You haven't truly entered adulthood until the idea of going to Ikea makes you more excited than a big night out on the town. Hangovers, move aside: it's time to colour-coordinate our tea towels and couch cushions and curate a pantry so organised that even Marie Kondo is in awe.
The hardest part, though, is figuring out what exactly you're after — and if you've ever been to the Ikea in Richmond, you'd know that your options can be overwhelming and staff are spread thin. Enter the Ikea Plan and Order Point Shop, a concept store that the Swedish purveyor of furniture introduced a few years back.
Unlike the massive warehouses you're probably used to that are stocked with aspirational room simulations, these concept stores are more like a service centre. Mosey on in with a problem to solve (like maximising a small kitchen) or a general idea of what you want (the perfect wardrobe, or maybe a better way to show off your plant collection) and staff will be at the ready to assist and give advice.
The idea is that you'll get more personalised service than is possible at the larger store formats, and once you've decided on your purchase, you can place your order and select delivery or click-and-collect from your nearest Ikea store.
While several dozen Ikea Plan and Order Point Shops exist around the world, this will be the first of its kind to open in Australia. And luckily for us, it's landing right here in Melbourne at the Highpoint Shopping Centre in late 2022.