Shopping at IKEA doesn’t have to be expensive. If you enjoy Swedish furniture and would like to learn how to save money at IKEA then read on as we discuss the best ways to save you some cash on your next visit.
IKEA launched its first store in the UK back in 1987 when it opened the doors to its Warrington store. Since then IKEA has grown in popularity and there are now over 20 stores in the UK from Aberdeen to Exeter.
As the demand for its cool, minimalistic and trendy furniture has grown so has the number of people asking about the best ways to save money at IKEA so that is exactly what we are going to look at today.
Table of Contents
1. IKEA Family Card
The best way to save money at IKEA is to sign up to IKEA Family. This is completely free and saves you money month after month.
Being a member of IKEA Family allows you to take advantage of special IKEA Family discounts in store. These vary during the year so look out for the blue labels next time you visit IKEA.
Another benefit of IKEA Family loyalty card is that once you have signed up if something breaks whilst you are transporting it home or whilst you are assembling your furniture then IKEA will exchange it for free thanks to their Oops-assurance.
Every time you visit IKEA during the week you are entitled to a complimentary free tea or coffee as an IKEA Family member.
Another benefit of joining IKEA Family is that IKEA hold workshops during the year to help you learn more about living better. These workshops include how to live in a small place, how to be better organised as well as offering ways to win free prizes.
As you can see already the easiest way to save money at IKEA is to join IKEA Family and reap your rewards.
2. Oops-assurance
If you are an IKEA Family member then you automatically become eligible for IKEA’s Oops assurance.
This covers any purchase made in IKEA you make as long as you swipe your IKEA Family card at the time of purchase you are covered.
If something you buy does break on the way home then you simply need to go back to the store within 90 days of purchase and present the item, your IKEA Family card, and your receipt.
This is a great benefit of being an IKEA Family member especially if you are accident-prone as it means you do not have to rebuy an item if it breaks on your way home.
3. Complimentary tea or coffee
If you enjoy a free cup of coffee then you definitely want to sign up for an IKEA Family card as it entitles you to a free filter coffee on weekdays.
Your choice of free hot drinks is not limited to coffee as your card also allows you to get a free cup of tea as well. That’s not all though as not only do you get a free hot drink IKEA also offers free refills as well.
This is a great way to save money at IKEA as all you need to be eligible for your free cup of coffee is to scan your IKEA Family card at the checkout. Now I’ll drink to that!
4. Workshops
Events at IKEA are normally free to attend although for some you do need to register in advance.
Looking at the events available at the time of writing there are face painting, cookie decorating as well as demonstrations on how to change your habits to reduce food waste in the Gateshead store.
Cardiff has giant games of Noughts and crosses as well as a chance to win prizes with their Storage icons event.
IKEA in Edinburgh meanwhile has Afternoon Tea events on selected days, workshops on organising rooms for the kids, and an introduction to green cleaning, where they provide tips about being sustainable and green whilst cleaning your house.
The events clearly vary from store to store and whilst some are more aimed at children, others do focus on living a greener more sustainable life.
5. Check the IKEA website for offers
If you’re planning to visit IKEA, then a great way to save money is to check their website for potential savings and offers.
The Offers page provides information on discounts and offers available online and in store. The offers only tend to run for a limited time and include seasonal offers and deals on a wide range of different products across the whole IKEA range.
At the time of writing this article, there were special offers including 15% off EKET storage units, 20% off all air purifiers, 20% off MALM beds, 20% off STOENSE. as well as a lot more money saving offers.
6. IKEA Christmas tree offer
Each year from the end of November IKEA have traditionally sold real Christmas trees and offered a voucher allowing you to save money in their stores.
Last year they sold six-foot Christmas trees for £25 and offered a £10 voucher to spend in January allowing you to buy a real Christmas tree for £15 which is brilliant value for money.
7. Buyback and resell
In the UK IKEA allows you to trade in your second-hand IKEA furniture for credit that you can spend in-store.
IKEA will buy back cabinets, bookcases, chests of drawers and other products as long as they are in good condition. In addition, the items need to be clean, properly assembled, and fully functional when you return them.
They will not buy back non-IKEA furniture and non-assembled furniture. The list of exclusions also covers mattresses, sofas, curtains, pillows, kitchen cabinets, and upholstered products.
For the full range of items, IKEA will buyback and not accept visit the buyback and resell section of their website. Once IKEA buys your products they then look to resell them in their Circular Hubs section.
If you can trade in some of your old IKEA furniture for in store credit then that is a great way to reduce your furniture bill and save money shopping at IKEA.
8. Circular Hub
The Circular Hub in each store is normally found near the exit and is where IKEA sells its reduced-priced items.
The Circular Hub was previously known as Bargain Corner but has had a name change. It does however still provide lots of bargains so don’t let the new name fool you it is still a great money saving area.
