Transform your home decor without breaking the bank by leveraging IKEA furniture. With a plethora of affordable pieces, it’s no wonder why this Swedish giant is a favorite among DIY enthusiasts and budget-conscious homeowners alike. While many of their offerings may be functional but uninspiring, clever hacks can breathe new life into these humble beginnings, elevating them to stylish masterpieces that won’t strain your wallet.
Today, I’m excited to share 20 ingenious IKEA hacks that will have you reimagining the possibilities of home decor on a shoestring budget.
Entryway Organization
Transform an Ikea Kallax shelf unit into an entryway organization haven by banishing clutter forever. We’ve all struggled with the chaos that comes with having numerous items scattered about. With this clever conversion, you can finally find a sense of serenity at the entrance of your home. The key lies in incorporating IKEA drawers and sliding in hand-loomed baskets to create designated spaces for each item.
By assigning specific drawers for distinct types of essentials, you’ll maintain a tidy and organized entryway that effortlessly keeps sunglasses, scarves, and other daily must-haves in their place.
Marble Top Bedside Table
Transform your bedroom’s focal point by repurposing an IKEA bedside table. Start by giving it a sleek makeover with a coat of grey paint. Next, add some sophisticated flair with a marble-effect sticky back plastic sheet. Apply the sheet to the top of the table, and watch as your humble IKEA find becomes a one-of-a-kind design statement that’s sure to elevate the style of your bedroom.
Industrial Shelf
Transform any space with an industrial-chic shelving unit without breaking the bank! Simply acquire the affordable Hyllis shelving unit and give it a rugged makeover by coating it with black paint. Add some wooden planks to create a rustic touch, ensuring they remain secure by loosening the shelves slightly before tightening the screws. For the top plank, drill a few strategically placed holes to provide extra stability.
With these straightforward steps, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind industrial shelf at a remarkably low cost.
Long Storage Unit
Transform IKEA’s Expedit bookshelf into a stunning long storage unit by combining it with an oak-stained and shellac-based primer-enhanced masterpiece. To achieve this unique look, don’t forget to select colours that complement the room’s existing palette – opt for brighter hues if your space tends towards darker tones.
Hallway Bench with Storage
Transform an Ikea Kallax into a stunning storage unit that’s perfect for your entire family. Its versatility doesn’t stop there – it can also double as a bench in your hallway. Imagine sitting down to slip on your shoes or waiting for the gang to get ready, all while surrounded by beautifully organized storage. To achieve this look, you’ll need a long wooden plank or several large planks for a more rustic feel.
Simply glue them together or fasten them securely and attach them to the top of the Ikea Kallax. To complete the design, you’ll also require some storage baskets. Choose from sleek grey foldable storage cubes made of fabric or opt for vintage wire baskets that add a touch of elegance. Whatever your style, there are countless options available when selecting the ideal storage basket.
Framed Rocks and Minerals
Are you an enthusiast of rocks and crystals? If you’re fortunate enough to own a collection, consider showcasing them. One simple yet effective way to do so is by repurposing a basic black frame from IKEA. Begin by adhering a piece of cardstock within the frame, then secure your gemstones in place using glue. This DIY design will not only become a stunning decorative piece for your home, but it’ll also hold spiritual significance.
Alternatively, if you’re drawn to the beauty of crystals without actually collecting them, consider purchasing a selection from an online retailer like the one linked here.
Shelves for Books
Transform your walls by incorporating BEKVAM spice racks into your home decor. A simple yet effective way to add functional storage while showcasing personal items such as books, photographs, or other treasured possessions. With a quick coat of white paint, these versatile shelves can easily blend with any interior design aesthetic, allowing you to create a unique and practical display that adds character to your space.
Designed Shelving Unit
Ikea’s metal shelving units are a staple in many homes. While often perceived as mere storage solutions, these versatile pieces of furniture can be transformed into stunning decorative accents when paired with creative flair. With a dash of imagination and some well-placed flowers or other embellishments, an Ikea shelving unit can evolve from a humble storage solution to a beautiful design piece that adds warmth and character to your room.
Shelf Brackets for Storing Clothes
While traditional shelf brackets are often associated with bookshelves, they offer a versatile solution for organizing and designing your bedroom. Consider using them to hang clothing items, such as dresses or jackets, and create a unique storage space that also serves as a fashion display. For added functionality, consider installing a shelving unit above the brackets, where you can store items like baskets, bins, or decorative objects.
