IKEA is the place anyone can find anything they are looking for to make their house just that little bit more practical and filled. Some people like to take things just a little further though and make use of IKEA products, and then add their own unique twist to it to make it just that little bit better. From things that make life more comfortable for your pets to creating something completely different just with a little bit of paint, they’ve done it all. Take a look at these 35 IKEA hacks, maybe they’ll spark an idea for your home.
Besta Bookshelves
When you have limited space in your house you need to think out of the box and get creative with ways to store things without taking up much-needed space. This clever and creative guy built a sliding bookcase by using three Besta bookshelves from IKEA and then just screwed six casters to a big bottom plate for the shelves to roll on and it works just perfectly for the space.
Best of all, he can still access his storage room behind the shelves. So it basically slides and hides a secret room and can be used as a great party trick when guests come over.
IKEA Bins
There is nothing worse than trying to open a bin when your hands are filled with vegetable skins or a pile of rubbish you need to throw away. But when there is a problem, there should always be some sort of a solution, and this person found one. By using some IKEA bins attached to a cupboard door with a pulley system for the lids as well, they’ll open automatically when the door is opened.
It is a brilliant way to save space and to make life a bit easier too. We are sure that many people will steal this idea for their kitchen too.
Disco Lamp
Disco balls can get really pricey when buying them, but if you are creative enough, you could just make one with a product from IKEA. This guy bought a PS lamp from IKEA and added some mirror coverings to it, closed it up and he had the perfect makeshift disco ball that he could use for any house party. Because it already has a bulb fitting on the inside, it's a relatively simple hack.
This idea has spun a lot of thought for other people to turn their kid's round lamp shades into something a little more fun, so every day can feel like a party day.
Fintorps
If you have ever wanted the look a lot of restaurants have where they have plants hanging off their ceilings, you can with a little hack from this IKEA product. Fintorps systems are usually used in kitchens on the walls to hang and organize cups or towels, but it is also the perfect product to use on your ceiling to hang plants off or anything else for that matter too.
This is a really creative idea, with just one concern, how would you water your plants when they are all the way up there? Might need an IKEA step ladder with this one too.
Hemnes Dresser
The best thing about IKEA products is that if built correctly and well looked after they could last you quite some time. But as many people do, they want to change it to something different and if it is not broken, why replace it? This person had an old IKEA Hemnes dresser and all he did was give it a fresh coat of paint in a new and improved color.
The fresh look suited the dresser so much more than just plain white. Now they can match it with the rest of the room's decor. A little bit of paint can go a long way.
RUDSTA Cabinets
Greenhouses do not always have to be outside and also do not need to cost you tons of cash, especially when you have a hint of creativity in you and many options at IKEA to run with them. IKEA stocks these really simple RUDSTA glass door cabinets and by adding in some bright lighting and a few of their house plants, this person created the coolest indoor greenhouse for their plants.
This hack also keeps your plants safe from bugs and diseases and it just looks really cool, especially inside. Because of this hack, there are now tons of people with indoor greenhouses.
Eket and Alex Cabinets
When the lockdown initially hit, almost everyone had to work from home even if they did not have a workspace. So that triggered many people to have to come up with plans to have nice workspaces at home, and what better way to do that than with IKEA products? This amazing home office space was created just by using tEket and Alex Cabinets from IKEA and it just works perfectly.
There are so many different options at IKEA that anyone could make any space in their house an office space to work from. And the more creative you are, the better the outcome would be.
Creative Foldable Table
Most IKEA products come in a standard white color, which means that you can easily modify the product to any color that would suit your house. This foldable table would not have blended in with the rest of the kitchen if it was white, but by staining it the same color as the kitchen cupboards and adding the same wallpaper to the back, it looks like it was meant to be there.
Such a simple yet creative change can go a long way and it is an easy enough idea that anyone could do with their home furniture or items as well.
