Ikea: The A to Z guide

From the arrows on the floor to catching some Zzs in a comfy display bed...

It's the weekend and for many of us that means thinking about doing some home improvements, whether that involves searching for new furniture or giving a dull-looking wall a new coat of paint.

For all of you who are planning to head to that most well-known of Scandinavian stores this weekend, here is a fun list of the things we're all familiar with. Ikea here we come...

Love Ikea? READ: 13 incredibly interesting facts you didn’t know about Ikea

ikea store exterior

(Image credit: Ikea)

A is for the arrows that guide you around the store

B is for Billy the bookcase, the popular classic that you will see in nearly every home around the country

Want more Ikea? READ: Is your old Ikea furniture worth a small fortune?

C is for coffee in the café before you embark on your quest

D is for day out - you're in it for the long haul

E is for effort

ikea wooden furniture

(Image credit: Ikea)

F is for flat-pack

G is for great bargains

H is for hot dogs (to give you sustenance after your shopping trip)

ikea wardrobe and bed

(Image credit: Ikea)

I is for intending to go directly to the bed/sofa/wardrobe section, then leaving straightaway

J is for 'just adding another one of these glasses/jars/bowls' (delete as appropriate) to your trolley

K is for knowing you didn't come to buy any of those cute little extras

L is for lateness. You're meant to be meeting your friend, but you've got carried away and run out of time

meatballs on frying pan with wooden spatula

(Image credit: Ikea)

M is for meatballs

N is for napkins - you don't need them, but they're sooooo pretty

ikea garden with houseplants

(Image credit: Ikea)

O is for outdoor furniture that will make your garden super cool in a flash

P is for the (free) pencils

Want more? READ: 12 thoughts everyone has while walking around Ikea

Q is for queuing at the checkout

R is for reading all the product names in your best attempt at a Swedish accent

ikea scandinavian style living room

(Image credit: Ikea)

S is for Scandinavian style

T is for the tiny tape measures you get in store

U is for calling an Uber when you realise you can't possibly carry everything back on the bus or train

V is for variety

W is for wishing you had used the delivery service, rather than trying to fit everything into the car

X is one of two letters that have no product names starting with it. The other is Q

ikea candles products

(Image credit: Ikea)

Y is for yet another candle...

Z is for zzzs. Those beds are so comfy, so why not just have a quick snooze?

How much do you love Ikea?

Contributor

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.