12 Products You'd Never Expect to Find at IKEA

If you love functional furniture, sensible decor pieces, and, of course, Swedish meatballs, then you're likely a regular at your local IKEA. 

The global furniture and housewares giant is known for selling products that can help you save money shopping for home furnishings — as long as you're handy with an Allen wrench.

But what you might not know is that IKEA sells some unexpected items. And though you may not find them in every IKEA, here are a few strange items some stores offer.

Looking for a way to get ahead financially? IKEA is here to help. The Scandinavian chain sells solar panels — as long as you live in the U.K. and some parts of California.

The kicker is that IKEA will also help you with installation as part of its partnership with SunPower in select California locations. If you don’t live in the U.K. or California, there’s hope. IKEA plans to eventually expand this program globally.

Sure, IKEA is a reasonable place to shop for birthday gifts, especially if you have friends who are really into lamps. 

But at IKEA, you can also grab a birthday card, ribbons, and other decorations to accompany the gift. Just pop into your local IKEA’s paper section and see what you can find.

IKEA has ventured into the home insurance space, offering home contents insurance to residents of Switzerland, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The insurance includes comprehensive coverage for damage from fire, smoke, water, or natural hazards and add-ons for burglary, theft, robbery, and more.

IKEA has also experimented with trial insurance policies for pregnancy and childbirth in Sweden in the past, so it's possible they might expand their insurance offerings in the future

IKEA has long been famous for selling Swedish meatballs at its food court — billions per year, in fact — and hot dogs and other meaty items, giving you a way to eat cheaply.

In a move to be more climate-conscious, they’re now offering those iconic foods in plant-based versions. IKEA assures you that their vegan alternatives will be just as tasty, though your mileage may vary.

Another product that IKEA is selling in its push to be more climate-conscious is sustainable coffee. Specifically, it offers a Ugandan Arabica coffee blend that’s single origin, UTZ certified, and, of course, organic.

IKEA even promises that its arrangement will improve living conditions for the coffee farmers.

Don’t like coffee? Don’t worry. IKEA also has comparable teas in both herbal and black varieties.

When you go to IKEA to buy a new bunk bed for the kids, chances are you’re not planning to grab some cod roe spread while you’re at it. But this is IKEA we’re talking about, and what’s more Scandinavian than seafood and fish?

You can also add smoked salmon and marinated herring to your cart, as well as salmon and cod balls, cured salmon filets, and more.

OK, IKEA, we get that you’re big into sustainability. But we didn’t realize how committed you were until we stumbled upon the home recycling station available for purchase.

It’s completely customizable and can accommodate any recycling from glass and plastic to cardboard and compost. It’s even made from 70% recycled plastic. That’s certainly beyond your garden-variety waste bin.

Babysitting has always been one of the easiest ways to make extra money. It’s also not a service you’d expect to find at an IKEA store, but it is, in fact, a service.

You can also get an hour of babysitting for free at your local IKEA as long as you fill out an application and follow the rules.

Sure, you can go to IKEA to buy fake plants. But if you want real, living plants, you have to go to your local garden center — or do you?

It turns out that IKEA sells living plants in addition to the faux versions you can use as home decor. Depending on your location, you can bring home an orchid, a snake plant, a pothos plant, and more. Who knew?

Stuck on how to design your dream kitchen? IKEA can help. They offer free in-home consultations to get your kitchen overhaul on the right track.

First, a measuring technician comes to your place to check out the space and get everything down to the inch. Then, you'll brainstorm with a kitchen planner to turn your ideas into a real blueprint. 

It's a totally free way to get some expert advice, even if you're on a tight budget.

Looking to spruce up your outdoor area without all the fuss? IKEA's outdoor flooring is a breeze to set up, thanks to tiles that simply click into place.

Take your pick between a stained finish for that timeless vibe or artificial grass to add a pop of greenery. And since it's crafted from weather-resistant plastic, maintenance is a breeze, ensuring your space stays stylish for years to come.

Perhaps the most bizarre item that you didn’t know IKEA sells is a bundle of sticks. Sure, IKEA makes it sound fancier by calling it TORKA, but it’s still... a bundle of sticks.

You can either pay around $19 for it — which a surprising number of people have, as noted on IKEA’s website — or fashion your own from the comfort of your yard. The choice is yours, decor enthusiasts.

IKEA really does have a lot of items for sale, going beyond just furniture and decor. Taking advantage of that can help you keep more cash in your wallet.

Some of them are also quite weird or, at the very least, unexpected when it comes to a home store’s inventory.

However, what IKEA sells has to work for the chain, as it is a global force with ever-increasing profits. Maybe there’s room for the weird in every space, then