Transforming budget-friendly furniture from Ikea into stunning pieces that could easily pass as high-end designs is a clever trick known as an Ikea hack. With the right guidance, you can take an Ikea product and elevate it to make it look like it belongs in a top interior design magazine. Fortunately, there are numerous online resources available that walk you through the process step by step, making it easy to find the perfect guide for your project. We’ve curated a comprehensive list of 39 ingenious Ikea hack ideas that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also relatively simple to execute. From our expertise in interior design, we’ve selected the most impressive and beautiful hacks to help you discover something that resonates with your style. As an added bonus, be sure to follow us on Pinterest for a treasure trove of creative Ikea hack ideas and home decor inspiration.
Reclaimed Wood Clad Sideboard Ikea Hack
The original BESTA wall cabinets from Ikea have been transformed into a stunning sideboard through the creative efforts of Place of My Taste. The addition of reclaimed wood cladding has given it a luxurious, tactile makeover that adds a sumptuous twist to the modern Scandinavian aesthetic characteristic of Ikea designs.
This clever hack is just one example of how adding wood to Ikea products can create a stylish update. By finding and cutting the ideal pieces of timber, then staining or varnishing as needed, you can simply glue them to the doors for a very easy yet effective result. Alternatively, you could opt for wood effect vinyl planks to achieve a similar look without the need for actual wood sourcing.
Industrial Locker Effect Cabinet
Transforming the humble IKEA KALLAX shelf into a set of vintage-inspired lockers is a creative hack that’s both functional and visually striking. Little House of Four’s clever solution involves crafting hinged doors and adding a fresh coat of paint, resulting in an impressive finished product. Imagine having this unique storage system in your hallway, where you can keep everyone’s shoes, bags, and accessories organized and easily accessible as you head out the door. With various sizes of KALLAX shelves available, you can choose one that suits your needs. To complete the look, consider adding numbered stickers and apothecary-style drawer pulls. For more inspiration, check out our comprehensive guide to 33 Stunning IKEA Kallax Hack Ideas.
Custom Painted Wall Cabinets Ikea Hack
Ikea’s own creative solution is another DIY project that requires minimal expertise. The result is both a functional storage unit and a visually appealing piece of art. The painted bank of wall cabinets offers ample storage space while also serving as a unique design statement.
While you can always add your personal touch by creating a custom design on the front, we’re particularly fond of this particular aesthetic. If you’d rather not get creative with paint, an adhesive mural is a great alternative. You could easily divide it between the cabinet doors to create a visually appealing display.
Drip Painted Plant Pots
One of the most accessible and affordable Ikea hacks is this clever DIY trick. By adding a pop of color with dripped paint, you can instantly elevate any room’s aesthetic appeal. The vibrant hues stand out beautifully against the lush greenery of potted plants. What’s more, this hack requires minimal DIY skills, making it an ideal project for all levels of enthusiasts. Moreover, these pots are incredibly budget-friendly – and not just limited to housing plants! As showcased earlier with pens and paintbrushes, you can repurpose them in countless creative ways. The Ikea INGEFARA pots serve as the foundation for this hack, which we encourage you to build upon by exploring our comprehensive guide to the best indoor plants if you choose to use them for greenery.
Built-In Ikea Bookshelves Hack
The Makerista’s hack on an Ikea BILLY bookcase is surprisingly sophisticated, with its elegance elevating the room even further when paired with a rolling library ladder. What’s more, this project requires minimal expertise, making it an accessible and cost-effective way for DIY enthusiasts to achieve a professional look. While it may seem daunting at first, fitting a library ladder is actually a relatively straightforward process that only demands a hardware kit.
Corner Gallery Wall
Transform a bland space into a stunning visual display with Ikea’s RIBBA picture frames. This clever hack allows you to create a captivating gallery wall on either an external or internal corner. Simply place the frames and fill them with cherished family moments, adorable pets, or any other mementos that tell a story. The end result is a unique and eye-catching feature that adds personality to any room.
Hot Air Balloon Light Fitting Ikea Hack
Transforming the humble REGOLIT pendant lampshade from Ikea into a stylish and functional piece is a great way to add a touch of personality to a child’s bedroom or nursery. This creative hack, courtesy of Husligheter, not only provides a unique lighting solution but also doubles as storage for soft toys. The black spots on the shade are simply furniture pads, while wicker baskets and beads can be easily sourced from most household stores. With this clever DIY project, you can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere that’s sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
Rustic Branded Crate Ottoman
One way to get creative with Ikea’s KNAGGLIG box is by transforming it into a unique decorative piece that fits perfectly in rustic, industrial, or farmhouse-style rooms. This humble crate, rebranded as an IkeaHackers creation, has the potential to become a stunning focal point in any room. For homeowners with a wood-burning fireplace or stove, this upcycled box makes for an excellent wood storage solution. Additionally, you can customize the branding to reflect your personal style and even add family names or monograms using lettering stencils, allowing for endless possibilities.
