31 IKEA Hacks to Transform Your Home in 2024
IKEA is often the first name that comes to mind when someone is looking for budget-friendly furniture, and these IKEA hacks make simple furniture purchases into so much more. Do you know how to make IKEA furniture look more expensive? In most cases, one or two good IKEA hacks are the answer.
As a matter of fact, IKEA already knows this and has a blog devoted to it. What is IKEA's secret DIY website? Livet Hemma, or “Life at Home,” a blog full of hacks and DIY projects to give new life and purpose to IKEA’s mass-produced furniture.
We’ve taken some of these hacks, as well as some sourced from all over, to compile this helpful list of some of the best IKEA hacks of all time. Read on to learn our top IKEA hacks for KALLAX shelves, BILLY bookcases and more.
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Best IKEA Bedroom Hacks
1. Dreamy and Soft Quilted Drawers
This is an excellent IKEA hack for a child’s bedroom or for anyone who wants a soft and dreamy look for their bedroom furniture. You start this project with drawers, like the popular IKEA HEMNES drawers (or even the daybed).
You’ll also need rolls of foam, glue and spray paint. Remove the knobs from the drawers, cut and glue the foam rolls to fit neatly and spray paint the entire piece a solid color of your choice. Place the knobs back and enjoy your soft and unique storage space.
2. Classy Wallpapered Wardrobe
The standard IKEA PAX wardrobes are sleek and look good in most homes, but they’re not exactly interesting. If you want to jazz them up a bit to suit your style, you can use peel-and-stick wallpaper or contact paper.
Simply find paper that suits your aesthetic, remove the handles of the wardrobes, stick the paper and put the handles back. You’ll have a whole new wardrobe in under an hour.
3. Fancy Gilded Dresser
Not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes it’s just a gorgeous IKEA hack, and in our book, that’s close enough. Start with a dresser of your choice that has a base color you like.
You could paint the entire piece, but that makes this quick and easy hack less quick and easy. Swap out the handles or knobs with shiny brass options to elevate the look quickly.
Use some spray or liquid adhesive to affix shiny gold leaf to the top surface of the dresser and then seal it with clear spray acrylic to keep it locked in place.
4. Handy Storage Platform Bed
Do you feel like your bedroom doesn’t have enough storage? Try this handy IKEA hack. Choose a low chest of drawers (preferably one or two drawers high) and buy enough of them that they would be able to line the sides of your mattress (this will vary depending on the size of your mattress.)
Put sturdy bed slats across them the whole way so they create a platform with the drawers pointing out on each side. Place the mattress on top for a quick, easy and storage-friendly bed.
5. BILLY Bookcase Vanity
If you want somewhere nice and peaceful to do your makeup or hair, this DIY vanity IKEA hack might be for you. You’ll need two BILLY bookcases with doors, one countertop the width of the space you’d like for your vanity counter and optional shelves to go across the top.
A single-row KALLAX shelf is a good option if you want a wide vanity. Use the countertop and the KALLAX to connect the BILLY bookshelves. Use glass window film to cover the glass doors on the BILLY.
Place a light-up mirror on the wall behind the countertop and add your favorite stool. You now have ample space to store makeup and accessories in your own private vanity.
6. DIY Walk-In Closet
This is a great IKEA hack for anyone who has a spare room that’s too small for a bedroom but too large for a standard closet. Turn it into a large walk-in closet and dressing room.
Combine all elements of the IKEA PAX system and the BILLY bookcases. Use spray paint to match the colors of the shelves to your walls and place them all around.
Add decorative molding across the top to make everything look like one cohesive piece. You now have the perfect “built-in” for your dressing room.
7. DIY Floating Shelf
Looking for an easy and affordable floating corner shelf for small items? This DIY IKEA hack is genius and super easy. You’ll need two KNUFF magazine files.
Glue them together side-by-side with a heavy-duty adhesive before spray painting them a color of your choice. You can also add contact paper to the inside for a more finished look.
Turn the piece on its side so the openings of the files act like shelves. Mount this in an unused corner of your room for small and light items.
8. Gazebo Dressing Room
Perhaps you don’t have the spare space for a whole dressing room, but you have excess space in your bedroom and nowhere to store your clothes. This unexpected IKEA hack may work for you.
Install the GUNNÖN gazebo in your room (or any room with space.) Use string lights to make it look more elegant and then use three of the four sides to hang your clothing. This creates an awesome space to put your clothes on display and get ready for the day.
Best IKEA Kitchen Hacks
9. Faux Marble Countertops
You can do this IKEA hack with several different items, but for the purpose of this article, let’s focus on kitchen islands. Start with an island like the VADHOLMA.
If you want to upgrade it a bit without making any permanent or expensive changes, buy marble-patterned contact paper to fit over the counter’s surface. This gives a shockingly realistic effect as long as you take your time laying down the paper.
10. Sweet Pantry Storage
Is your kitchen too small? Do you lack storage? No worries, this IKEA hack can help. Start with the IKEA HEMNES cabinets. You can use as few as one or as many as your kitchen can fit.