Ikea Cart for Your Desk Setup
The Ikea cart is an ideal addition to any office space, particularly if you have a wall desk. Its versatility allows you to simply roll it under the desk and store all your essential documents, writing utensils, notebooks, and other supplies with ease. Not only does it serve as a functional storage solution, but its sleek design also makes it a beautiful piece of furniture that can be easily relocated to another room when inspiration strikes.
Wall Hooks for Shoes
Wall hooks are often associated with hanging coats and other apparel, but they can also be used in a more creative and functional way – by organizing your shoes! Not only does this add visual interest to your space, but it’s also a practical solution for keeping your walls stain-free from dirty shoe marks. To make the most of this idea, be sure to choose hooks that are large enough to accommodate your footwear.
Your Own Craft Area
For a tidy and organized crafting space, start by gathering essential components: white buckets, black hooks, and a sturdy rod. Combine these elements to create a functional workstation that’s both aesthetically pleasing and practical. Consider adding a shelf above the main structure to maximize storage capacity, allowing you to keep frequently used supplies within easy reach.
This setup is particularly ideal for families with young children, as it provides a designated area for storing art supplies like markers and pencils at kid-friendly heights. With this arrangement, little ones can freely express their creativity without having to search high and low for the tools they need.
Turn Bed Slat into a Wall Hanger
Transform an ordinary slatted bed base into an extraordinary wall hanger for just $10! With a few simple modifications, you can turn this humble piece of furniture into a stunning storage solution. Simply attach beautiful hooks to the slats and voilà – a unique way to display your favorite accessories. Take it to the next level by incorporating vintage wire baskets to create additional storage space.
Imagine the charm that comes with displaying a beautiful, rustic basket like this one on your newly created wall hanger. It’s an easy and budget-friendly bedroom décor project that’s sure to add a touch of personality to any room.
$60 DIY Desk
Staying productive and organized in a beautiful workspace is crucial, but finding a stylish setup that won’t break the bank can be a challenge. One affordable solution is to repurpose IKEA pieces to create a functional and visually appealing office area. For example, using a large desktop from IKEA as the base, combined with smaller bookshelves and a silver cart, provides ample storage space while maintaining a sleek aesthetic.
This budget-friendly approach not only saves money but also adds a touch of creativity to your workspace, resulting in a unique and inspiring environment.
A Beautiful Bench with Storage Space
One DIY furniture makeover idea that’s too enticing to resist is transforming Expedit bookcases from IKEA into a stunning bench with an added twist. By attaching fabric, you can give your new piece of furniture a beautiful finish. The best part? You can easily incorporate baskets into the shelving unit to provide extra storage space, solving that age-old problem of cluttered homes.
Rustic Wood Shelves
To create your very own shelving unit, start by gathering golden shelving brackets and wood planks. Simply stack the shelves on top of each other to form a visually appealing structure that’s not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. This DIY project allows you to store various items such as photographs, fresh flowers, books, and more. Plus, it adds a touch of elegance to any room.
Bookcase Makeover
Transforming an IKEA shelf into a stunning piece of furniture is not only budget-friendly, but also a great way to showcase your creativity. One easy trick to give your shelf some extra flair is to apply wrapping paper or wallpaper to the back panel while assembling it. This simple hack can completely change the look and feel of the shelf, turning it into a unique and eye-catching bookcase that reflects your personal style.
An Amazing IKEA Lamp
Take the humble budget lamp shade from Ikea and give it a unique spin. To start, grab a world map wrapping paper (or your wrapping paper of choice) and Mop Podge glue. With these materials at hand, you’re ready to get creative and transform your lamp into a one-of-a-kind showstopper that’s sure to be the envy of all who lay eyes on it.
DIY Lantern Terrarium
Bring a touch of natural beauty to your home with this unique DIY design project. To get started, you’ll need an IKEA Borrby lantern as the centerpiece, accompanied by some lush greenery, potting soil, charcoal, moss, and adhesive sealant. As you combine these elements, you’ll create a stunning piece that can be placed in either your living room or kitchen, infusing the space with a sense of vitality.
DIY Cabinets
Elevate your space by giving Ikea IVAR cabinets a creative makeover. The plain, utilitarian design of these cabinets is easily transformed with the addition of golden washi tape, which adds a touch of sophistication and visual interest.
Use Attractive Beddings
While the Ikea Leirvik bed frame may appear unassuming at first glance, its simplicity provides a blank canvas waiting to be transformed into a stylish haven. The key to elevating this understated design lies in incorporating vibrant textiles and thoughtful accessories. By pairing the bed with floral-patterned sheet sets and a mix of white and pastel-colored bedding accents, you can create a soft, romantic ambiance reminiscent of a princess’s boudoir.
