Interesting Ways To Customize Ikea Furniture
IKEA has some of the best good quality, budget furniture that suits every need. This Swedish furniture company is extremely durable and you can even customize your pieces as per your wish and need. People are also truly ingenious and they use their imagination to create some amazing hacks. Normal IKEA furniture has the tendency to look a little plain, but there are many DIY hacks you can use to make the furniture look extra luxurious. We have scrounged the internet and have found some of the most amazing IKEA hacks which you will love and can also use at your home. So, get ready to update your furniture to create some amazing pieces.
1. Window Seat
A lovely cozy window nook is literally a book lover’s dream. But sometimes you have to create these cozy nooks and not everyone has the time to get custom-made furniture. The good news is, you can now convert your simple IKEA shelf into a window seat.
Just look for Ikea Kallax and transform it into a beautiful window seat. Add a nice seat over the shelf, throw in a few cute pillows and throws, and voila! Your beautiful window seat is ready! All you need to do now is grab a cuppa joe and a book to enjoy this space.
2. Luxurious Accents
IKEA has a great range of furniture types and one can choose anything according to their liking. However, the furniture style is kind of basic and minimal. If you want anything that has a contemporary design, then you will have to attempt a DIY.
This person bought the IKEA Kallax piece and literally turned the piece around. He mounted the Kallax on its legs and gave it a good paint job. Adding gold accents and foils also really made the piece look really amazing.
3. Cute Storage Cabinet
Extra storage never hurts anyone and if the storage cabinet is super chic- nothing like it. Building DIY furniture or storage requires a lot of creativity and also a lot of hard work. This person, however, decided to do it.
He took the Ivar Cupboard and created a very 70’s style storage cabinet. He carved the wood output some rattan mesh in to make it look stylish. After that, he added the mesh on the lower drawer as well.
4. Faux Marble Table
A marble table adds so much class to any dining area or living room. However, a marble table can prove to be pretty costly. What if we told you that there is a way to convert an IKEA Docksta table into a marble one!
This $180 table can actually turn into an amazing marble table using just a few ingredients such as spray paint, table epoxy, and a blow torch. Usually, a marble table might cost anywhere from $500 to even more. So, this hack is a total steal.
5. Fun Dresser
Some fun storage options are all you need to liven your living space up. All you need is a basic dresser from IKEA and some imagination. With this hack, you can go crazy. Choose your favorite colors, think of ideas of painting over the dresser -the choice is yours.
Add some legs to the IKEA dresser to give it some height and length. After that, choose your paints or just stick some images to the dresser if that feels easier. You can even add some fun doorknobs. Voila, your dressing table is ready!
6. Fantasy Bed
If you have a kid you will know how much children love cutesy beds with themes. Little girls love beds shaped like castles and other such fantasy beds. However, these themed beds can be expensive to buy. You can do a DIY bed with IKEA furniture.
Buy the basic IKEA Kura bed and try to create either a racecar around it with wood or cardboard. You can also build an entire castle with the help of some inspiration from this dad. Just use your imagination and let it fly!
7. DIY Bar Hack
If you have always wanted a home bar, then this easy IKEA hack will get you far. Take a Vittsjo laptop desk which is a great stand-in itself and just use your imagination to create a bar. Here’s how you can use it.
Just place two planks of wood on the table and the lower shelf. You can just hammer it in or just let it be. It will stay put under the weight of the bottles. Try nailing in a few glass holders into the top shelf for a nice look.
8. Kitty Bunk Bed
Pet owners will totally be able to relate to spending on pet beds. The number of times beds get destroyed is just countless. However, all the pet beds tend to look the same – round and cushiony. It can get a little boring to look at after a while.
For creating a unique pet bed, just take two Duktig Doll Beds and join them together. Add some nice cushions on them and make it super comfortable for your dog or cat. Just look at this cat napping nicely on it!
9. Elevated Dresser
Shifting houses or just plain boredom can result in trying to create new things out of old ones. If you happen to possess the IKEA Hemnes Dresser then you can try to use this hack to completely change the look of the dresser.
All you need to do is sand and repaint the dresser and change the shelf knobs as well. Not only will this make your dresser seem super stylish but also give a whole new amazing look to your living room.
10. Coffee Table
A stunning coffee table has the ability to elevate your living room to another level. Coffee tables can have basic designs though that can get a little boring after a while. Which is why, Iris decided to transform her IKEA table.
What she did was that she cut a hole on top of the table and scraped out the honeycomb interior. She then measured the hole, put a box in it and filled it with black soil and then succulent plants.
11. Entryway Cabinet
If you have a narrow entryway, then a cabinet can be tough to place. However, you can have a little fun with your furniture design here. Take two narrow cabinets like IKEA’s Hemnes Shoe Cabinet and then try to let your imagination run wild.
