Riots in Ikea

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Flatpack farrago

I couldn't believe it when I read this article. A riot in the new Ikea they've built in London. But I guess, after my few visits to that temple of Swedish practicality and european style I can see how it might happen. The car park at the Ikea in Moorabbin is alway full. I'm sure there are people driving around there from my last visit still looking for a spot!

The article states that Ikea is the place to get well priced moden furniture, but I have never found that to be the case. Sure, their advertising tells you that the FROOT hallway key holder is only $9, and you think "Wow! I've never even thought of a hallway key holder, but $9 is a great price and it would make me so European!" But really when you get there to buy anything useful, it's quite expensive when you realise it's sawdust glued together to make wood and you need to assemble the pieces they have put in the box for you. Having said that, I have been to Ikea a few times and am quite taken by the simplicity, stylishness and practicality of their BILLY shelf system and the complementing BENO CD shelves.

I have been taken in by their cheaper bits and pieces in the Market Hall, which is the section that you visit last in the labyrinth. The whole floor plan of Ikea must be designed to bamboozle you into a weak state of mind. You've walked through the big furniture areas and seen all of the cool room setups and thought to yourself "Man, those Swedes sure have style. If I didn't already have a house full of furniture, I'd love to set up my home like this." You've gotten past the lighting section without spending money on their THOMB lamp that is paper wrapped around coat hangers with a light bulb inside. But there it is, the Market Hall. If you don't buy something, you're no closer to living the Scandinavian dream. There they were, a set of measuring cups for $3 that even included a cute little tiny one to measure a pinch! They were sure to add a bit of well needed style to our kitchen and they were green!

I guess, we all keep going back hoping to find a reason why everybody else is going. Or maybe, everybody likes the BILLY shelves as much as I do.