The reduced items often found in this section include ex-display items and slightly damaged products.
This section also includes second-hand furniture that has been traded into IKEA under their buyback and resell scheme. If you are wanting to buy some second hand furniture, save the environment and save money at IKEA then the Circular Hub is definitely worth checking out.
It is a great idea as allows you to recycle furniture that otherwise would have ended up being dumped. This is all part of IKEA’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment.
9. Take measurements
In order to avoid any costly mistakes it is important to take note of your measurements when shopping at IKEA. This will allow you to check if the furniture is going to fit in your house and that it is not going to be too big or too small, but just perfect.
This saves you from having to spend money on petrol having to return the item and prevents you from wasting your precious time as well. This is especially true if you have to travel a long distance to your IKEA store.
The best place to find out the sizes of IKEA items is on their website. Here you can upload your measurements before heading to the store.
For example, if you’re in the market for a new wardrobe you will want to check out their furniture size estimator and check that it will fit in your bedroom.
You can also use the IKEA virtual reality app to visualise the items in your own home.
10. Go early
IKEA can get very very busy so if you have seen a bargain online or on their app it makes sense to get to the store as early as possible to avoid being disappointed.
There is no point in spotting a great money saving opportunity if the items are all going to be sold out by the time you arrive.
11. Plan your visit
Ikea stores are a maze of different sections so it is best to plan your journey in advance. This allows you to plan which areas of the store you want to visit and which you want to avoid.
It is also helpful to have a shopping list of items before you go. That way you can tick them off and make sure you buy everything you went for.
You can save money at IKEA if you can stick to your shopping list and not pick up tempting unnecessary items as you stroll around the store.
12. Bring your own bags
If you want to save money at IKEA you should bring your own bags.
Whilst you can buy bags in IKEA they are generally more expensive than ones you buy in supermarkets as they tend to be larger and sturdier. They also cost more as a result. So save yourself some pounds by bringing your own bags.
13. Search for Ikea hacks
IKEA’s designs are simple and minimalistic. It is possible with a little ingenuity, time, and effort to take some of the basic inexpensive items from IKEA and transform them into something much more stylish and unique for your house.
IKEA hacks can be a great way to save money if you can buy something cheap in IKEA and then transform it using a hack you have seen on Youtube, TikTok or elsewhere.
14. Take advantage of IKEA’s return policy
IKEA has a generous returns policy. This allows you to return any unopened item within 265 days for a full refund. Just make sure you keep your receipt.
This is particularly useful if you make a purchase you are unsure about as it gives you longer to decide if you really want to keep the product.
15. Shop online
Shopping online at IKEA can often be cheaper than shopping in-store, as the company offers reasonably priced delivery costs. By shopping online you can also avoid crowds and take advantage of the convenience of shopping from your own home.
Shopping from home also allows you to easily compare a wide selection of products to find the best deals and save money at IKEA.
16. Use cashback websites to save money at IKEA
Shopping through cashback reward sites and apps is an excellent way to save money shopping at IKEA.
Quidco, Topcashback, and Jam Doughnut all offer a percentage of your purchase amount back in the form of cashback rewards that you can use for later online purchases.
This allows you to get discounts on top of any special offers IKEA has running. Before you complete a purchase, be sure to check these cashback sites to see if you can earn yourself some money by shopping at IKEA.
Related money saving resources
Cashback rewards – get paid to shop
Shopping online – ways to be a savvy shopper
5 ways to save money buying coffee
17. Use IKEA vouchers
You can often find IKEA vouchers in newspapers, magazines, and online that you can use to save money on your purchases.
These vouchers may offer discounts on furniture, home goods, and food, so make sure to check for them before making a purchase. IKEA also often runs special promotions and voucher codes for online purchases, so make sure to check the website for these as well.
18. Assembly services
The cheapest way to assemble your furniture is to do it yourself. However, assembling flat-pack furniture from IKEA can be fun and challenging for some whilst for others it can be frustrating and infuriating.
If you fall into the latter camp then to avoid any costly errors when building your furniture you can use IKEA’s assembly service which has partnered with TaskRabbit.
The costs are generally pretty reasonable and IKEA allows you to connect through the TaskRabbit network to find someone in your area. This can be cheaper and less hassle than having to find a local tradesperson to build your furniture for you.
19. Look out for sales and clearance events
IKEA regularly holds sales and clearance events, which are great opportunities to save money on furniture and home goods. These events are typically announced on the IKEA website, so make sure to keep an eye out for them. During these events, you can save up to 50% on select items, so it’s a great time to stock up on essentials or purchase big-ticket items.
Conclusion on best ways to save money at IKEA
We have now covered lots of different ways you can save money at IKEA but the easiest way is to join the IKEA Family loyalty scheme and to keep a lookout on their website for discounts and vouchers.
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