As an idea, you can take two IKEA Hemnes Shoe Cabinets and combine them together under one stand with a wooden top to hinge them together. Next, you can choose your favorite colors and even paint over it. You have a new amazing cabinet!
12. Fun Bar Cabinet
A bar cabinet can add lots of oomph and class to any drawing-room. But, a huge bar cabinet retails pretty expensively. Which is why Rizzo decided to combine two IKEA cabinets to make her own fun bar rack and cabinet!
One look at this bar cabinet and no one can tell that these are actually two IKEA bar cabinets together. She has combined the Ivar cabinet and the Applaro wall panel and stuck them together. She added feet for the cabinet from an online store called Pretty Pegs.
13. Kitty Eating Station
If you are owners of both cats and dogs, you will know how difficult it is to feed them both. Both the pets are always super interested in the other’s food and like to stick their nose in it. To tackle this problem, the owner came up with a creative solution.
He made an entire kitty eating station out of IKEA shelves. Take the IKEA Kallax and place a few wicker baskets in the cubbies. Some can be used to place the kitten’s food and one can be used to feed the cat.
14. TV Unit
A TV Unit is bulky and huge, which is why it can cost a lot of money. But, there is a hack even here, thanks to the kind people of the internet. They used the IKEA Kallax which comes in the exact color they wanted.
They exchanged the longer cross beam with the two smaller ones to create a larger space to fit consoles, record player, etc. Instead of purchasing a $2000 TV unit, this was done for $680 in a day’s time. Definitely worth the effort.
15. Home Library
A book nerd will understand the effort and the happiness there is to have your own personal library. However, it can definitely cost quite a bit if you want to build one from scratch. If you want an entire room filled with books, read on.
You can take individual IKEA bookshelves and mount them on the walls one by one. One on top of another will look like a great library which you can fill with your favorite books. It does not take much to build your favorite corners, just a bit of imagination.
16. Record Unit
Some people are music aficionados and love to collect old-school records. The records and record tables can be a bit costly, so it is imperative that it has a nice storing space. This music lover was creative and turned IKEA shelves into a recording unit.
You can use the IKEA poplar shelf and set it sideways. Remove one or two blocks of wood to make more storage space for the records. After that, you can place a wooden plank on top of the shelf and give it some legs.
17. Key Hanger
Don’t you hate it when you lose your car keys somewhere and end up getting late as you were about to leave? This usually happens when you don’t have a specific place to keep your keys. A keyholder is a great solution for this.
Take a set of Bekvam Spice Racks and add a few magnets to it. You can just stick your keys onto the magnets and it will look super cute too. You can even paint the wood in a different color to make it look prettier.
18. Boho Kallax
A shiny Kallax bookshelf is everyone’s dream. Not only does it look amazing, but also adds some nice boho vibes to the study. The shine that the whitewash gives, makes this piece of furniture a fantastic piece to own.
You can add woven baskets in all the cubbies to make it look even chicer. Plus, everything will remain super organized this way. Make sure to laminate the IKEA Kallax in a way that it shines. There are even some nice tutorials online if you need them.
19. Bespoke IKEA Besta
Transform your usual IKEA Besta into a bespoke piece by giving it a high-end look. How can you do that you ask? Just buy some fun and unusual handles and knobs. Though it is a tiny thing, it will truly transform your piece.
IKEA also sells some fun knobs which you can use on your IKEA Besta. Or you can even visit an antique store or salvage yard to pick some unique pieces. Just replace the usual knobs and see your IKEA Besta shine.
20. Woven Cushions
If you want some fun beachy cushions in your home to give your space a boho vibe – these DIY coastal cushions are just for you. Take a cue from Stylkea‘s placemat hack and select some woven mats like Ihållig, Samtliga and Sluten.
Sew two placemats together with twine and needle. Then add some cushion padding in between the mats and sew it all together. That’s it! Your boho-woven cushions are ready to be placed anywhere in your home. It’s that easy.
21. Shelves
A fun shelf can add so much to your dining room, but unique shelf pieces are really tough to find, plus they can be a bit heavy on the pocket too. Here is what you can do to add some zing to your regular shelf.
You can be a little creative and maybe add a few pieces of wood as a door to the regular IKEA shelf. To make it even more interesting, use some paint and CNC cutter to etch designs into the shelf.
22. A Decal Makeover
Some makeovers can be labor-intensive, while others can be super easy. This IKEA Malm drawer makeover has the ability to transform your chest of the drawer into a stunning piece of art. Let us take a few tips from this creative soul who did just that.
