As an integral part of life here in the Uni area of the QC, IKEA just cannot go without a review. Flawless is a great word, though I think it would be a slight exaggeration when referring to hollowed out particle board furniture.
IKEA is a great place for just going to kill some time gathering decorating ideas for that downtown apartment you hope you'll one day have. And then there's a cafeteria?! Wha-what!? Great food too!
IKEA is one of the key joints I show to folks visiting me in Charlotte. It's sort of our pride because not many cities can boast of having such a place without the frustration of traffic surrounding it. I love the little spaces they call something like "living in 499 square feet". The lighting options are also a favorite of mine. I've bought plenty of lamps and furniture pieces here to name a few. The candles are cheap, smell great and burn right. Don't miss the As-Is section right before the registers! (Great for DIYers.) Round out your purchase with a delicious cinnamon roll after check out. As you leave you'll realize " holy crap where did the last 3 hours go?!"
PS: Bring a large heavy duty bag or two if you plan to buy a lot of small stuff - there are no bags for free at eco-friendly IKEA. :)