Most Americans associate IKEA with a tiresome afternoon of winding through aisles and aisles of sofas, armchairs and shelving all cleverly designed with a European minimalism. You go in with one purpose only: to purchase affordable furniture.

Well, a recent Los Angeles Times article sheds light on a whole new meaning to a Saturday afternoon at the Swedish furniture store. According to the article, Ikea set up shop in the capital city of China, Beijing, in hopes of turning some profit on an up-and-coming middle class in need of home furnishing. Unfortunately, things have not gone exactly as they had hoped. The store has turned into a recreational area as opposed to a center for commerce. Entire families pack up and commute with the intention of spending the whole day napping on the couches, perusing the food court and finding the optimal photo-op to chronicle the weekend’s events, but never actually purchasing any furniture.

For centuries, Westerners have gleaned wisdom from Eastern traditions. So perhaps the next time you find yourself in the market for a chaise lounge, consider stopping to find some Zen in your life. Lay down. Take a nap. Maybe even get a free refill of soda, and then ask yourself, “will this sofa that folds into a bed really improve the quality of my life?”

Photo by David Pierson via LA Times.

This article was written in August & is part of the Addie , Archives , Thoughts & Opinion sections.