I did a haul of the new Oxford Street IKEA whilst on my lunch break & managed to kit out my home with bargains under £3

HAVING recently stepped onto the housing ladder, I’ve become completely obsessed with kitting out my new place.

But let’s be honest – being a full-time mortgage payer means saving money is now my number one priority.

A woman in a store mirror, holding an IKEA bag, with a queen-themed advertisement in the background. — Yasmin headed to IKEA on her lunch break to see what she could get her hands onCredit: YASMIN HARISHA

Street scene with a large Nike advertisement on a building. — IKEA has recently opened one of it's new stores on Oxford Street in LondonCredit: YASMIN HARISHA

IKEA display featuring a vanity set and colorful accessories. — Like the IKEA stores you know and love, there's a showroom to walk through showcasing the shop's best-loved productsCredit: Handout

IKEA children's play kitchen display. — You can pick up mostly smaller items from this store, such as cookware, bedding and lightingCredit: Handout

That’s why IKEA has quickly become my go-to for affordable homeware that doesn’t break the bank.

The only problem? My nearest store is a bit of a trek, and we all know that “popping” into IKEA for something small can quickly turn into an all-day adventure.

So, when I heard IKEA had opened a new store on Oxford Street, I was beyond excited.

Suddenly, I could nip in during my lunch break, grab what I needed, and tick a huge job off my to-do list – all without the hassle of traffic or making a day out of it.

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I even had time to grab a coffee. Total game-changer.

Walking into the store honestly felt like stepping into Narnia. Who would’ve thought you could find a full-on IKEA on one of the busiest shopping streets in London?

This is the second of IKEA’s smaller-format stores, but it still has 6,000 products on display – even though only 3,500 are available to buy in-store, with the rest available to order.

Spread across two floors, there’s more than enough to help you kit out your home.

I managed to pick up some absolute bargains, like the RINNIG Dish Cloths, £1.00 for a pack, – perfect for tackling kitchen messes – and the STORAVAN 3-Piece Bathroom Set, £1.75, which instantly gave my bathroom a stylish, cohesive look.

I also grabbed some IKEA 365+ Coasters, £1.50, which are both functional and chic, and a HÅLLBAR Bin with Lid, £3.00, ideal for small spaces with its sleek design.

The Sun takes a trip inside the new Ikea Oxford Street

To keep things organised, the TJENA Storage Box, £3.00, was a no-brainer, and I couldn’t resist the IVRIG Glasses, £1.50 each, which look far more expensive than their price tag.

I also got my hands on two sets of sheer curtains for £9 each.

And don’t worry – they haven’t forgotten the essentials, like their famous meatballs or iconic food items.

There’s a food store area where you can stock up on IKEA classics for your kitchen cupboards or freezer.

Like any other IKEA, the store has the usual arrows guiding you around the entrance floor, where the showroom and restaurant are located.

The basement floor is where you shop and check out, but here’s the twist – there are only self-checkouts, no manned tills.

Woman with glasses smiling in front of an IKEA display. — Yasmin managed to bag some bargain items to kit her home outCredit: Yasmin Harisha

IKEA Oxford Street store interior. — Unlike most IKEA stores, you won't be able to get larger furniture items here - it's too much to lug on the tube homeCredit: Handout

It’s fast, efficient, and perfect for city life.

I managed to complete the entire store and grab everything I needed in under an hour. If there was anything I couldn’t carry, I could simply order it to be delivered to my home.

Overhearing people in the queue, I wasn’t the only one impressed – many praised the store for being so “handy” and how it’s perfect for people to “quickly pop in on their lunch break,” just like I did.