Yesterday was a rainy day in Sacramento. My husband had been out of town for a few days, and my preschooler had some energy to burn. I decided to take her to IKEA for their $1.99 breakfast (potatoes, eggs, bacon AND french toast- for $1.99! And free coffee until 10am!), and to look for a couple of cheap lighting options for the garden. Our first deal of the day were these lanterns pictured above. They are solar lights, available in several colors, and they aren't paper! Prices are $9.99 and $14.99 for the globes, and $19.99 for a strand.
These cute galvanized pots come in a variety of colors and range in price from $9.99 to $14.99, and would be a great way to add some color to a boring apartment balcony or fence. Tacky artificial flowers are not included.
If you're into modern looking containers, they have some really cute trash cans and hampers that would make great containers! As you can see, this Rundel trash can is $19.99 (approx 14" tall), and the Rundel laundry basket that is over 23 inches tall runs $39.99. These would be really easy to drill drainage holes in if you have a drill bit that can easily drill through metal.
Here's one item that went in my cart. This is part of the GRASET line of containers, available in the two colors shown above. I bought their largest one for $39.99, made of galvanized steel, and it weighed less than 10 pounds. I think it cost more to fill this container with soil than it did for me to buy the actual container. I was able to drill holes through the bottom for drainage very easily with a standard drill bit. 
If you just want a couple of smaller containers and aren't afraid of color, for $1.99 you can pick up one of these.... but for $1.99 you should pick up several! These will be great for a kids painting project. 
Also in the waste basket section, you have these adorable pails! At $14.99 they are a little more costly, but these colors will make a bold statement! 
If you want to add color to a blank wall or fence, these SOLMYRA art pieces are mounted to fiberboard and are only $9.99. Since they are paper, I imagine they will continue to fade through summer. However, since they are fiberboard, you should easily be able to paint over them with your own creation (or have your kids do it) once you get bored with these.
For those of you who lack the ability to keep things alive, IKEA offers a nice assortment of artificial plants to help you spruce up your patio table. Just remember to dust them occasionally.
Need a watering can? How about twenty of them? At $4.99, these 88 oz SOCKER galvanized watering cans are not just functional, but they would look wicked cool hanging along the back fence in a row. Or maybe holding flowers on your dining room table?
I have arrived on a Tuesday before when they've had a large selection of potted plants delivered and I went hog wild, filling my cart with $7 gallon-sized succulents. I didn't see the selection yesterday that I have seen in the past, but they still had various orchids for $14.99, succulents for $2.99, and various house plants in a range of prices. Consider coming here the next time you need an inexpensive housewarming gift for a friend. 
The galvanized containers pictured above range from 99 cents to maybe 3 dollars. Pop one of those two dollar succulents inside and you've got a simple inexpensive tabletop display . 
Last but not least, check out these $3.99 lanterns. I recently bought a bunch of hooks from the Dollar Tree store like the ones used in this display, and I think they'll look super cute along our back fence with these lanterns. The pastel colored ones kind of made me gag, but even those can be cute for a baby shower or Easter decoration. Of course my daughter thought the pink ones were awesome. I was pleasantly surprised by everything that IKEA had to offer this summer season. If you're like me and get bored easily with your decor, this is a great place to help you change things up a bit at a decent price. If anything, you have to go for the $1.99 breakfast.
Fantastic post, Carri! The watering cans really inspired me, and I'm so impressed with the solar lanterns.
ReplyDeleteLOVE! I am now stalking ikeas website for garden accesories and solar lights! I wish they were closer than 20 miles from me!
ReplyDeleteI have that watering can. :-) http://www.flickr.com/photos/apel/4735576445/
ReplyDeleteThe shelves in the photo are Ledberg and cost $30 together. Most of the containers are Ikea too. When I start thinking about it, I have a lot of Ikea in my tiny garden. They're often inexpensive and I like the contemporary design. The Rundel trash can would be right at home in my garden.
Isn't their stuff great this year? I went for a new bed frame and went home with metal plant markers 2/$1 and a 13" terra cotta pot for $7! :)
ReplyDeleteWith the red container I got, a similar sized one at a local nusery would have cost me well over 100 bucks, and would have been stolen eventually from my front yard. The one I got under 40 bucks IKEA probably won't get stolen (because it's not as nice), but even if it did I wouldn't be bent out of shape over it. And with modern looking containers like the Rundel- those always seem to cost more!
ReplyDeleteNever would have thought to look at garbage cans. I've been eying galvanized containers at garden and hardware stores and they are sky high in price. Wish they had an IKEA up here in Redding.
ReplyDeleteYay! Someone else who likes the Rundel as a planter! totally perfect!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I'm going to have to swing by there.
ReplyDeleteOoooooh, shiny! I haven't been to Ikea in ages but I think a visit is in order. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteWe live in an Ikea showroom, with some Scandinavian Designs thrown in for fun LOL! Serious, most of our house is filled with furniture from those two places.
ReplyDeleteLove the Swedish Meatballs.
Fair warning though. Hold on to your receipts. Just try retuning something without the receipt, even an obvious thing like The Rundel Trash can, and it's "no soup for you, next"
ReplyDelete