Kitchen Makeover
You can not help but love a good kitchen makeover and luckily with IKEA you can do it without breaking the bank, and you will have so many options available to you. This kitchen makeover done with custom IKEA cabinets was more than just a painting job, the whole cabinet section was redone and upgraded. They covered everything from the ceiling down and the downlights just make it all that much better.
We’re sure the light fittings and rest of the furniture were also all IKEA because if you are going to IKEA for one purpose, we all know you’re leaving there with more than you planned.
Open Space Wall
Some houses have weirdly shaped sections in them which often get left just as is because it is far too complicated to try and make something work with their odd shapes. Although this hack was not an easy one, it was well worth the work. They used Grimslov Sektion cabinets with a Saljan countertop and a Billy bookcase, all from IKEA, to create this amazing feature in the open space of the wall.
Such simple products used in the right way with lots of time and patience will give you something that looks this good and creative. Not a bad idea to steal for your random spaces.
Perfect Spot
When you let your dogs sleep on your bed, but they're too chunky to jump on, you would most likely get them a pet step to make things easier for them, but if your bed isn’t a normal sort of height, you need to come up with another idea. These people used an IKEA Hemnes shelf as a pet step and with some upholstery work, they did on the top.
They did such a good job of it that the dog seems to prefer napping on their now rather than the bed. The IKEA Hemnes shelves are perfect for more than just shelving.
Idea Hobby Space
Having enough space for your hobbies can sometimes be a challenge and it is not always practical to have that space in your garage. So if you want to create a small hobby space you can just do what this woman did and remove the track closets drawer from your spare bedroom and use IKEA shelving, desk, and draws to create an ideal space that can be hidden when needed.
This idea will spark many more ideas for people and their hobbies and the best part is it would work for a few different hobbies and not just for arts and crafts.
IKEA Billy Bookcase
This hack has been done many times and will continue to be done by more people in the time to come, and it is because it is such an easy and clever idea that just works. This IKEA Billy bookcase just needs to be out into the wall and you can make it even better like this one where you just add in a railing and sliding ladder to give it that library bookshelf look.
The bookshelves at IKEA are also so multifunctional that you do not have to fill them just books, you can add in vases, photos, ornaments, little souvenirs, and obviously some books if you must.
Super Organized
Your tools do not need to be outside in the shed or in the garage, you can have them in an open cupboard in your house if you just put your mind to it, with the help of IKEA of course. This person filled their single pax wardrobe with 42 Trofast units and each one of them hold different types of tools and their accessories and even labeled them for ease of use.
This can be used for so many different things, like kitchen accessories and utensils, arts and crafts for the kids, or even for holding underwear and some clothing accessories. The options are endless.
Mirror Wall
A mirror wall is such an amazing feature to have in your house as it opens up the space and adds something different to your house. The thing with mirror walls is that they can be quite expensive because you need to use big pieces of mirrored glass. But, IKEA has a cheaper option. A big piece of wood painted black with a handful of mirror tiles lined up perfectly makes the perfect mirror wall.
The nice thing with this idea is that anyone can make it as big or small as they like and you can match the size and shape of the wood to work perfectly for your house.
IKEA Shopping Bags
IKEA shopping bags are probably some of the biggest shopping bags you will ever come across. Some people land up using them to keep the kid's toys stored or to keep their snowboarding pants and jackets in. But this guy had other ideas and we love it. He made himself a really decent backpack out of those famous Frakta bags and the best part is that it's tough and waterproof.
It looks like it would take quite a while to put this together, but once done, you have got yourself a big backpack for much less than a real and proper one would cost.
IKEA Boxes
One thing with IKEA products is that they all come in boxes with all the little pieces in to be put together. And the boxes usually can’t be used again because of their shallow rectangular shape. But if you are a cool dad like this dad then you can use the boxes to make your kid a little kitchen to play with, with a window, stove, oven, sink, and all.
