My IKEA Obsession

THE IKEA CONFESSION

• Jill Heinerth

This is not a sponsored advertisement. It is a confession. Sometimes Robert and I go to IKEA just to eat. Not to shop. Not to “get ideas.” Just… lunch, for two, for under $20. Apparently, we’re not alone. In some parts of the world, IKEA has quietly evolved into a full-blown third space—part restaurant, part living room, part social experiment.

Couples have been known to go on first dates nestled into the living room displays, testing compatibility on a cozy sectional. Others host elaborate picnics on showroom tables, nap in the beds, or cook imaginary feasts in display kitchens and occasionally leaving very real messes behind in sample, non-plumbed toilets. There are reports of competitive games of hide-and-seek, impromptu Instagram photo shoots, and even job interviews staged against the backdrop of a perfectly styled Scandinavian home. At IKEA, people don’t just shop. They move in.

That said, after polishing off a surprisingly excellent lunch of fresh salmon and veggie balls, we do usually buy a thing or two. Wandering the aisles counts as exercise, especially on a stormy day (FYI: our IKEA is a 1.1 km loop, fitness trackers don’t lie). And somewhere between the flat-pack lamps and the tea light candles, you’ll find a few unexpected, dive-related treasures that can be scooped up with pocket change. Let’s take a look.

IKEA Bags

There is no cheaper alternative than a large IKEA bag (under $2) used to carry a wet or dry suit. After your dive, stand in the roomy bag and get undressed straight into the bag to prevent sand and dirt from getting all over your suit. The durable waterproof bag protects your car from moisture too.

STORSTOMMA is my favorite for its rainbow beauty, but if you want to blend in like a lot of black-clad techies, then you might like the GORNSYGG bag for its flat, beige-ness (you’ll pay a $1 premium to be dull). A premium VINTERSMINT bag (under $5) is even bigger and has a zip top. The FRAKTA bag is a 20L option that fits on a cart if you are moving a lot of little pieces to the dive site.

WATERPROOF

Recently IKEA has started stocking small roll top dry bags. Whether you use these under $3 bags as organizers or take them on the boat to protect your phone, wallet and valuables, I consider these clear but sturdy bags indispensable.

Check out the RENSARE series.

IKEA Batteries

IKEA LADDA batteries, specifically the “Made in Japan” versions, are widely believed to be manufactured by FDK Corporation in the same factory that produces Panasonic Eneloop batteries, making them essentially rebranded Eneloops or very similar, offering excellent performance and value. Eneloop batteries are prized by photographers for solid performance. Some strobe manufacturers suggest using only Eneloops in their gear. I have used the LADDA alternatives for years and think their performance is excellent at less than half the price.

Select the premium 2450 mAh version for heavy uses like camera strobes.

LIGHTING

In the past, I have raided the lighting department to source inexpensive diffusers and material I can customize. Sometimes the “Scratch and Dent” area has parts of lights that can be repurposed.

STORAGE

Visit the kid’s section and have a look at the TROFAST storage system that incorporates plastics bins. I used to have an entire wall in my garage dedicated to this system. I installed a couple of these storage pieces (the solid wood version) in my old van so that I could simply transfer bins from the garage into the van with all the gear in place. I added a bungee in the van to keep the bins from sliding out. The multi-colored options help for sorting equipment and the translucent version can be cut down for light diffusers.

FOR THE TRUCK OR BOAT

Check out the SKUBB hanging shoe organizer with 16 pockets for organization on a boat or in the back of the truck. It is $5 well spent. Add a couple over-the door hooks and you have a convenient place to dry small items including booties and gloves by hanging it over the back of a door or in the hotel shower.

INSECT PROTECTION

Sometimes you want to protect the open end of a rebreather loop or the second stage of your regulator from visiting pests like roaches! The ÖVERMÄTT Food Covers include various sized silicone covers that can be stretch over a second stage or breathing hose port. The neck can be gathered with an elastic band if the size is not quite right.

SNOOT

For macro photographers, check out the collapsible silicone funnels in the kitchen section. Some fit a variety of lights. I have used a collapsible funnel on a Light and Motion Sola Pro with good success. You’ll want a black colored one, and they are not always available. Check IKEA and Dollar Stores around Hallowe’en for black versions or use a colored version and see some interesting lighting effects.

There are a few other accessories that are very inexpensive.

SPRAY BOTTLES

MAGNETIC TOOL RACKS (sold as a knife rack)

SLIBB Hanging Clothes Pegs

TISKEN Series wall hook with suction cups that can attach to walls of the side of a truck

ROLFSTORP USB Rechargeable Lighting strips can be attached to vehicles

SOLVINDEN or LÄNSPORT LED portable lamp, battery operated

So whether you’re escaping the weather, feeding your soul with hot soup, or enhancing your dive kit for the price of a latte, IKEA remains the only place where you can refuel, re-gear, and rethink your life choices, all before frozen yogurt.

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From Robert:

Here’s a multimedia art panel that Jill and I created over the past few weeks. “We Are Water.” I started with a watery background color palette inspired by my artist friends Margaret Tolbert and Grace Marquez - and convinced Jill to contribute a quote! Video below:

Happy Holidays to all. We wish you peace and happiness in 2026. Here’s my favorite Christmas song, performed as a send off at composer Shane MacGowan’s funeral. Shane was the tortured musical genius who fronted the iconic Irish band The Pogues.

I have no interest in a funeral. But, when my time is up I hope you all LOVE ONE ANOTHER and dance!

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