Painted and Upholstered Stools
IKEA’s FROSTA stools are ripe for a creative makeover. As a nod to the Swedish furniture giant’s knack for hackability, here’s a unique opportunity to unleash your artistic flair and transform these stools into one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect your personal style. To get started, consider incorporating knotted cushions, as showcased in this helpful video tutorial. Alternatively, try your hand at stenciling large letters or numbers onto the stool’s surface. For added character, don’t forget to distress painted wood to give it a worn, vintage look.
Upholstered Ikea Headboard Hack
A padded headboard not only provides ample opportunities for creative expression, but also instantly elevates the aesthetic appeal of any bedroom. The tufted upholstery, in particular, is a masterclass in subtle yet effective design. By leveraging the expertise of furniture artisans at places like Place of My Taste, homeowners can tailor this versatile piece to their unique style using an array of fabrics, further cementing its status as a showstopping focal point in the bedroom.
Dalmation Inspired Bar Cart
Our love for animal-inspired decor in our home led us to fall head over heels for Domino’s Dalmatian print bar cart hack. The popularity of drinks trolleys and bar carts is undeniable, and we’re more than happy to join the bandwagon! Who can resist a little ‘Gin o’clock’ excitement? Although this particular trolley is no longer available from IKEA, we think the SUNNERSTA could be a great substitute, allowing you to achieve a similar look with a bit of creativity.
Copper Pendant Cluster Light
I’m enamored with the aesthetic of cluster lighting, and IKEA hack from kbarlee on Instagram, which utilizes SLATTBO copper light fixtures, is truly striking! To recreate this look, you would need to source multi-cable cluster pendant fittings (and, of course, enlist the help of a qualified electrician). Despite the complexity involved, it’s an installation that makes a bold statement and adds significant visual interest to any space.
Low Level Ikea Rattan Lamp Hack
When working with IKEA’s SINNERLIG pendant lampshade, one of the most effortless hacks is transforming it into a floor lamp. This modification is particularly useful when ceiling height constraints prevent the installation of larger pendant lights. To achieve this, you can repurpose the fitting by turning it into a floor-standing lamp.
Another creative solution comes from Domino, who have managed to execute this hack at a remarkably low cost. However, we strongly advise that a qualified electrician be called in to attach a plug to the cable to ensure a safe and secure installation.
Mid-Century Bar Cabinet
Transforming IKEA cabinets into modern masterpieces is just a matter of adding some stylish legs and a dash of creativity. A great example of this hack can be seen at The Vintage Rug Shop, where the addition of mid-century inspired legs gives new life to an otherwise ordinary cabinet. The wood grain adhesive vinyl inlay adds a delightful touch, and you could also experiment with marble effect for a truly unique look.
Simple Trimmed Lamp Shade Ikea Hack
The JARA lampshade hack from Design Love Fest is a masterclass in simplicity. By adding just two or three materials to the lampshade, the entire piece is transformed with a newfound texture and contrast that adds depth and visual interest. What’s particularly impressive about this hack is how accessible it is – anyone can try their hand at giving an old lampshade a new lease on life.
Cow Hide Upholstered Ottoman
Kristi Murphy’s ingenious hack eschewed IKEA altogether, relying solely on a KOLDBY cow hide. For an easier execution, one could substitute in the SKOGSTA bench to achieve a similar aesthetic. The end result is undeniably stunning, although it’s possible that our fondness for animal prints may be influencing our assessment.
Bright Coloured Legs Cabinet
One of our current design obsessions is incorporating pops of vibrant color into spaces. A fantastic example of this can be seen in the dresser hack created by Meyer Lavigne. By pairing an IKEA IVAR wall unit with traditional turned legs that boast a bold, bright pink finish (a clever choice), the result is a visually striking piece that injects a burst of energy into any room.
Industrial Wood and Metal Bookshelf
The VITTSJO shelving unit, originally a standout product from IKEA, transforms into an entirely new and charming entity when reimagined by Yellow Brick Home. This hack not only showcases the shelf’s inherent qualities but also its remarkable ability to seamlessly integrate with dark interiors that are currently all the rage. The wood and metal combination, coupled with the addition of vinyl accents, imbues the piece with a stylish sophistication that’s sure to captivate.
