IKEA Charlotte: Your relationship can survive it
My husband and I have been to the Charlotte IKEA once. We will never go back.
I like to believe that we have a very strong relationship. We’ve known each other since we were 5 and we’ve dated since we were 18.
However, had I found a divorce lawyer sitting behind one of the simple Bekant desks I would have signed the papers without a moment’s hesitation.
Our one and only trip happened a couple of years ago on a rainy Saturday afternoon. We headed up Interstate 85 brimming with the positive thoughts that inexpensive, streamlined, Swedish furniture brings.
We needed a new computer desk. We didn’t get anything, not even a meatball.
We tell the story jovially now but a recent Wall Street Journal article showed that my husband and I are not an IKEA exception. Relationship experts cited in the story stated that those IKEA arrows will lead you to straight to a big, fat argument.
How Your Relationship Can Survive IKEA Charlotte:
Attack and conquer. IKEA is not just big. It is expansive, like the Serengeti or Antarctica.
You wouldn’t just show up at either of those places with nothing more than some flip flops and cargo shorts. No, you would come with a plan and supplies: map, compass, tent, supply of water, machete, walkie-talkies, MREs, and a flare gun.
This is also what you’ll need for IKEA Charlotte.
Set a budget. Stick to this budget. IKEA has a lot of cool stuff — fairly inexpensive cool stuff.
You think that you’re going in to buy a desk, just a desk. However, as you meander through department after department, before you know it you have a cart full of fish-shaped ice trays, duvets, shower curtains, a fuzzy rug and a couple dozen throw pillows. It adds up — the price and the resentment.
We have a full house in our AS-IS department today, floor lamps starting at $5 only @IKEA_Charlotte pic.twitter.com/UUST2Jc4Cb
— IKEA Charlotte (@IKEA_Charlotte) April 28, 2015
Eat! Eat! Eat! IKEA has a restaurant. This restaurant has some good food at great prices. Go straight there. Eat meatballs until you can do nothing but smile and nod contentedly. You do not want to be “hangry” in IKEA.
Eat for FREE weekend @IKEA_Charlotte ! April 25 – 26, Don’t miss it pic.twitter.com/aj4KauDppN
— IKEA Charlotte (@IKEA_Charlotte) April 25, 2015
Pick a day, any day. Except for Saturday. For the love of all things holy do not go on Saturday.
Remember the good times. You loved each other before you went to IKEA. You will learn to love each other again. Take a picture of you and your significant other that evokes a great memory. Look at this picture often.
Photos by AP Photo/IKEA.
This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 1:12 AM.