-Iran, traditional Persian rug.

Their toy kitchen is excellent - I am gutted I only saw it after I had already bought DD a garish orange and pink one. I bought all the toy kitchen accessories and doodads and they are great quality (china bowls haven't broken in a year of hard use by a toddler).

White linen. Fits a standard queen.

[Acanthus]

Ikea 365 white porcelain crockery. Really tough.
Plastic kiddy bowls and beakers.
Bag clips for opened packs in the kitchen.
I do the orchid thing too

[geraldinetheluckygoat]

I agree with bag clips! Their cheap highchair was the best I ever got (so much better than the wooden one we shelled out for), flannels are useful, magazine files are really good value, I agree lamps are brilliant!

[omnishambles]

ninedragons am coveting both a rug and a wooden toy kitchen - the toy kitchens are 80quid though arent they...

[edwardcullensotherwoman]

My typical trip to Ikea - meatballs, chips, gravy and lingonberry sauce in the restaurant when you get there, wander aimlessly sitting on furniture in the display rooms (all while imagining you live there, it's fab ), always buy tealights, then check out bargain corner and buy cheap furniture you neither need or have room for, then a hotdog and cola after paying, plus a donut and coffee for the journey home. Mmmm I love Ikea..

Back on subject; I always buy a chopping board, rubber icecube trays, scented tealights and a lint roller.

[petisa]

Pmsl at "orchid moment".

Ooo yes the multicoloured kiddy plastic glasses and plates are fab. And the blue plastic bibs with long sleeves and pockets that come in sets of two.

The plastic lid with holes in for putting over plates in the microwave - I luuuurve mine, your microwave will never be dirty again! You just pop it in the dishwasher to clean it.

The cinammon buns, mmmmm.