With a few other small IKEA products, it can look like it would function like a normal kitchen too. And you can’t forget to use their logo to brand the kitchen setup as well.
Classy
Here is another Billy bookcase from IKEA that has been used in a slightly different way. To get that built-in shelf look they have put the shelves on the wall and covered the openings up with some plywood, all painted white. For an added extra bit of decor and creativity, they also put wall lights above each shelf section to light up the books when it is a bit darker.
This idea can also work in a few other ways because you can paint the shelving any color you would like and you can add downlights on the inside of each section as well.
Fjallbo Shelf
Inside bar areas and gin trolleys are becoming a new trend that everyone would love in their house, the thing with those though is that they too are expensive. This bar hack works really well and anyone could do this in their home. This bar space is created with an IKEA Fjallbo shelf with the black meshed from just cut in half to only cover the bottom part of the shelf.
These shelves have enough space for all your drinks, all the different glasses you will need, some bar accessories and mixes, and enough space to mix, blend and serve too.
Kullen Nintendo Dresser
It is easy to get creative when it comes to kids' bedrooms because the options you have are endless and you can mix and match so many different colors as well. This mom took her son's Kullen dresser drawers and painted over them to make them look like a Nintendo NES for her son. It was such a clever idea because parents can change their kid's dressers into any kind of gaming controller.
We are sure that this child was so happy with his dresser and he even got given a lamp that looks like a block out of Super Mario, which ties the whole gaming look together.
Besta Cabinet
Cat litterboxes can make quite a mess and make a room smell badly so coming up with a hack for that problem is genius and so many people would be happy to make use of the idea too. This person upgraded their cat little box area by adding it into an IKEA Besta cabinet and cutting open a small cat door for it to go in and out of easily.
This cat even has a nice carpet to walk on before jumping into its litter box to do its business. This idea keeps things clean and fresh and gives the cat some privacy.
Bag Hack Level Pro
Here is a whole nother level of IKEA bag hacking. This guy was creative enough to turn their giant bags into a funky IKEA tracksuit. There was enough bag material that they were able to add pockets in the pants and in the front of the jacket and he even got a hood too. This tracksuit will last a while and it is also fully waterproof which you don’t often find in full tracksuits.
If this is what you can do with IKEA bags then the options are endless. If you can think of it it can probably be made with an IKEA bag.
Ivar TV Cabinet
IKEA has the best items for small home hacks and with some small adjustments, you could modify their things to be more functional for yourself. This Ivar TV cabinet was slightly modified to be a pull and pop-out workspace. So when it is closed you will not even know that there is something more hidden in there and as soon as you open it you can get some work done.
This simple hack also has endless options of things that you can hide inside that cabinet. It may even work well as a hidden bar or hidden Hi-Fi stereo space.
Perfect Stand
If you do not have a headphone stand for your headphones then just know this hack is about to change your life. You can buy a $5 toilet roll holder and use it to hang your headphones on to keep them safe and secure. The cool thing with this is that you can place this holder anywhere in any position and it will still hold your headphones securely in place.
A toilet roll holder can also be used for other things like kitchen tongs, utensils that join together, and kitchen and bathroom towels, and it's much more secure and sturdy than normal hooks.
Ekby Hall Wall Brackets
Sometimes we see hacks and think how did we not think of something like this earlier because it is right in front of our eyes, this hack is one of those. This person simply put their Ekby Hall wall brackets upside down with the shelf part sitting underneath, and this way the brackets will also act as bookends so your books do not fall off the edges of the shelf.
By just turning your shelving around with the brackets on top it is a simple way to kill two birds with one stone by using just one product from IKEA.
Starry Night
When you buy plain furniture from IKEA it gives you the freedom to add to it as you please. These plain wooden drawers looked very boring and simple so this person just decoupaged some prints of the Starry Night to the drawers. To make it look like it was painted, they layered metallic paint and medium over it and then stained the rest of the drawer with some watered-down blue paint.
