I’ve Tried Dozens of IKEA Hacks—5 of My Must-Have Buys and How to Hack Them
I’ll be the first to admit that I couldn’t resist the IKEA hack. My own home is full of them, because where else can you get affordable pieces that will transform like a chameleon?
IKEA items are great on their own, but what makes them even more special is that they also allow you to create something unique for your home. The best part is that it is impossible to hack any IKEA product: the same product can have many different designs.
Being a serial hacker, I’ve learned that some parts are easier to hack than others. These works are typically a completely blank canvas and are affordable.
My Favorite IKEA Ranges to Hack
- IKEA Sektion: The simplest and most affordable IKEA kitchen cabinets, sometimes called Metod in some countries, fall under the radar of many, but they offer a lot of potential beyond the kitchen.
- IKEA Ivar: Simple styling and raw wood finishes make Ivar pieces ready for transformation.
- IKEA Blanda: A series of simple bowls can be transformed into a variety of unexpected items with a little imagination.
- IKEA Kallax: Kallax cubes are popular as functional shelves, but they can also be transformed beyond recognition into various pieces of furniture.
- IKEA Billy: Billy bookcases are no strangers to hacks, but the tips below are some of the best I’ve ever seen, so prepare to be amazed!
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next (or first) hack, I’ve rounded up some ideas on how you can transform them. I’ve included a few hacks for each section to show how versatile each of these sections can be.
Sektion Living Room Storage Hack
First of all, this is one of my own hacks that you can learn more about on Your DIY Family. Finding long, compact storage for my living room was nearly impossible, and the few I found were out of budget. That’s why I decided to break into the Section’s office.
I used the narrowest Sektion base cabinets that I angled towards them. I trimmed each cabinet because they were too deep for my space and then bolted them together so they wouldn’t move. Finally, I covered the top of the cabinet with marbled MDF panels.
Sektion Wall To Wall Cabinet Hack
Built-in wall-to-wall storage often requires custom millwork and can be very expensive. Instead, Maiju from Maiju Saw found the perfect solution by breaking into Section’s closet.
She arranged cabinets throughout her space and added some bases to create a coordinated look. She chose simple cabinet doors, which she enhanced by adding embellishments to them. The kitchen cabinets didn’t have countertops, so she bought MDF tops and painted everything light gray.
Painted Ivar Cabinet Hack
I’ve seen a lot of painted Ivar cabinets, but this one really stands out with its two-tone appearance.
Magdalena from @alloverthehouse not only chose two bold colors, but also left out a door on one of the cabinets. The end result is a unique cabinet that offers both open and closed storage. And of course, you can choose any color combination to suit your decorating style.
Ivar Cabinet Desk Hack
Cecile from @octobre_et_mai transformed the Ivar closet into a desk with lots of useful storage compartments.
To make this table, you will need to stack as many Ivar cabinets as your space allows, leaving some room for chairs or stools. Next, take a piece of pine wood, cut to size, to make the tabletop. Attach it to the top of the cabinet with screws at each end.
Although this table is left in its natural state, you can paint the cabinets to further enhance the look.
Ivar Side Unit Divider Hack
Besides the Ivar cabinet, there is another device in this product line that is hidden but often overlooked – the Ivar subwoofer. By connecting three of them with door hinges, Louise from Schere leim papier created an elegant partition.
She added luxurious solar detailing to each panel to complete the room divider. If you want a partition that offers more privacy, you can take this idea and attach rattan or even translucent fabric to the panels.
Blanda Vase Hack
Simple wooden salad bowls have been transformed into a large sculptural vase.
Adeline from @once.upon.a.home glued two bowls of different sizes and painted the entire bowl with black dye.
Blanda Coffee Table Hack
From salad bowls to designer coffee tables!
Chloe from @chloejjarri created this stylish coffee table by gluing several Blanda bowls together to create large spherical legs. She then attached a piece of pine to form the tabletop and painted the entire section a creamy beige.
Kallax Stool Hack
Using just one Kallax block, Tori from @va_va_room turned it into a stylish stool.
Covering the open sides of the cube with cardboard, she glued foam to the top of the cube to make a seat. She covered each cube with striped fabric and created these stylish stools. The lid is removable, so you don’t have to worry about spills.
Kallax Sideboard Hack
Lauren from Black with Navy flipped a tall Kallax shelf on the side to create this stylish sideboard.
She added Kallax inserts with doors to each cube. Wanting to further enhance the look, she glued the latches to each door to create a grooved look. After painting the entire cabinet white, she added some mid-century style legs and minimalist black handles to complete the buffet.
Built-In Billy Bookcase Hack
Built-in tricks in Billy bookcases aren’t new, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bookcase as beautiful as this one from Claire of Claire Douglas Styles.
By adding skirting boards to the base and MDF board on top, Claire created a cohesive look for this bookcase. But it’s the extra details that really make this hack better. She glued strips of MDF to the seams between the bookcases as well as to the front of the shelf to give it a more solid, custom look.
She also added a groove to the door and finished the bookcase in gorgeous pastel colors, painting the backsplash peach and the bookcase blue.