To complete the look, add a decorative breakfast tray and a few tasteful accent pieces, such as those showcased here. With these thoughtful touches, even the most basic bed frame can be reimagined into a charming and inviting space that exudes sophistication and elegance.
Marbled Makeup Chest of Drawers
Transform an Ikea Moppe into a stunning makeup storage drawer with minimal effort. This DIY project offers two easy ways to achieve the desired look. The first method involves painting the drawers white and then covering them with a metallic scrapbook paper using mod-podge. Alternatively, you can use a marble contact paper, similar to this one, to give your drawers a sleek makeover. Regardless of which approach you choose, the end result is sure to be breathtaking.
Marble Side Table
Upgrading your Ikea furniture just got a whole lot easier! This clever hack combines the simplicity of marble contact paper with the versatility of metallic gold spray paint. The result is a stunning tray table transformation that adds instant elegance to any room.
To achieve this look, start by giving the tray table frame a fresh coat of metallic gold spray paint. Once dry, wrap the entire surface with marble contact paper for a unique and eye-catching design.
Assembling the piece is a breeze, but don’t forget to flip the tray upside down for the perfect tabletop illusion.
The end result is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece that’s sure to be the focal point of any room.
Floating Basket Planters
I’m absolutely captivated by the effortless charm of these DIY floating basket planters! What may seem like a complex project at first glance is surprisingly straightforward. If you’re eager to create this stunning wall decoration that can seamlessly blend into any room, simply hover over to discover the step-by-step tutorial that breaks down the process into manageable steps.
Bookshelf Cat Hangout
What’s not to love about this ingenious solution? A Swedish company has created a custom-designed basket that seamlessly integrates with Ikea’s Billy bookshelf. The best part? No modifications required – simply slot the basket into place and you’re done! If only our human connections were as effortless.
DIY Floating Shelf
Think outside the box – literally! Who would have ever imagined that something as mundane as a chopping board could be repurposed as a charming hanging planter? The idea is simply ingenious, and I’m kicking myself for not being the one to come up with it first! To bring this clever hack to life, you’ll need the following materials: an Ikea Fascinera chopping board, brass rings, yarn or jewelry string, and a drill.
That’s right – all you need is your trusty chopping board, some basic crafting supplies, and a bit of elbow grease.
Stylish Open Shelf
Imagine transforming ordinary plate holders into an extraordinary bookshelf! This ingenious IKEA hack uses Ostbit bamboo plate holders, which are not only budget-friendly but also surprisingly versatile. To create this unique piece of furniture, simply attach the plate holders to your wall using Commando strips and add a few painted wooden slabs for a rustic touch.
What’s more, the holder pegs can be repurposed as hanging racks for coats, ties, or other accessories, making it an incredibly practical addition to any room. This hack is perfect for those looking to create something special in their kitchen or beyond.
Decorative Plate Rack
Transform a dull kitchen wall into a stylish focal point by installing an Ikea Vadholma wall shelf. This versatile piece of furniture requires minimal setup, as you simply need to get one and start using it. The best part? It’s available in black, making it easy to blend seamlessly with most kitchen color schemes. Fill the rack with your favorite decorative plates, and use the hooks at the bottom to display mugs that reflect your personality and add a touch of elegance to your kitchen.
Farmstyle Bookshelf
While IKEA furniture is often characterized by its clean-lined and functional aesthetic, it’s entirely possible to breathe new life into their designs and make them align with your unique decorative sensibilities. Case in point: the IKEA Hemnes, which has been transformed into a beautiful farmhouse-style piece that defies its humble origins. If you’re looking for more creative ways to repurpose IKEA furniture, be sure to check out our collection of innovative bookshelf ideas.
Upgrade Your Shoe Cabinet
The Hemnes range from Ikea offers another practical solution with its slim shoe cabinet that doubles as a hallway table. To customize it further, simply assemble the cabinet and forego the included door handles in favor of stylish leather pulls. For a cohesive rustic look, cut a wooden board to match the size of your shoe storage top and apply a walnut shade stain, similar to the one found online. Once the stain is dry, secure the stained board to the top of the cabinet using a strong adhesive.
Skadis Bathroom Organizer
Bathroom storage woes got you down? Look no further than the versatile Ikea Skadis range! This ingenious organization tool features a pegboard base that can be customized to fit your unique needs. With a wide array of containers, shelves, clips, and hooks at your disposal, you’re empowered to design a bathroom organizational system that’s tailored to your lifestyle.
