to be thinking about going to Ikea this (Bank Holiday) weekend?

[OtterInaSkoda]

I want to decorate my bedroom and am finally feeling motivated enough to do so (posted on DIY asking for bedroom colour inspiration - any ideas welcome btw).

Would it be complete insanity to brave Ikea this weekend? It would, wouldn't it...?

"I only want a couple of rugs and a lampshade!"

Of course you do, but I bet you end up getting assorted candles, a few photo frames, a new bed spread, toddler cups..................

I always go in for just one thing and end up spending far too much.

Am very at you going. DH point blank refuses to go after I wandered off from him and he went around the shop looking for me, when I had already gone through the tills.

Last bank holiday we got there early-ish. The car park was heaving. After 20 mins of not being able to park we went and parked in B and Q. We went 10 mins over the allotted 3 hours allowed and got a £30 fine. Moral of the story - if you have to go,be there when the gates open.

Mad, probably dangerous and perhaps the beginning of the end of your marriage. Avoid like the plague, stressful from the start to the finish and chances are they will be out of stock anyway..

We have late saturday openings too. Ds loves Ikea and whilst i can shoot in grab what i want and be out in half and hour when i take ds we get stucked into that time vaccum. I took was thinking about going this weekend. Maybe I will wait until tuesday I only want some picture frames, the hotdogs and a vase for sister. plus I have run out of ideas of what to do with him this holiday. Thank goodness only 1 week left of school holidays.

lampshades

rugs

So glad you have changed your mind.You would have had no mind left if you had gone at the weekend. Our Ikea is full of gibbering mindless wrecks who are still wandering around the shop at the end, who have been there for several months unable to find their way out.

Thingone - NO!!!!!! Never ever base a trip to IKEA based on the online stock figures. They are always wrong, seriously. The inventory system in IKEA is flawed (mainly due to the huge amount of theft/breakages/fact that people think it's fine to open packages and scatter the pieces everywhere massive fume ) I can guarantee that if I'm going to get yelled at (downside of working at IKEA is being treated like dirt by overtired frustrated customers) it's by someone who's driven 50 odd miles from Brighton, to buy a pair of curtains that the website says we have in stock, but we haven't seen on the sales floor for weeks.

Ah, I would never be surprised if they weren't there, and tend to think the answer is only reliable if it says "8" "7" and "6" for the next day and subsequent ones. If it says 0 it's usually right .

we went 3 days before xmas - thought it would be a nightmare but it was fine - but then what fool wants to build furniture on xmas eve!!

Message withdrawn

Bloody hell! Never had that.

It's not so far for me - only about 45 mins - so not the end of the world.

I have my own Ikea nowdays.

I can pop there in 5 minutes. I often go there for a cheap lunch.
Before they opened my Ikea I used to have to shlep over to Wembly and I didnt drive so I had to make OH take me. I would then buy everything in sight incase I didnt get another chance.

Trouble is I now have everything. There is nothing left to buy. Its not the same

Silver1 - how did you know? He threw a strop about 15 minutes after we arrived, demanded to leave twice and then sulked. It wasn't even busy!

However, I have shiny new wardrobes and bookcases anyway so I'm not complaining

I did actually go last night about 6.30pm because it was the only chance i had in the next month and the DSs room is in desperate need of shelves. IT WAS FINE!
BTW if you check availability on the website it gives you the shelf location for your items so you can go straight there and pick them up (if they are in stock obviously) rather than wander aimlessly around the upper levels and market hall..