Just choose some of your favorite Locco Stickers and buy some easy decal kits. They have a lovely range of prints from lovely flowers to arty patterns which can add some nice pizzazz to your regular drawers. If fact, you can use this trick to transform any IKEA furniture piece.
23. A Fun Treehouse Bed
A treehouse bed can be a really fun addition to your child’s home. All children love it and it can also be a fantastic way to engage in an activity together. This parent thought of the same and transformed the IKEA Kura Bed.
They actually combined a few elements like the IKEA Kura Bed and connected it to the Trofast steps. After that, they added some wooden planks. All of that effort made it worth the while and now the simple bed looks like an amazing hangout place.
24. Golden Accent Sideboard
Maybe you have seen the Stockholm sideboard or are planning to buy it. The sideboard by itself is also perfectly fine, but wait till you have seen this DIY’ed version of it. Kristi Murphy just took this normal sideboard to another level.
Add some luxe hairpin legs to the sideboard to give it height and then either paint or add brass strips to it. The normal IKEA Sotckolm sideboard almost looks like a designer one with these golden accents. Some golden accents on it will add a better touch to the sideboard.
25. Organised Laundry Room
Doing laundry can be one of the most dreaded chores in the house. This is usually because of an unorganized space that can make this whole experience really dreadful. Counter space for folding along with a few cabinets can be helpful.
You can use an IKEA Karlby Countertop and a Voxtorp Cupboard system to make an efficient yet modern laundry room. Take an example from the above laundry room. Not only does it look clean but if efficiently serves its purpose.
26. Indoor plant stand
Succulents add greenery plus a beautiful touch to any corner in the house. This DIY indoor plant stand is just perfect as you can move all your succulents anywhere in the house. This way you can also capitalize on the sunny spots in your home.
The IKEA Råskog Trolley can really come in handy at this time. You can keep different succulent pots on each shelf or even transform each shelf into an open garden. When succulents start overflowing then you will really enjoy their sight.
27. Cat Playing Area
Cats just love to visit their other cat friends or just frolic around. But, pet parents try to keep their furry friends inside lest they run away. There is a way to have the best of both worlds though, here’s how.
Use two IKEA Hejne shelves and use some bit of wire mesh to put it all together. Add a bit of wood for some walking space for your furry friend too. This will help them look around and also protect them from wandering away to someplace unfamiliar.
28. Kitchen Island Makeover
No amount of counter space is ever enough in the kitchen and a kitchen island can really help in that regard. This time again, an IKEA Kallax comes to the rescue. This cool hack by Jen Lou Meredith will really help you.
You can even choose to create additional storage on and in your kitchen island. To make the kitchen island moveable, attach some wheels to the base of your Kallax. This can add as additional storage for your kitchen, plus give you some more counter space.
29. Dual Workstation
In these pandemic times, almost everyone is working from home. So, having a set workstation is absolutely crucial. If you have an open window near which the table can be kept, even better. This IKEA hack is simple yet resourceful.
If both you and your partner want separate workstations, then you can combine the IKEA Karlby Countertop and add a drawer system in the middle. You can also attach some legs to the workstation for you and your other roommate.
30. Sneaker Shelves
While it is easy to hide your sneakers in a shoebox or at the bottom of your closet – why not display them for everyone to see. If you have an impressive sneaker collection, then you can put them on display with the help of this hack.
This is where some IKEA Lack shelves can come in handy. While most people use these shelves to store planters or their book collection – a sneaker display rack does not sound so bad. The IKEA Lack shelves are even the perfect size for shoes.
31. Bathroom Organisation
These days most bathrooms do not have enough space to organize and display all of your personal care and bathroom essentials. A little bit of imagination and IKEA shelves can come in handy here. You can use the IKEA spice rack for this.
Instead of spices, just use these racks to keep titbits of bathroom essentials. If there is not enough space in the bathroom, you can mount them to the bathroom door. An additional handy mirror will really help you too.
32. Designer Coat Closet
Just like bathroom closets, wardrobe closets can also be small in apartments and are enough for only one person. Here you can be creative and try to create an open closet in a small space. It is actually not as difficult as it looks.
This homeowner has used two IKEA Besta TV cabinets one at the bottom and another one hung on the wall. These shelves can act as closets, and the addition of a coat hanger is a great and innovative touch too.
33. Cabinet Makeover
Make a retro PS Cabinet by trying out this IKEA trick. You can create a much bigger cabinet by attaching a second PS unit on top. This will help maximize the space and also make the cabinet look much better.
You can remove the legs of the second unit and paint on top of both so that they look like one unit. DIY’s are not always easy or great and The Little Wild One cautions us about the same. Well, we agree.