Home Office Divider
To optimize your workspace, consider setting it apart from the rest of the house by incorporating a combination of shelves and dividers. One clever solution is to use IKEA’s Kallax system to create a functional bookshelf and partitioning unit in one. The open nature of the Kallax allows for easy visibility into the area, making it simple to keep an eye on what’s happening while you work at your desk.
Moreover, the spacious cubes within the shelves provide ample storage space for office supplies, books, and other essentials.
DIY Wall Planters
Elevate your indoor plant decor by transforming traditional tabletop displays into unique wall-mounted installations. To achieve this, you’ll need a few simple yet effective components: inexpensive Ikea Nypon plant pots and flower pot rings. These humble materials can be elevated to create a visually appealing display when paired with wooden slabs or an old ladder, adding a touch of rustic charm to your space.
Copper Towel Rail
Transform your monochromatic bathroom with a touch of elegance by repurposing an Ikea Hjalmaren towel rack in a stunning metallic copper hue. While this particular design may be harder to find since its discontinuation, the principle remains applicable to other towel racks from any brand. With just five minutes of effort, you can breathe new life into your bathroom space and inject a sense of luxury and vibrancy.
DIY Bar Cabinet
Emulating the shoe cabinet transformation we explored earlier, this DIY project takes a similar approach, but instead of housing footwear, it’s designed to store premium bottles and cocktails. The beauty of this hack lies in its cost-effectiveness – opting for a specialized bar cabinet can be pricey, but by repurposing an Ikea piece, you’ll not only save money but also create a unique storage solution that will elevate your home bar experience.
Yarn-Wrapped Ikea Stool
Turn a lazy Saturday into a creative adventure with this engaging DIY project for you and the kids! To get started, gather the necessary materials: an Ikea Sjalvstandig stool as the foundation, your preferred yarn colors, a pair of scissors, and masking or painter’s tape. With these simple components, you’re just one step away from unleashing your imagination and crafting something truly unique.
Repurpose Old Ikea Furniture
Before considering a costly replacement for your weathered Ikea Tarno, take a moment to explore the possibilities of giving it a new life through a DIY hack. With outdoor furniture not coming cheaply, this approach is an attractive option for those seeking to breathe new life into their existing pieces without breaking the bank.
For a comprehensive look at the transformation process and other creative ways to elevate your outdoor setting using Ikea hacks, be sure to check out the accompanying video.
Boho-Style Ikea Bedside Table
Transforming the Ikea Nesna bedside table into a bohemian-inspired accent piece is a DIY project that requires some creativity and basic crafting skills. To give your table a unique touch, start by attaching cane webbing to the glass tabletop. You’ll need cane webbings, a staple gun, adhesive glue, scissors, and contact adhesive. Begin by laying the glass tabletop over the cane webbing and cutting it to match the shelf’s size. Assemble the table without adding the bottom wooden slats.
Next, apply contact adhesive to the glass shelf using a paintbrush and attach the pre-cut cane webbing on top. Make sure to trim the edges for a seamless finish. Once everything is dry, cut extra cane webbing to fit the bottom shelf and secure it with your staple gun. With these simple steps, you can turn a plain Ikea bedside table into a one-of-a-kind boho accent piece that adds character to any room.
Picture Frame Turned Succulent Planter
I’m utterly enamored with succulents! Not only do they bring a touch of elegance to indoor spaces, but their low-maintenance nature makes them an ideal choice for busy plant enthusiasts. One unconventional way to showcase these stylish specimens is by repurposing Ikea’s Ribba picture frames.
To get started, you’ll need a few simple materials beyond your succulents and potting soil: moss, chicken wire, a staple gun (you can find one here if you’re new to the DIY game), wire cutters, and a pair of scissors.
Elegant-Looking Office Desk
Elevate your home office’s sophistication in a snap by combining an Ikea Alex desk with a metallic gold spray paint. Don’t forget to add some flair to your office chair, painting the legs and armrests to match the desk’s legs for a seamless look. With this simple hack, you can transform your workspace into a stylish oasis in under 10 minutes. Once complete, all that remains is assembling the pieces and adding your personal touches to create a luxurious atmosphere.
Conclusion
As you explored the innovative solutions from IKEA, I’m curious – were there any particular hacks that caught your attention and sparked your creativity? Feel free to give them a try, transform your living space, and let your imagination run wild!