Tape off the glass and remove the hardware from the drawers and cabinets so you can paint the cabinet to suit your kitchen. Replace the hardware and use glass film to cover the glass so you still have the appearance of a glass-door cabinet without the ability to see the pantry items within.
11. Remove Cabinet Doors
IKEA’s kitchen cabinets are handy, but plain. Currently, open kitchen shelving is having a moment. This quick and easy IKEA hack takes only a few minutes but it makes an impact.
Choose a few cabinets and remove their doors. If you want to spruce up the inside, use decorative contact paper to line the shelves.
12. Magnetic Kitchen
This IKEA hack is super simple. Start with your favorite IKEA shelves or cabinets. Buy some magnetic paint and paint all over your IKEA pieces.
You can now use them to hang up notes and grocery lists, stick cute magnets, and even hold lightweight magnetic spice racks. This is awesome for a small kitchen.
13. Rolling Coffee Cart
Use a movable kitchen island or bar cart as a handy coffee cart instead. It can start in the kitchen and follow you wherever you need it to go. Start with the BROR utility cart. Underneath the top level, add a few hooks for securing your favorite coffee mugs.
The large bottom shelf can be for large items like coffee makers and thermoses while the smaller shelf and countertop are perfect for all of your favorite coffee accouterments.
14. Rolling Herb Garden
Do you love using fresh herbs in your cooking? Are you looking for DIY gift ideas for a gardener in your life? Either way, this IKEA hack is for you. Take a low-profile rolling cart, like the NISSAFORS cart and line the bottom of each shelf with easy-to-clean peel-and-stick tiles. Tightly pack your fresh herb pots in the top and second level of the cart.
On the bottom level, store your watering can and any mini gardening tools you may need. The great thing about this is that it’s easy to wheel into a sunny spot at any time of day. According to the University of Michigan, fresh herbs have significant nutritional value, so it’s a great time to add them to your meals!
15. CD Rack Pantry Cabinet
If you want to make the most of your space, try this handy IKEA hack. It works perfectly for anyone with large gaps to fill, like on the sides of the refrigerator or pantry. Start with a GNEDBY shelf unit and cut it down if necessary to fit your space.
Add castors to the bottom so it’s able to roll, as well as a knob or handle to one side. Fill the shelves with small items like spices and dried herbs and slide the whole shelf somewhere it can fit. This allows you to pull the shelf out when you need it and use every last inch of space.
16. Mini Kitchen Island
Speaking of tiny and space-saving IKEA hacks, we’ve got the smallest and cutest kitchen island hack for you that’s perfect for a pint-sized kitchen. This is more like a tiny prep station, but it’s perfect for when you’ve run out of counter space.
You’ll need two LACK tables, castor wheels, liquid nails and contact paper (preferably marble, but it’s up to you.) You can also use spare wood for an extra shelf to complete the island. Use liquid nails to adhere the legs of one table to the top of the second table.
Use spare wood to connect the legs of the bottom table for an extra storage shelf if you like. Add the castors to the bottom of the bottom table and wrap the countertop with the contact paper. This is one of our favorite cheap and easy home décor gifts.
Best IKEA Storage Hacks
17. Clutter-Friendly Workspace
Desks never have enough storage unless you’re willing to spend big. Instead of blowing your budget on a mediocre desk, create your own high-storage workspace with two IKEA MALM drawers and one countertop (such as the LILLTRÄSK countertop) to connect them.
This will create a perfect little desk that’s easier to store and move if necessary and that has plenty of storage. This is a perfect IKEA hack for a small office or even a bedroom workspace.
18. Storage Seating With Shelves
This IKEA hack for KALLAX shelves is perfect for your living room, playroom or bedroom. The ever-popular KALLAX shelves can make an excellent seating area. Turn a single or double-row unit on its side as the seat and surround it by other units of your choice on either side.
On top of the turned KALLAX unit, you can add seat cushions to create a cute and cozy space. This is a perfect nook to read a book and it makes a sweet space to sit larger stuffed toys.
19. Small Entryway Storage
This is one of the greatest IKEA hacks of all time and you may have already heard of it. If not, it will be a lifesaver for anyone with a narrow entryway. Start with two HEMNES shoe cabinets (or more, if you have the space.)
Remove the countertops of both of them so you can place them close together so they look like one piece. Measure the tops together and add your own stained wood countertop for a more upscale look. You can also replace the knobs if you’re feeling fancy.
20. Cozy Cabinet Window Bench
Do you love the idea of having a window nook where you can sit and gaze outside with a cup of coffee and a good book? You can make your own with this IKEA hack. You’ll need the SEKTION over-fridge cabinets, but you won’t be putting them over your fridge.
You can use as many cabinets as you like, but we recommend at least two. Measure the length of the cabinets together and create a base platform for them to rest on. Nail or screw the cabinets on top and then place a countertop of your choice on top of them.
Add cushions for more comfort or use this as a shelf. Now you have a window bench with storage for all of your blankets, toys and DIY Christmas decorations.
