We love IKEA for its affordable prices, modern design (hello, chic IKEA kitchen cabinets), and cutting-edge product releases. But given that the Swedish mega-retailer prints more copies of its catalog than there are sales of the Bible each year, it's only natural to worry that your new flat-packed furniture won’t look unique when millions of home decorators are buying the same thing. Enter the IKEA hack. We can't resist a good DIY, especially ones that involve our favorite Swedish retailer. These simple upgrades instantly elevate your cheap finds into totally chic and expensive-looking décor. We love IKEA for its affordable prices, modern design (hello, chic IKEA kitchen cabinets), and cutting-edge product releases. One clever DIY-er gave a simple IKEA trestle desk a luxe makeover by simply covering the top with marble-printed contact paper (available in hardware stores or online). A pair of fairly basic wooden IKEA Knuff magazine files were transformed into chic and artful desk accents with a splatter paint effect and contact paper that mimics a natural timber style.
What a super-chic addition to any bookshelf or office. One area of IKEA you've most likely overlooked is the fabric section. We love this hack that uses IKEA's textured raw cotton, Minna, to make textile pots. They have sewn the fabric into a simple shape and placed it around basic planters, then painted them with stripes of varying hues. This easy DIY can add a pop of color wherever you need one. A Reclaimed Wood Stikwood Headboard Any furniture hack that doesn't involve a drill is one we definitely want to know about. This clever decorator used a little Stikwood adhesive and some wood panels to spruce up her IKEA Malm bed frame. The end result is a reclaimed wood look with very little woodworking involved. It does require a rotary saw to get the length right, but that’s nothing you can’t handle. Copper Barn Pendant Lights Copper is all the rage these days, so we're 100% behind this hack. One smart DIY-er made the wise choice to brighten up IKEA's Ottava pendant lights with copper spray paint to get the look for less.
It's super chic, and we wouldn't be able to tell the difference. A Modern Pendant Lamp A single drill hole transformed IKEA’s beautiful bronze Angenäm dish into a modern pendant lamp. Simple yet so sophisticated. A Wood and Metal Bracket Shelving Unit Can you believe IKEA Ekby Lerberg brackets were used to build this beautiful DIY wooden shelving unit? The brackets have allowed for greater flexibility when placing accents like the mirror. It's also a great alternative to store-bought shelves. A Modern Nursery Dresser A coat of soft green paint and a set of brass bar pulls transformed IKEA's wooden Tarva dresser from something plain into something photogenic. For those who want the look of custom cabinetry without the cost, Semihandmade doors are the answer. The company produces doors, panels and drawer faces designed specifically to fit IKEA cabinets, and as you can see by these pretty sage cabinets, they look quite luxurious. A Built-In Billy Bookcase
Custom built-ins don't come cheap, so we love one homeowner's genius idea to put three of IKEA's popular Billy bookcases together. A solid baseboard and crown molding were added so it blends perfectly with the period style of this home. A 22-Foot-Long Media Stand This homeowner purchased multiple IKEA kitchen cabinets, set them on the floor, and added a top surface to create a 22-foot-long media stand for their living room. An Upholstered Bunk Bed Now this is one cool bedroom. This parent figured out how to upholster IKEA’s Kura reversible bed for their daughter’s room to give it a softer, more traditional, and personalized look. Sleepovers are sure to be fun in this bedroom. By hanging IKEA’s Bestå shelf unit on the wall and topping it with a stained wood panel, you can create a floated credenza that looks way more costly than it actually is. A DIY Wood Nightstand A little contact paper and spray paint went a long way to transform the basic and modern IKEA side table into a nightstand with a more feminine vibe.
A Refrigerator Cabinet Window Seat We would never have guessed that this sophisticated and contemporary window seat, which stores shoes, coats, and kid's backpacks, is actually an IKEA refrigerator cabinet. It’s incredible what some creative reuse can produce. A Round Belted Mirror By attaching some affordable leather belts from H&M to a round mirror from IKEA, one crafty Swede created an insanely stylish accent.Legs can turn a ratty cabinet into a Mid-Century Modern wonder. These 6″ wood and metal legs from Home Depot definitely lengthen her beautiful silhouette. Get the tutorial here. Check out this one: This lady just got a whole lot leggier. Is that Marilyn Monroe? Don’t you want to put your clothes in that? Even the simplest IKEA piece looks classy with new pegs. This IKEA Tarva is definitely not basic. Stick legs on a suitcase for a vintage side table. Or turn a college futon into a modern daybed.Get the recipe here.
You can morph a rolling table into a stationary one. Or transform an old stereo into a sideboard. You can essentially recycle anything you want into cool furniture. Use legs to upgrade thrifted furniture. “Drab” just turned “Downton Abbey” with delicate legs. Look at the calves on that thing! Check out this dresser-to-sideboard transformation: Or this old cabinet that bloomed into an accent table: You can even turn a wooden palette into a sexy coffee table. Hairpin legs can bring some Mad Men style to your bedroom… You tall drink of water. Upgrade your old table with some killer gams. Use legs to make your couch look more expensive. Pretty Pegs makes custom legs for IKEA couches. Or make extra room for your stuff. Attach longer legs to a side table or dresser to fit storage baskets underneath. You don’t even have to be DIY-savvy. Bed-risers + cheap sofa = Genius. Get more info here. Want awesome DIY tips in your inbox four times a week?