Industrial Chipboard Fronted Cupboard
Kristina from Ich Designer has impressed us with her creative take on IKEA hacks, such as the sleek bedside table that mimics a high-end design. Her clever use of BILLY units to create a chipboard-inspired cupboard is truly innovative. This industrial-chic piece would seamlessly blend into any space with an industrial aesthetic. For more inspiration, be sure to check out our dedicated post featuring 19 creative IKEA Billy bookcase hacks.
Luxurious Panelled Ikea Sideboard Hack
Superfront’s innovative approach has led them to develop a vast array of products designed to simplify IKEA hacks. Their geometric panels, for instance, are specifically engineered to effortlessly adhere to the fronts of various pieces of furniture, including the BESTA cabinet. This seamless integration enables users to create sleek and sophisticated designs with ease. As fans of geometric patterns ourselves, we appreciate how these additions can elevate the overall aesthetic of a piece of furniture, infusing it with a touch of luxury.
White and Gold Desk
Transforming metal furniture into a stylish piece can be achieved with just a few simple tweaks. In this case, a can of gold spray paint was all that was needed to elevate the ALEX desk from Money Can Buy Lipstick. The combination of white and gold creates a sophisticated look that adds elegance to any home office setting. This hack is also effective on the VITTSJO shelf, as demonstrated in our feature on high-end Ikea hacks. With a little creativity, you can turn plain metal furniture into a beautiful piece that reflects your personal style.
Green and Gold Upholstered Ottoman
The harmonious combination of green and gold is showcased in a striking ottoman hack by Melo Drama, which utilizes a VITTSJO coffee table as its foundation. The addition of tufted upholstery lends an air of luxury to the overall design, further emphasizing the visual appeal of this creative project.
Vintage Cubby Shelving
One of our favorite hacks from Petal and Ply is the KALLAX shelving system, which offers a creative way to store numerous items while maintaining a charming farmhouse style aesthetic in the kitchen. What’s more, this versatile hack can be easily replicated in other areas, such as a hallway, where it would serve as an excellent shoe storage solution.
Upholstered Wardrobe Doors Ikea Hack
As the theme of upholstered furniture continues to gain popularity, this innovative PAX wardrobe hack from Living etc magazine in November 2013 takes creativity to the next level. Who would have thought that a standard PAX wardrobe could be transformed into a stunning piece with minimal effort? The secret lies in using pre-made fabric to create the panels, requiring only a simple addition of foam behind it. This DIY project is surprisingly straightforward, making it an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to give their home decor a unique touch.
Wall Mounted Easel
Imagine replacing traditional chalkboards with an innovative, versatile, and artistic solution that’s perfect for the whole family. Enter the art-wall-on-a-roll hack by Arin Solange At Home, a game-changer for farmhouse kitchen projects and parents alike. This space-saving design not only frees up walls from kids’ creative expressions but also offers endless possibilities for self-expression, learning, and fun.
Ornate Bedside Table
With subtle flair, this makeover of the Ikea RAST dresser by Swoonworthy elevates the piece from humble beginnings to refined sophistication. This exemplary transformation exemplifies the transformative power of Ikea hacking, effortlessly transforming a commonplace item into a stunning work of art that can instantly elevate the ambiance of any room.
Home Office Desk Tidy
The impact of the SKADIS hack by Grillo Designs becomes strikingly apparent when comparing before and after photos. While the subtle incorporation of gold accents undoubtedly plays a significant role, the true value lies in the pegboard’s practicality as a means to maintain a clutter-free home office environment.
Mid-Century Modern Gold Inlaid Sideboard
Kristi Murphy’s clever hack revives the timeless appeal of geometric patterns. By combining a STOCKHOLM sideboard from IKEA with elegant gold trim, she creates a show-stopping mid-century modern masterpiece that elevates an already versatile piece of furniture into a true standout.
Cage Light Sconce Hack
For a chic and easy DIY project, consider repurposing IKEA brackets to create unique light fixtures. This clever hack from Nalle’s House combines the Swedish furniture giant’s brackets with a Target light fitting for a one-of-a-kind design that can be replicated using only IKEA materials by substituting the SLATTBO or HEMMA/BRUNSTA lights. The resulting bedside lamps are both stylish and simple to create, making them an excellent addition to any bedroom.