21. Rustic Farmhouse Buffet
Do you want a storage-friendly buffet table or bar in your home? This creates a great space for entertaining and it’s easy to tuck everything away so it doesn’t look out of place.
Use IKEA kitchen cabinets and place them side-by-side until you have a buffet that’s long enough for your liking. Remove the hardware and attach stained wood boards to the front of each cabinet door horizontally. This totally transforms the cabinets and makes them look fresh and high-end.
22. Bookcase Turned Classy Cabinet
Take one of the BILLY bookcases (with doors, unless you feel like adding your own) and turn it into a classy and private cabinet. As is, the bookcase has either full glass or glass-top doors, depending on which version you choose.
For this IKEA hack, you’ll want to remove the glass and replace it with cane inserts. You can also take this opportunity to replace the knobs and handles with something that suits your home’s vibe.
23. BILLY Bookcase Built-Ins
Your home didn’t come with built-ins and you aren’t in a position to build them. Now what? Why not create the appearance of built-ins with this IKEA hack? You need several types of BILLY bookcases, preferably the same height and different widths so you can create visual interest.
Paint them to match your walls and line them up so they’re touching all the way across the wall to create an awesome faux built-in storage wall.
24. Kitchen Cabinet Foyer Storage
We’ve already mentioned a storage option for a tiny entryway, but what if you have plenty of space, but also plenty of clutter? This is a great IKEA hack for anyone who finds themselves tripping over shoes and coats.
Mount a variety of kitchen cabinets, both tall and short, to the walls. They’re low-profile and perfect for storing coats, hats, shoes and even mail. Paint them to match the foyer to make them look like built-ins.
25. Living Room Apothecary
Do you love the idea of a vintage apothecary cabinet? You can make your own with some mini MOPPE drawers, some table legs of your choice and some ingenuity. Nail or screw together two or more mini MOPPE drawers side-by-side. You can add the even smaller ones above that for more drawers.
Remove each drawer and turn it the other way around so the fronts are flat and add your own decorative drawer handles. Attach brass legs to the bottom for a vintage look. This makes one of the best DIY gifts for crafters because it’s the perfect spot to store small craft supplies and odds and ends.
Best IKEA Table Hacks
26. Kitchen Cabinet Console Table
Get creative with your IKEA hacks. If you need a thin console table that spans a long distance, but you also need ample storage, make your own console table out of kitchen cabinets.
You’ll need at least two cabinets, but you can use as many as you need to fill up space. Place them so they’re touching and put a wooden countertop across all of them to give the appearance of one long table.
27. Dining Table to Desk
The INGO dining table is perhaps too small to be a real dining table for more than two people, but it’s the perfect size to be a desk. What’s the easiest thing to build from IKEA? It might be this table and this IKEA hack is just as easy.
All it takes to turn this table into a large and classy desk is a paint job on the legs and underside (black looks great) and some marble contact paper on top. Affix some MOPPE drawers on top if you want more storage and paint them to match the legs.
28. Trendy Tile Table
The tile table was all over TikTok for a while and if you want to join in on the trend, you’re in luck. This is one of the quickest and easiest IKEA hacks you can do. All you need is a table of your choice (we recommend the LACK side table) and some peel-and-stick tile that’s meant for floors or backsplashes.
You can also use paint if you don’t like the base color of the table. Simply cut the peel-and-stick tile to fit the table top and carefully press it down. This is a unique and easy-to-clean upgrade to a boring table.
29. Unique Table Planter
Let's turn your boring table into a succulent planter. Again, we’ll be using the LACK table here. There are other options for this IKEA hack, but the LACK table will be the easiest to start with.
Measure out a space in the center of the table to remove for your new planter. Draw out the lines you’ll be cutting on and use a precision knife or small saw to cut through.
Underneath the table, add a thin piece of plywood that matches the color of the table and secure it with nails or screws. Use plastic to line the hole and fill it with your dirt and succulents. You now have a unique succulent table.
30. Low-Profile Coffee Table
What can IKEA do to improve? Well, they could expand their coffee tables to include more stylish options. Luckily, this IKEA hack removes the need for that. You’ll need eight (disassembled) LACK side tables.
Glue the tops of the tables together in two blocks of four with liquid nails. Then, glue one block on top of the other. Leave something heavy on top while this dries. Glue the legs together in blocks of four as well and place them horizontally under the new large tabletop you’ve created.
The tops and bottoms will be exposed, so you may want to paint them to make the table more cohesive.
31. Pet Bed End Table
Do you have a furry friend? Make a cozy place for them that hides perfectly in your home with this IKEA hack. Start with the BESTÅ frame. Add a tension rod to the top and put a curtain on the rod for your pet’s privacy. You can also add a countertop for a better look.
On the inside, you can place a pet bed, a small crate or even an easily hideable litter box. Use the curtain to hide your pet’s items when you don’t want them on display. This makes a perfect living room side-table.
So which of these IKEA hacks are you going to try first? You can upgrade your entire home on a small budget with a bit of ingenuity and creativity. These hacks turn budget furniture into unique pieces.
For even more fun decoration ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
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