Ikea biffed by going after IkeaHackers, the fan site that shares all kinds of new uses and smart mods for the Swedish superstore's affordable furniture—seriously, you can't buy this kind of devotion. Until founder Jules Yap sets up shop under a new name, let's have a look at a few of the projects that make her site so endlessly scrollable. There's such a range of finished works—from "Oh oh I could do that!" to "Why would you do that?!" to "Hey now that gives me an idea..."—that it's tough not to fall into a DIY-design clickhole. Here are some of the adventures-in-how-to that stood out to us. Share your own personal faves below! There's no end to what you can to with an Expedit (RIP). This awesome hamster habitat won the Hack of the Year in 2010, and it's easy to see why: Some small modifications to the Expedit—plus a little glass—turned Ikea's beloved shelving system into a home for a furry friend. You'd never guess that this sleek, sinuous privacy screen—which turns the bathroom of an open loft into its own space—was made from $2 Rektangel vases.
But yep: Hundreds of these glass thangs were tipped on their sides and repurposed. There's a reason this incredible personal library won the 2011 Hack of the Year. It's made from 60—yes, 60—Billy bookshelves, Ikea's bargain basement bookshelf. Attached to the French country home of Chas Saunter, they look undeniably classy. Here's the archetypal example of IkeaHacking brilliance. Take one stool, four nested file organizers, and boom: A transformable table with tons of storage space for under $10. All you have to do is glue the folders together and attach them to the stool. For an added bonus, the nested folders inside the table pull out to change its profile. Things really get cool when an Ikea hacker has soldering skills: This brilliant hacker turned a plain old wood table top into a beautiful working guitar. Now this is unexpected. Tracing around an old kid's jacket will give a decent enough pattern for this cute little coat. Lined or unlined, it's pretty ingenious—though apparently it will dull the hell out of your sewing machine needle.
I'm wondering whether to try to make one for myself... Here's a solution for all those space-challenged Ikea hackers out there (and aren't there so many!). This Dutch hacker took a shelf and a cabinet and mounted them to the wall, creating what might be the skinniest desk for an iMac ever built. The best part might be the fact that there aren't any errant cables hanging around: They're all stored inside the upper cabinet. Okay, this is admittedly not for everyone, but it's a smart solution! An industrious family member made this for her grandma's home in Malacca, Malaysia, which is lacking upstairs plumbing. Adding a raised section to the top and a few privacy panels between the legs of a Stefan chair, a small bowl can easily slide in to the hole. Noted: next time she's choosing a model with arms, for extra comfort (though it would be tough to beat Homer's Lazy Man Toilet Seat for sheer sit-back-and-relax luxury). This was designed to allow or opening the drawers under a Mandal bed, but relocating two of the Frosta stool's legs looks like it would make a killer sofa table, too (as long as the height was right).
There are a lot of storage beds on IkeaHackers, but there's something about the structure and staging of this one, which used nine Faktum cabinets, that makes it look particularly perfect for a small space. It's involved (with extended blog post how-to here), but if you had the tools and the time and the drive—it would be incredible to make something this functional look this good. This is another project that's going to require some power tools, but if you're keen on sewing and have the room for a dedicated place to stitch, this is a might purdy use of an Ingo table. Additional tutorial here, if you're into it. Okay, hey—we're back to unconventional spots to pee and poo. The name here really says it all, and all it took was a long piece of MDF, a pair of Ikea PS Lockers, and a cat flap inserted into a custom cut-out in the side. Slide a litter box in the drawer and you're good to go.This effect was made pretty much exclusively out of Trofast toy storage boxes affixed to the walls and ceiling: some facing out and filled with magazines and books, some facing the other way and lit from within by LEDs.
Ikea's iconic Frosta stool is a cult favorite—and here, it's turned into a beautifully abstract bookshelf that seems to climb up the wall like a vine. Rather than spring for some spendy backsplash, this cool kitchen has a series of Rationell glass panels installed flush up against the wall between counter and cabinet. Wallpaper will make it match whatever else you've got going on, color-and-style-wise. Take an average Bjursta dining room table, two average plastic high chairs, do a little clever sawing, et voila: An incredible double-trouble high chair. Ikea hacking doesn't have to be all about furniture: This clever hacker took a plush stuffed animal from Ikea's kids section, decapitated it, and installed a hidden USB drive. It wasn't easy to figure out a design to encase the new tub in this remolded bathroom—but using two Ikea Pronomen countertops, the crew was able to perfectly fit the wood around the irregular space. Hyllis shelves are good for more than just books: This Texas hacker turned them into one of the craziest cat playgrounds I've ever seen.
