I went to Ikea for the first time yesterday. It. Was. Amazing. There was so much to look at and I walked around the set up rooms twice before heading downstairs to pick stuff up. I wish I could have furnished my entire apartment with the stuff, but I had to settle for a couple pieces. The things I did get really, really helped to get rid of the clutter in my place. Before this stuff, the drawers, cabinets and counters in my kitchen were overflowing with kitchen stuff. There really just isn't enough room in there for everything. My kitchen table had become the place for everything including all papers, my computer, coats, scarfs, bags, and oh yea, Trent and I try to eat there every night, too. It was getting a little ridiculous. Amazingly, just a few things have really changed my apartment. Everything is a million times more neat and the space to put things has tripled.I moved my cookbooks from here and now I have an awesome espresso making section with my collection of syrups. That dijon mustard container is actually homemade vanilla. Tonight I whipped up a batch of pumpkin spice syrup from The Yellow Door Paperie. I haven't tried it in a drink yet, but I licked my fingers and it was really tasty! I might just have to go make a latte right now so I can try it.

Here's the cool floor lamp I found for just $14.99! I was worried it wouldn't shed much light, but it's great. Now I just have to keep Roland from ripping a hole in the paper. I've been correcting him all day trying to teach him that the new stuff is not his to chew through.

There's Trent sitting on the couch with the brand new awesomely hard to put together coffee table. We were feeling pretty full of our putting-Ikea-stuff-together-greatness after one piece and this second one didn't turn out as easily, but we got it to work.

This is my sadly neglected plant that my Mom bought me after my beta fish died. I don't care about it nearly as much as I should now that I have a bunny, but I thought of it when I was Ikea shopping and picked it up this adorable little pot.

My solution to my overcrowded drawers was this kitchen utensil holder with hooks thing. I was worried about how many things I actually had with holes in the handles, but I had quite a few.

The one thing I actually went to Ikea for was some kind of bookcase. My cookbooks have been sitting next to my sink since I moved in and I am slob when I do dishes and have ruined a couple of them from water damage. When I was at Ikea I had the bright idea to turn the bookshelf into a sort of hutch as well, so now it's holding my dishes and bowls freeing up two very needed shelves in my cabinets.

I really wanted to get an awesome coat hanger too, but sadly Ikea only had 2 versions to choose from and I wasn't really in love with either and really wasn't in love with the prices. I went for some hooks instead which are being very useful this very minute holding my coat, purse and tons of scarves by the door. I'm probably the last person to ever have the joy of going to Ikea, but if you haven't been, GO. No matter how far, it is worth it.

5 comments

1. Ally on January 11, 2010 10:49 AM

   I love IKEA! We have one about 35 minutes from here but haven't been to it in a few months. You have inspired me to head there again soon! Everything looks great! :)

    
2. Kim on January 11, 2010 12:48 PM

   That bookshelf is great! It looks perfect in that corner.

    
3. Wanderingcatstudio on January 11, 2010 2:26 PM

   Ikea is one of my most favourite places. I am going this month to get a new computer desk and a coffee table to help declutter my livingroom.

    
4. Sarah, The New Girl on January 12, 2010 3:41 PM

   I AM SO JEALOUS! I looove bookshelves and that one in the corner looks great! Love the table as well. I've never been to IKEA but I've got a friend in Charlotte so I plan on going this summer :) Love your stuff!!

    
5. The Yellow Door Paperie on January 21, 2010 3:56 PM

   Thanks for linking to the syrup! I hope you like it!
   
   And I'm so jealous that you work for spoonflower. O my!