We're nearing the end of 2019, which means it's time for another list of the worst consumer products in Australia. Choice runs the name and shame list and this year six products have made it so here's what you can avoid spending your precious coin on.

Inspired by the success of their vegan hotdogs and soft serve, IKEA has announced plans to roll out a plant-based version of their classic pork and beef meatballs in the next year. But the official launch in winter 2020 is still a long ways off, and if you can’t wait that long, I’ve got your back. You don’t need obscure ingredients or hours of time to make bangin’ Swedish “meatballs” at home.

Sonos' reputation for producing great speakers with excellent sound is well known. But that premium sound and elegant design comes at a cost. However, a new partnership with between IKEA and Sonos will bring the two together. The Symfonisk range of speakers will pair the Santa Barbara based sound engineers with Sweden's favourite export.

Unexpected fires are, for the most part, viewed as a bad thing, which is why some people were quite alarmed when this very shiny BLANDA BLANK serving bowl from IKEA caused some grapes — and later some newspaper — to go up in smoke.

If you're looking to redecorate your lounge room, office or need to add some storage, IKEA is running a special deal on their BESTÅ range. Here are some of the deals.

Sometimes walking through IKEA feels as though you’re in a maze where the walls are built from eye-catching organisational units. You both can’t and don’t want to leave. This isn’t an accident — IKEA is trapping you on purpose.

I moved into a new apartment last year. While my new spot is just a few kilometres from my old one, the move turned into an adventure in the art of packing and taking apart furniture so it actually fit in a vehicle to travel those few kilometres.

Anytime you move, you have the choice to either try and jam that piece of IKEA furniture through the door, or disassemble it into manageable parts. The latter choice is usually better, but it has its own challenges.

For the last month, much of Australia has been gripped in an insane tempest of petulance and stupidity because single-use plastic bags aren't available in supermarkets any more. This is so first-world problems it's almost as embarrassing as our national energy policy, but for anyone who is still stressing about this, I'm here to tell you IKEA can save you.

If there are two things I love to play with, it's IKEA and LEGO. Both start as kits with a predefined purpose but there are so many possibilities. My two step-sons have birthdays coming up and they love LEGO. The problem is, while we have room for them to play, we really don't have a space where they can leave their LEGO set up so they can return to their games and adventures. So, we set out to create a portable play centre where they could store their LEGO and keep it assembled. Naturally, that led to a trip to the local IKEA.

The true strength of a relationship isn't tested when circumstances are easy, but when they are dire. Over the weekend, my partner and I embarked on a journey that would test our mettle. Our ability to communicate, compromise, and show patience toward one another is what held us together through the trying ordeal, but one thing is for certain: Going to IKEA with your significant other ain't no joke.

If you're trying to learn about computer algorithms, or explain them to someone else, three computer scientists have built some helpful visual aids in the style of IKEA instructions.

Yes, like every other product in the universe, IKEA has its own brand of rechargeable NiMH batteries. At $10 for a four-pack, they're worth considering if you're in the market, particularly when compared to Panasonic's more expensive $30 Eneloops. But aren't the Eneloops better? Time to find out.

If you have kids who love LEGO, you've probably shouted in pain after stepping on LEGO bricks. Those things get everywhere. Here's a DIY solution from The Handyman's Daughter. Using an IKEA Lack side table, a Trofast bin and some baseplates, you can create a play table with a drawer to keep the pieces contained.

The world of advertising and marketing is competitive with creative professionals going to all sorts of lengths to cajole customers into spending their hard-earned cash. One of the most trusted tools is the good old discount and who needs a helping hand on saving bucks more than an expectant parent? IKEA is currently offering discounts to expectant mums as long as they prove they're pregnant. Enter - the pregnancy-test-in-a-catalogue.

IKEA products have a wide variety of interesting names. Some are Swedish words, others are named after places, and some are just made-up names made from mixing other words. This dictionary lists them all.

The blue $1 IKEA FRAKTA carrier bag is an iconic part of the Swedish furniture store's line-up. It's a Good Bag, and one of the most recognisable things in the world. Even Balenciaga made one (for $3000). As part of a new set of Scandy furniture, the FRAKTA has been redesigned in a few different colours.

Some people love the challenge, the meditative peace of wordless instructions and 50 tiny bags of tiny screws. But some of us scream at the mere sight of a hex key. Depending on which group you fall into, this is either a challenge or a warning to stay far, far away.

I'm about to set up a new home office so, naturally, I visited my local IKEA for inspiration and ideas. And, I'm also keen to get the new iPhone X when it's available later this year (yeah, I know it's expensive and all that but I'm entrenched in the iOS ecosystem and it's so shiny and new). And that means I can take advantage of IKEA's range of office gear that integrates Qi wireless charging.