THIS IS NOT A DRILL! The much anticipated opening date for IKEA’s first-ever New Zealand store is finally here. Here’s what you need to know!
IKEA New Zealand is FINALLY opening its Sylvia Park store on December 4, 2025. Anyone else counting the days!?
Here’s the low-down:
The 34,000 square metre store will be open from 9am to 9pm – giving us 9-5ers time to shop after work.
It will have a covered walkway between Sylvia Park main mall and IKEA, with shoppers spoilt with 500 car parks and a 426-seater restaurant, with some NZ exclusives.
But if you’re outside Auckland, worry not! IKEA confirmed nationwide shipping, allowing all New Zealanders to shop online shop and over the phone.
It’s well-known return scheme is also coming our way – where shoppers can bring back old IKEA products in exchange for a voucher. It will then be sold at a reduced price in the “as is” section, giving those old products a longer life.
Plus, the famous IKEA meatballs will also be here!
Why IKEA Makes DIY Truly Easy
Did anyone have a DIY phase over Covid simply because there was nothing else to do?
I was SO bored, I ended up buying a few flat packs from random online furniture stores and built two cabinets. Needless to say, I have never touched a drill or a hammer before in my life but I was DETERMINED.
Did I fuck it up? Maaaaybe I didn’t nail the back walls to one of the cabinets correctly and it might have fallen off, but it’s structurally sound, okay? So I count that as a win.
Did that stop me? Hell naaah, I wanted to get a new bed frame that I won’t have to sell a kidney to afford. And after weeks of research, I found the IKEA Malm bed frame from a retailer and woweee, it was so EASY to put together.
No hammers. No power drills. Just old mate Allen Key. (Ok, maybe get an actual mate to help with the heavy lifting).
And for those of you who have no idea what I was talking about, meet Allen Key:
IKEA, in my experience, truly makes DIY easy. The instructions are so easy to follow, and it makes even the daintiest of hands like mine feel like a real handyman. (Also a no-brainer, the brand has become a go-to for Instagram and TikTok home reno influencers!)
SO, now that IKEA is opening its first-ever NZ store in Sylvia Park in early December, I am so damn excited.
The Swedish furniture company is also set to win the hearts of New Zealanders, as they reveal the top five products they believe will make our home lives better.
These five items were handpicked based on the IKEA Life at Home Report New Zealand.
IKEA visited 500 Kiwi homes and surveyed 37,000 people across the world to find the unique challenges Kiwi households face, and what solutions the furniture giant could offer.
The Five Items You Can DEFINITELY Add to Your IKEA Wishlist:
BILLY BOOKCASE
One Billy Bookcase is estimated to be sold every five seconds globally, according to IKEA, and is no doubt its most popular item. And if you’re anywhere near home reno influencers on Instagram and TikTok, the Billy Bookcase is a cult favourite for IKEA hacks.
Billy is a Swedish design classic that has evolved in size and flexibility. It boasts custom storage solutions, as it can be as versatile as you want it to be. The array of design options means you could use Billy for kitchen or display cabinetry, shoe storage or even an entertainment unit.It’s easy to customise it to fit your vibe too. Just add some panel or glass doors, drawers or even a foldable table.
Stick on some LED lighting and add some indoor pot plants, and Billy gives you a chance to show off your personality at home.
KALLAX SHELVING UNIT
I think we can all agree there never seems to be enough space in the lounge? If you’re someone like me who’s needing to balance a home office, karaoke and gaming station, yoga, and a spot to entertain, then you know how much of a STRUGGLE it is to MAKE ALL OF THAT WORK.
Enter the Kallax Shelving Unit. Like the Billy series, it’s a versatile design that can be customised to what you need.
It can lie against the wall or stand on its own, acting as the perfect room divider, an entertainment unit, display cabinet and storage for the kids’ toys and craft.
MACKAPÄR SHOE RACK
Why the shoe rack? Apparently, 88% of New Zealand home entrances are cluttered with shoes and other items. Since Kiwis love the outdoors – gardening, hiking, beach walks – leaving shoes at the door is only natural.
Having tiny entryways can also be such a problem, and this is where the Mackapar shoe rack comes in. While seemingly obvious, it could be the answer to messy doorways. Having a dedicated space for your shoes can really improve the flow of your home. It’s compact and stackable, plus it can be a home for other items too.
UPPDATERA STORAGE BOX
Another thing IKEA has noted is the rise of townhouses and apartments in New Zealand. Less space means coming up with more creative space-saving solutions.
The Uppdatera Storage Box was created for just that. The rectangular box is 24cm x 17cm and has a clean matte finish with soft round edges. It also got integrated handles to easily move it around the house, and the front panel dips lower than the other sides to make it easily accessible.
It’s designed to organise drawers and cupboards in the bathroom, kitchen and living spaces. Plus it also appeals to organisation lovers like me, who would love for every single little thing in the house to have its own home. *Adds to wish list*
IKEA 365+ FOOD STORAGE
The report also found nearly half of kitchens encounter storage challenges, and 45% of Kiwis prefer home-cooked meals, so leftovers can find it hard to find a home. Even just from experience, pantry and fridge space is a special challenge when flatting. And though I don’t have kids, I’d imagine it’d be even harder for families when some of you eat different meals.
The IKEA 365+ Food Storage will be a welcome help for kitchen organisation. The range includes plastic and glass containers, thoughtfully designed so that they could seamlessly stack on top of each other. You can also choose from your own airtight lid: a snap-and-lock plastic lid or a natural bamboo lid. The clear containers also means you can quickly see what’s inside, making sure nothing gets forgotten or goes to waste.