34. Extra Bench Space
A workspace has become a crucial part of the home these days. Not one, but all of the members of the family require individual workspaces. Using this IKEA hack you will be able to fix some amazing bench spaces plus workspaces too.
Take a few wooden countertops, some IKEA shelves which can double up as benches or storage spaces. Just drill them all together to form a bench and a high workstation which can even function as a home bar. That’s it!
35. Kids Play Kitchen
Children love to copy whatever their parents are doing. Even if you are doing household chores like cooking, kids love to emulate that. Instead of them hanging around the kitchen, which can be dangerous, try to build a play kitchen.
You can buy the IKEA Bekväm step stool which can be converted into a kids play kitchen. Glue three placemats on top of one stool which can act as stoves. After that, you can attach knobs in front and that’s it- the play kitchen is ready!
36. Beach Pillows
Pillows and throws are an indispensable part of a home. Though it is super easy to buy a cushion online, making your own pillow has its own fun sides. The best part is you can create customized designs to suit your needs.
IKEA sells many rugs and one of the easiest ways to make a custom pillow is to sew the rug together with a sewing machine and put some padding in. The fringe on the rug can look like nice cute fringes on your pillow.
37. Desk Transformation
Taking one look at this desk below, would you believe that it was a chest of drawers once? Yup, neither do we and that is how good this hack is. Plus, this desk is also a rolling one, so you can take it anywhere.
Diane from In My Own Style replicated this piece of furniture which was owned by her college roommate. She has combined a number of IKEA drawers including Malm, Kullen, and Rast. It looks pretty easy and definitely serves its purpose.
38. Display Shelves
Over a period of years, we tend to accumulate many paintings and pieces of art. You don’t need to always mount them on a wall. A modern home does not need many paintings on its wall. So, what can you do then?
The answer is a display shelf! Take the IKEA Magasinhylla and try to make it look like a display shelf. Just try to organize your piece of art in a way that it looks modern, yet great. Take a hint from his page.
39. Donut Wall
There are many types of bars available, liquor bar, tapas bar- but have you ever thought of a doughnut bar? Yup, just take a good look at this yummy doughnut bar. Don’t you think it will be amazing for your next event?
An IKEA Lack coffee table can be in fact, transformed into a donut wall. All you need are some paper straws, doilies, and paint. This doughnut wall is perfect for kids’ birthday parties, baby showers, or any kind of informal event.
40. Fun Ceiling Lamp
Traditionally, lamps are kept on bedside tables or in the drawing-room. But, you can be creative and hang a lamp on the ceiling. How you may ask? Just use a lampshade and cover the ceiling light in your drawing-room.
To make it even more interesting, add an interior image in the lamp. Maybe a map or a painting, anything you feel that will tie the whole room together. Not only will this lamp look amazing, but pretty unique too.
41. A Fun Study Desk
Working from your couch all day long giving you backaches? Well, not anymore. This creative IKEA hack can help you make a budget study table. All you need is two IKEA Alex drawers along with a Karlby worktop.
This study table can be ideal for students or office goers who are working from home. This hack is such that it can be modified to fit any space, plus it looks good too. Your worktop can be as long or as short as you want.
42. A modern Bedside Table
A bedside table is more than a piece of furniture, it is a necessity. Not every bedroom has the space to keep two bedside tables. With this IKEA hack, you will be able to have storage, yet it will require no additional space.
Take two small IKEA shelves and mount them on top of each other with the tips of the shelves facing each other. This will almost make it seem like an open drawer. Not only will this space fit all your bedside essentials, but maybe your book too.
43. Spice Rack Book Storage
If you have a kid at your home, there can never be enough room for nighttime books. If the books are on display, even better. A library seems too big for a kid, this is where you can use this hack.
Plus, this hack is super easy. Simply screw a few Bekväm spice racks on to the wall where the kid can reach easily. Throw some cushions on the floor for a cozy feel and voila! A lovely reading nook is ready.
44. A Unique Lamp
Sometimes you do not need to do anything drastic to the furniture, but just change the ingredients a bit. A simple paint job or even an unconventional stand might do the trick. Just take a look at this IKEA lamp for instance.
Not only does it look super modern, but also took very little effort. All you need to do is paint your IKEA lamp with your favorite color. After which, fill it up with your choice of plants to make it look like a terrarium.
45. Open Shelving System
Nothing looks better than an organized open shelf. It not only suits the purpose but also can work as a nice display board. You can do a fun hack by using IKEA lid dividers and a few wood planks to create this shelving system.
This shelving system looks pretty modern and also is a nice shift from the usual boring open shelves. The lid dividers can even act as coat hangers or key hangers. A true multi-purpose shelving system, what more could you need?