Hung from the ceiling with brackets, these ordinary shelves become an incredible jungle gym for this lucky kitty.These are just a few of our favorite hacks, but there are thousands more out there. Share yours with us below!The 20 Best High Chairs for Every Style of Family Whether you want a high chair that's sleek or one that has all the bells and whistles, these are the best high chairs to choose from. Choosing a high chair can seem incredibly daunting, especially with so many to choose from. Here are some of the best high chairs available, with some tips from experts who are in the trenches of parenthood -- flying peas and all."The high chair will be one of your most heavily used and messiest items, so choosing one that saves you time every time you use it is important," says Chad Carter, the co-founder and editor of Dads Who Diaper, an online resource for parents. "Look for a seat that's made of a continuous piece of plastic or cloth, which eliminates places for food to hide.
Also, look for high chairs that have removable components for deep cleaning."Another thing to consider is the chair's ease of use. "Find one that you like, that's not too heavy and that's easy to pull the tray on and off with one hand," shares Anna Lane, the creator of Misadventures in Motherhood. "You don't realize the value of the one-handed operation until you have a child, but trust me, it's a necessary feature." Keeping in those tips in mind, check out these top 20 picks.For Families Who Need Room Stokke Tripp Trapp ChairA high chair that pulls right up to your kitchen table is the perfect way to save space in your kitchen, so try the minimalist Tripp Trapp Chair, which grows with your child. Fisher-Price Space Saver High ChairYou'll find all the functionality of a full-size high chair in the Space Saver High Chair, but in a version that fits right on one of your kitchen chairs. Chicco Polly Double-Pad High ChairFold the Polly Double-Pad High Chair up when it isn't it use -- it has a super slim eight-inch profile that you can easily tuck away in a closet.
Mamas and Papas Pixi High ChairThe Pixi High Chair easily folds up and just as easily unfolds when your little one is ready to eat. Evenflo Convertible 3-in-1 High ChairIf you put longer legs on your favorite booster seat, you'd get this Convertible 3-in-1 High Chair that is great for small kitchens.For Families Who Love Modern Design Ikea Antilop Highchair With TrayYou can't get much cleaner or simpler than the Antilop Highchair with Tray that leaves the frills at the door and goes strictly modern. Babyhome Taste High ChairThere's something so chic about the babyhome Taste High Chair that seems to just float above the ground. It's certainly one of the best high chairs for modern families. OXO Tot Sprout High ChairCombining wood with a bright pop of color and sleek, simple design, the Tot Sprout High Chair from kitchen brand OXO is a can't-miss. BabyBjorn High ChairAvailable in both white and red, the modern BabyBjorn High Chair is good looking and functional, as well as easy to clean.
Phil & Teds Poppy High ChairThe Poppy High Chair looks like it walked straight out of the future and into your kitchen with extra-long legs and mod-style seat.For Families Who Want to Splurge Fresco Chrome High ChairNot only is the Fresco Chrome High Chair gorgeous and modern, but it's the highest baby high chair in the world. Peg Perego Tatamia High ChairThe Tatamia High Chair rivals any other piece of furniture you have in your home and is available in four pretty leatherette colors. Posh Tots Sleigh High ChairWhen you're looking for a serious splurge, this elegant hand-carved Sleigh High Chair is the way to go. Joovy HiLo High ChairWith a cool modern design, the HiLo High Chair looks like anything but baby gear, and grows with your child. Newport Cottages Provincial High ChairA high chair that looks like it is fit for the Royal Baby herself, the design of the Newport Cottages Provincial High Chair is a classic style at a high price point.For Families Who Are On-the-Go Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster SeatThe ultimate in travel high chairs, you can fold the Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat down into a smaller travel-size high chair to keep in your car.
Chicco PocketSnack Booster SeatThe PocketSnack Booster Seat has a ton of options, like three adjustable heights, and it comes in the best colors available for an on-the-go high chair. Foundations Secure Sitter Tip and Slip-Proof Feeding ChairThe Secure Sitter Tip and Slip-Proof Feeding Chair is a simple, easy-to-clean high chair that you can take with you on vacation without having to worry about clean-up. Ciao Baby Portable High ChairPerfect for families who love to camp or spend time outside, the Ciao Baby Portable High Chair will make being on-the-go with your baby easy. Chicco 360 Hook-On High ChairWith a cool swivel movement that allows your little one to eat in different positions at the table, the 360 Hook-On High Chair is great for dinner out.Katie Kavulla, a mom of three, has been through a few high chairs in the 10+ years she's been a parent. These days, however, you can find her trying to get her kids to simply sit still for a meal on Instagram or on Twitter. Like what you see here?