To keep it safe and long-lasting they also sealed the drawers fully. This is also an easy hack anyone could do with their drawers with something as simple as prints.
Boho-Styled Light
The person who thought up this idea was really proud of themselves for coming up with this idea. They bought a lamp from IKEA and when they got home it was far too bright for their eyes to handle so she had to make a new plan instead of taking the lamp back. They bought a $5 basket from IKEA where the lamp would fit in and it became a really nice boho-styled light.
This is also a really easy way to add something more creative to your house, no matter what the map looks like, if it is hidden in something, you won’t even see it.
Small Spaces
This is another IKEA item hack that would work perfectly in a small space. They added some wooden holders in line with either side of the window frame and placed a wooden foldable tray in them. Because there are a few wooden sticks in the holders, it makes the wooden tray adjustable while still acting as a desk space. This can also be used as a space to eat or a place to keep plants.
People can be so creative and innovative if they just put their mind to it and when they do, this is the outcome you can have. And now others can steal this idea.
If It Fits I Sits
Pet shops can put quite a markup on their items just because people will be willing to spend more for their furry friends. But if you think out of the box you can just spend less by buying a Buktig doll bed which is used for kids and their dolls, and just make some covers for the cushions and you have a really innovative cat bed, which as you can see, the cat will love.
The nice thing about this bed is that it is also open underneath the bed and anyone who has cats knows how much they love confined spaces to lie in.
Best Workspace
We have seen something similar to this previously, but this one is done completely differently. This woman changed her guest room cupboard into a crafting space, but she removed the full cupboard door and just added a desk with drawers with some shelving on the sides to store all her crafting boxes and items. She also had enough space for her computer so it works as a workspace as well.
If you don't make use of a cupboard then this is a great transformation to try to do. Make it a crafting space or office space, either way, it will work well.
Duvet Cover
This IKEA hack is something completely different from what we have seen, but it sparks ideas for everyone who needs to try something different. This regency dress was made from an IKEA duvet cover because the print matched the 1800s perfectly and is made from 100% cotton. A duvet cover has quite a bit of material on it as well, so you wouldn’t need too many covers to make a dress.
If we think back to Mary Poppins and how she used curtains to make clothes, we would laugh. But she really did have an idea going and IKEA has the right things for it.
Desk Drawer
If you have a cat, you know how much they love being on and around you and your desk or computer while you are busy working or playing games. So to solve the issue, steal this idea from this guy and his cat. He bought an IKEA desk drawer and used the top one as a bed for his cat by just adding in a soft fluffy piece of material.
This way his cat can be near enough to get attention but not so near that it is messing with your game by walking and lying all over your keyboard and desk.
Clever Idea
People can just be far too creative, but we’re not complaining about it, we are all here for it. This lady figured out that if you cut a keyhole shape into a side table you have a nice and easy way of putting an indoor plant or tree through it, while still having enough space on the table to put things down on it. It is such a clever idea.
It is also something to keep in mind for small spaces and to just keep things neat and together. The table almost looks like the tree's pot too so it blends in well.
Kvistbro Side Tables
IKEA has these really nice Kvistbro side tables that look really nice. But if you have some pets and need some space for them to lay around in, you can just cut open a small piece of the bottom of this table and put in a fluffy cushion and you have a really creative and innovative pet bed that does not take up any more space than the table does.
These tables also come in different sizes so the bigger or smaller your pet is you can buy the one that would work best for them. Your pets will be happy and so will you.
Library Wall
We could only dream about having a full wall-to-ceiling library room, but to have that built-in could cost quite a bit and would probably not look as great if you just did it yourself. Luckily, IKEA has enough shelving options that this person was able to build their own fall-to-ceiling library wall in a room by just matching up the shelving like puzzle pieces until it looked complete, just like this.
All they need to do is complete the look with some nice new flooring and maybe one or two more reading chairs, which they could also just get from IKEA.