Stylish Plant Stands
The humble plant stand has undergone a remarkable transformation, becoming an essential accessory for any home. This clever hack, courtesy of Provinzkindchen, is poised to be a game-changer. To replicate this stylish setup, all you need are the Marius stool and some wooden plates – easily sourced from Amazon. For more inspiration on how plants can elevate your indoor space, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide: 8 Indoor Plants that will Transform your Home & Wellbeing.
Unique Box Bookcase
While we appreciate the ingenuity of this EKET bookcase hack, we can’t help but think it would benefit from a splash of color. The design is top-notch, making it versatile enough to fit in with a playroom, living room, bedroom, or even a retail space. One of the best things about this hack is how straightforward it is to execute, requiring only basic DIY skills and tools like a tape measure and spirit level.
Wood Surround Corner Storage
The creative genius behind the KALLAX storage unit’s stunning wood surround went above and beyond to create a truly professional piece. While it’s possible to achieve a similar result with kitchen worktops, the added complexity only adds to the appeal. This unique design would be an excellent addition to any home office, providing ample storage and a touch of elegance.
Rustic Apothecary/Map Cabinet
The allure of apothecary cabinets is undeniable. While their timeless appeal ensures they’ll never be out of fashion, the cost associated with purchasing one from a high-end retailer like Anthropologie can be prohibitively expensive for many. Fortunately, this creative hack makes it possible to incorporate similar rustic or vintage pieces into your home decor without breaking the bank. Moreover, apothecary cabinets are incredibly versatile, allowing you to seamlessly integrate them into various design styles.
Dressing Room Clothes Chair Ikea Hack
Spending an afternoon browsing through the archives of Ikeahackers can be a delightful experience, and one particular hack caught my attention for its exceptional creativity. Although the original chair is no longer available, the STEFAN chair from current stock would make a suitable substitute. For those who appreciate unconventional decor that sparks conversation, this idea is sure to impress – especially if you’re already in the habit of draping your clothes over a chair.
Art Deco Drinks Cabinet
Our home’s architecture, dating back to the 1920s, is replete with nods to Art Deco. As such, we delight in discovering ways to subtly incorporate more of its signature aesthetic into our daily lives. One recent find that caught our eye was an IVAR cabinet hack inspired by Art Deco, courtesy of IKEA. Not only does it blend seamlessly with the dark wall colour, but it also highlights the versatility of IKEA’s products. Many of their designs come equipped with blank canvases waiting to be transformed into something unique and personalized.
Lantern Plant Terrarium
As we continue to cultivate our passion for indoor gardening, our collection of plants has been flourishing. For those interested in reaping the benefits of lush greenery within their homes, we’ve shared a comprehensive guide on the best indoor plants that not only purify the air but also add a touch of elegance to any room.
In our quest to creatively showcase our plant babies, we stumbled upon an ingenious IKEA hack by Thou Swell. By repurposing a few simple materials, you can create a stunning terrarium that doubles as a miniature scene or even a unique decorative piece.
The art of crafting a visually appealing terrarium lies in its ability to transport viewers to a serene, natural setting – and we’re excited to explore this creative outlet further.
White A-Frame Bunk Bed
For a touch of whimsy in the kids’ bedroom, look no further than this ingenious A-frame bed makeover. By combining an IKEA KURA bed with some clever DIY tweaks (think attaching an A-frame structure to the top and painting it all white), homeday_ on Instagram has created a truly showstopping focal point. The simplicity of the design allows the surrounding accessories to take center stage, while the bed itself remains a stunning centerpiece that effortlessly ties the room together.
Green and Gold Ikea Dresser Hack
By giving this humble piece of furniture a fresh coat of paint and swapping out the hardware for sleek gold handles, we’re able to elevate its aesthetic appeal without breaking the bank. This understated update is a great reminder that even the most mundane items can be transformed with a little creativity and elbow grease, resulting in a beautifully revitalized look that’s sure to turn heads.
Chic Dressing Room Cabinets
As I conclude this blog post, I’m thrilled to share one more ingenious hack from Erin Kestenbaum that showcases the versatility of PAX wardrobes. The time and effort invested in this project were substantial, but incorporating PAX wardrobes proved a game-changer, streamlining the process significantly. This remarkable example epitomizes the limitless possibilities of IKEA hacks. The finish is not only impressive but also serves as a testament to the power of creative experimentation. I daresay there’s something in this project that will pique your interest and inspire you to try your hand at it, even if it’s just the seemingly simple task of painting plant pots. Who knows? We might just be influenced by these hacks ourselves and incorporate similar ideas into our future projects!