Mansi Maheshwari, a young comms professional, just completed a round of home renovation. She mixed ethnic with urban style to redecorate the living space, “My husband and I worked with our designer to pick items from IKEA that best represent our personalities.”
Mansi’s IKEA shopping essentials included tables, storage solutions, rugs, towels, tea light candles, napkins and cutlery. She said, “No one does things like IKEA – quality or price. It's my favourite place to hang out as well – there are so many new solutions, new ideas and I love observing how people react to them.”
You too can create your dream house to reflect your tastes and personality. With Deepavali round the corner, it is a great time to pop into to your nearest IKEA store to shop its wide range of products. And if you are feeling overwhelmed, here is a checklist of items to help in setting up your new home, or even give your current house a completely new look!
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1.Wall Shelves
Wall shelves play an important role to your home décor. Coordinate with either furniture or pick as per the mood of the season, as they help add a theme to your home. IKEA gives you the chance to let it happen by offering great range of wall shelves in every size, styles and colours. Tip: Maximise space under the shelves with brackets that can hold things like wrapping paper too!
2.Sofas and Armchairs
The living room is where we spend most of the time in, and it’s a place to wind down after a tiring day. So it is important to have maximum comfort by choosing a sofa or armchair that matches your needs. At IKEA, you will find everything from cosy chairs to sink into with a good book in hand, to sofas to just sit back and relax. They also offer modular sofas like the VIMLE series (from $680 for a two-seat sofa) with a wide range of styles and covers to find a combination and look that suits you.
When it comes to family time, it has to be special with the sofas and armchairs you choose. Particularly, the STRANDMON wing chair ($299) is an old favourite that combines modern comfort and quality materials to make a stylish statement in the home, as it comes in various colours and patterns. Moreover, combining the chair with the matching footstool ($119) helps maximise your seating comfort.
3. Side Tables
IKEA gives you a choice of picking up side tables to take care of things you like to have close by. Go for a simple table with space for remote controls and cups of tea like the NYBODA side table with reversible table top ($39/ea). Or opt for one with wheels, so it can follow you into any room you fancy, or just kept away when not in use, like the TINGBY side table on castors ($49).
4.Curtains and Blinds
We love the outdoors. But sometimes we want to keep outside elements, like sunlight, or curious eyes, out. Curtains and blinds do this in a way that enhances your view from the inside, too. A layered curtain solution allows you to make a stronger style statement while fine-tuning the amount of light or privacy you want.
5.Clothes Storage System
Not sure if you want a closed wardrobe? Well, a handy solution to organise your clothes and accessories is IKEA’s ALGOT range. The endlessly adaptable storage system also works hard anywhere in your home. You can put together the parts yourself to best fit your storage needs and available space. Or, choose from IKEA’s wide range of ready-made solutions.
6.Wall lights and lamps
With the festive season approaching, think of beautiful lights to add warmth in your home. IKEA provides different styles of wall lights and floor lamps, including classic styles like the RANARP series ($99 for a floor/reading lamp) and the PS 2014 pendant lamp ($79) for a more out-of-this-world choice. Many can be used with ultra energy-efficient LED bulbs like RYET ($1.90/ea) or come with them built-in, so you’ll spend less on electricity and help the planet, too.
7.Rugs
Rugs bring a warm atmosphere and also help showcase your personal style and treat your feet to some softness. IKEA has a big choice, including flat-woven, high pile, and sheepskins. Many are handwoven – like the VINDUM rug ($169) produced at an IKEA-approved weaving centre in India, with fair wages and safe working conditions. It means comfort for you and a better life for the craftspeople and their communities.
8.Cabinets and Shelving units
From TV storage combinations like the multi-purpose BESTÅ shelving system to glass-door display cabinets like the FABRIKÖR ($249), IKEA has a deal for everyone. The multi-tasking shelving options allow you to flaunt or hide all your things appropriately, so you will be proud to show off your best side.
9. Decor essentials
What really turns a house into a home you’ll want to come back to every day are the little personal touches. From hanging your fondest memories on every wall to bringing some outdoor greenery in, let your personality shine with IKEA’s wide range of decorations – from frames and pictures to plants and plant pots, candle holders and other decorative accessories, you’ll be able to find something unique to spruce up your new abode.
10.Bathroom Textiles
IKEA puts a lot of time creating beautiful bathroom textiles that stay soft, even after a long bubble bath. There’s just something comforting about wrapping up in a clean, soft towel or stepping onto a warm bath mat. At IKEA, it’s not just a shower, it’s an experience of comfort.
Mansi’s incredible story bears a testament to IKEA being more than a store, “I love how IKEA inspires people to try different things, or do things differently. And that's where my IKEA story actually starts. I had learnt to apply Mehndi on one of my India trips in the early 2000s and decided to start 'designing' gifts. I remember picking up some wooden frames, mirrors, plant marbles and tealight holders from IKEA and produced 'candle boards' or wooden Rangoli boards'. One gift led to another, which led to larger orders. This kept me busy during my time at University. Money 'earned' during this period was all for charity – my way of giving back to Shiamak Davar's Victory Arts Foundation (victoryartsfoundation.org) in India,” she added.