I’ve made no secret of my love for the Swedish, affordable, furniture giant IKEA. Having grown up being dragged there over the weekends and browsing the yearly catalogs for entertainment, everything I know about getting a house together has come from the warehouse in yellow and blue.
So naturally, my apartment looks like it could have come out of those catalogs.
I couldn’t be prouder of us!
I know you’re asking how we managed- a lot of traffic for this blog has come because people search for “IKEA Lebanon,” which unfortunately we do not have.
The answer is easy.
I wait for Ahmad to travel to one of the nearby Gulf countries every six months and prepare a list of all the items that we think would suit our style and approach. I have to also note that in our relationship, he’s the one that enjoys shopping, so it’s not like these trips are unpleasant for him.
What’s unpleasant though, for him, is having to carry everything back. I’m baffled by just how many vases and candles you can fit in a suitcase.
On the other hand, when he comes back, I’m like a kid opening her presents on Christmas morning!
In fact, I think he might get too excited, scheduling his visit ahead of time and sending me photos of every item he likes. We proceed to have long discussions about things we never knew we needed but absolutely must have because IT’S SO CHEAP!
Never mind that the bill eventually adds up.
I tell you it’s torture.
He’s off browsing those aisles, picking up things left right and center, while I have to be at work, doing my rounds AND trying to figure out the quantities needed.
So despite the fact that there’s an IKEA item in every room of my house, I haven’t actually gone to the store.
Maybe that’s a good thing.
If I went to that windowless warehouse, it would take me a very, very long time to find my way out. And I think that the bill will come out even more than it usually does. I don’t even want to know how it would’ve affected our relationship!
Or I would get lost in the pillowcase section. Who knew getting those right could be so tough?
Also, can we please have an IKEA in Lebanon? It’s about time.
Beyond Beirut 
I live in a place where an IKEA Store is a 15 minute drive away. We definitely don’t see it as anything special. More like a store that young college students use before they can afford the good stuff! But I think everybody has a little bit in their house! The catalog is fun. :)) happy shopping .. Don’t buy too much the quality isn’t the best.