My Date With Ikea

After my brother moved out last week, I suddenly found myself with half as much furniture and twice as much space that needed furniture. I also suddenly found myself without a desk and with two bookshelves worth of books and only one bookshelf to store them.

I needed to do something last weekend to rectify that situation. Enter the big blue box to the rescue. My brother and I bought identical bookcases at Ikea a few years ago, shortly after their first Bay Area store opened in Emeryville. A few years later, Ikea has opened a store in East Palo Alto, which is 4 miles further than Emeryville for me, but a much easier and less stressful drive, even with a $4 bridge toll.

I needed pick up another FLÄRKE (aka cheap particle board bookcase), and while checking its inventory online, I found a desk/workstation (HANNES) and chair (ALLAK) that I wanted, and verified that all the items were in stock in the East P.A. store in the colors I wanted before heading to the store. I arrived shortly after they opened the doors at 10am, shopping list in hand, found the row/bin locations of all three items, and managed to pick up everything (with a few extra items) in less than half an hour for a total cost of less than $100.

After loading the items in my car (and struggling to fit a desk, a chair, and a bookcase in a 2001 Acura Integra), I went back to the store for a mid-morning fika before heading back home. It may technically be possible to visit Ikea without buying a cinnamon roll, but it isn't something I've ever managed to do. Luckily I only visit Ikea once a year at most.