10 secrets IKEA employees won't tell you

Lovely and helpful staff but with a jumble of design details and flatpack instructions in your head, there’s a good chance some of the good stuff may get lost in translation.

Here’s what we know will help you out:

1. There are shortcuts to get through the IKEA labyrinth

Look on the back of your in store IKEA shopping list for a map marking quicker ways to move through the sections

2. You can buy online and pickup in store

With the Click and Collect service, goods ordered before 10am can even be collected on the same day!

3. Extended returns policy for IKEA Family members

The standard 12 month returns policy is extended to the life of your IKEA family membership (excludes mattresses) if you present it at point of sale.

4. There’s a free interior design service

With up to 20 interior designers working at each store, all you have to do it ask and get free advice on the spot for your interior design dilemas.

5. There's an online furniture planner

Before you even get to the store to start shopping, you can design your space, right down to the furniture configuration from the comfort of your own living room.

6. There’s a bargain section at the end of each store

Which is usually replenished on the same day(s) each week so find out when and get there first!

7. Airtasker can put together your flatpack for you

If the thought of putting it all together makes you a little queasy, IKEA has teamed up with Airtasker to enable a band of flatpack pros to take the angst out of assembling your furniture once you have it at home.

8. There’s been a real-life study on a home near you

IKEA have visited a home within 50kms of every store in Australia and given the family a makeover to beautify and optimise their space using IKEA products. Ask at your local store about the one near you.

9. There’s an app for that

IKEA Store is an app to use instore that creates a smart shopping list and gives you product information, with links to your IKEA Family membership and special offiers. Home Planner for IKEA is an augmented reality app in which you can plan your own space in 3D using real products and placing them in your home to try before you buy.

10.They’re serious about sustainably

We know IKEA has a strong social conscience but take a minute acquaint yourself with all it does to educate, recycle and design with the environment in mind.