IKEA is probably the most recognized furniture brand in the world. It has become a staple during this period of life as it makes affordable furniture and home furnishing choices that are especially favored by those just starting out on their own. Its products also provide the opportunity to be creative.
You can buy unfinished furniture, or even mix and match parts to create unique, customized pieces. In fact, IKEA is so popular that an entire industry has developed around DIY hacks of its products in an effort to help people give a fresh spin to their interiors. Here are some of them!
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Turn IKEA Frosta Stools Into A Large And Creative Cat Tree Along The Walls
Luke Arthur Wells, an interior stylist and blogger in the UK, thinks IKEA is still unmatched in not only producing quality products at an affordable price but also products that have a design point of view that feels authentic. "I love that they are passionate about sustainability, have a strong ethos as a company, and innovate to work with new techniques, materials, and designers to make sure their designs are leading the pack," Luke told Bored Panda.
Kimberly Duran, the creator of Swoon Worthy, a blog that covers everything from accessible design ideas and DIYs to styling tips, splurges and the latest trends, has visited IKEA's headquarters in Sweden. "Not only are they committed to reducing their eco-footprint and supporting so many different initiatives but because they are able to produce such huge volumes of their products for a global market, they are able to manufacture good quality pieces that are also affordable for a lot of people," Duran said.
"And I think this is really one of the main reasons people love it — good quality, good prices," Duran continued. "They also do an incredible amount of research in terms of what people's needs are, from multiple generations living under one roof and small space living to creating multifunctional furniture and pieces that can be customized. So it's not just trendy attractive furniture and accessories, it actually meets people's needs for the way we live today."
Creating A "Fairy Princess Castle Bed" From An IKEA Kura
it's been integrated into the dreamscape. Isn't it beautiful?
Load More Replies..."Err, thanks dad, but it's 2020 and I'm into Wonder Woman. Can you change this into an invisible airplane?"
Having said that, Wells said the problem with a globally beloved brand is that everyone recognizes their products. "In the modern world, especially with everyone sharing their homes on social media, you want to try and create a unique style which can be hard when IKEA is hardly a well-kept secret."
And he definitely has a point. With 433 stores in 53 countries and 2019 global retail sales of about $48.5 billion, almost everyone has an IKEA story.
However, according to Wells, the streamlined nature of IKEA designs makes it ripe for customizing to add more detail. "Also, when furniture comes flatpack, you feel a bit more connected to how it's constructed, which allows for a bit more confidence in disrupting that, taking pieces apart and putting them back together again," he explained.
IKEA Hacck
Stacey Sheppard, the editor of The Design Sheppard, is also a fan of IKEA. In fact, she has been since her university days. "My first few homes were largely kitted out with IKEA pieces and it is still one of my favorite places to shop for everyday items," Stacey said.
She pointed out the fact that many IKEA furniture pieces come with a natural finish which makes them easy to paint. "The way they are constructed makes each item easy to take to pieces and reconstruct. Plus, there is an increasing number of companies out there that make hacking IKEA pieces a lot easier by offering bespoke or custom-made additions like handles, legs, sofa covers or cupboard doors. This allows you to create a unique piece that looks much higher-end than it actually is."
A Hack For Pet Owners. I Took The Duktig Doll Bed And Converted Into A Cat Bunk Bed
Customers know what they're going to get when they shop at IKEA and also whether they're going to be able to afford it. Interestingly, price is so important to the company's strategy that it first decides on the price of a piece of furniture and then reverse engineers the construction.
IKEA has a democratic design approach according to Antonella Pucarelli, the chief commercial officer of IKEA retail U.S., which means that it "deliver[s] form, function and quality products at a low price. Even though our products are affordable, we don't compromise on quality," she said.
IKEA makes some of its furniture from wood and some from particleboard (recycled wood chips fused together), keeping production more affordable. IKEA sells and ships its furniture in flat-packs, which makes transporting it cheaper, and customers put it together themselves (or pay for someone to do it for them), keeping labor costs down.
My IKEA Hemnes Dresser Hack! Sanding The Top Down Was A Pain, But Turned Out Lovely :-)
I Made This From IKEA Products (Except For The Paint And Black Light). It’s A Shelf To Hold My Partner’s Tiny Nintendo Toys. I Put It In A Ribba 19”x 19” Frame. I Had To Buy Two Of The Lustigt Shelves To Have Enough Ladders.
For Our Narrow Entryway, We Combined Two IKEA Hemnes Shoe Cabinets And Replaced The Original Tops With A Stained Wood Top. I Am So Happy With How This Hack Turned Out!
Kallax Puppy-Proof Cat Feeding Station Station; Food And Treat Storage Above.
IKEA Kallax Art Deco Console Hack
Transformed My IKEA Lack Table
IKEA Kallax Window Seat Hack
Beautiful Hall Of Bookcases From IKEA Hack - France [425 X 639]
My First IKEA Hack, Made From The Legendary Bekvam Spice Racks & A Couple Of Magnets :-)
I painted mine in bright colours and created book holders for my son. Put a chair underneath and he has a reading corner
Fritids , Hidden Cat Litter Box / Bench
Clever. The cat flap allows the cat to use it when the drawer is closed and it it easy to clean afterward.
I Used A Cnc Cutter To Engrave Tattoo Designs Into The Doors Of My IKEA Kallax.
IKEA Hack
IKEA Card File Drawers Hack
Add Black Marble Contact Paper And Gold Paint To The Vittsjö Coffee Table.
I Gave My Malm Bed A Country Style Makeover. Let Me Know What You Think ...
Used Karlby Countertops As Laundry Room Counter! Butt Joint The Counter Top To The Legs! Voxtorp Cupboards On The Top! Thoughts!
IKEA Kallax Mid Century Modern Sideboard Hack
Doesn’t ikea even just flat out sell things like the “hacked” version?
Two Hejne Shelves By IKEA Turned Into An Outside Walking Space For Your Cat
If these things get wet under load they bend incredibly... Source: my flooding garage.
DIY -IKEA Moppe Cabinet Hack
Turned A Vittsjo Laptop Desk Into A Home Bar
Finished Our 98" Karlby Counter Top Desk! Pretty Happy With The Results.
Homebar Made With Two Fjallbo Cabinets
Would You Have Guessed That This Gorgeous Cabinet Started Life As An Ivar Cupboard? No, Me Neither! It Makes Me Want To Cut Gorgeous Curves Into All Of My Furniture!
Plastic Docksta Table Glow-Up. The Marble Table I Wanted From World Market Was $550 - So I Turned This $180 Table From IKEA Into The Table Of My Dreams With Spray Paint, Table Epoxy, And A Blow Torch 🔥 #diywin #ikeahacks
Mid Century Modern IKEA Hack Sideboard
Malm - Baby Changing Table
*first Post* I Saw This Idea Multiple Times And Finally Got To Realize It: This Is „besta“. I Hacked It By Adding A Solid Oiled Oak Top And 35cm High Hairpin Legs. Thanks For Inspiring Me!
Used 2 Besta TV Cabinets To Build My Wardrobe
Bar And Bench Hack
Turn Taulov Or Sortsö Rugs Into Fringed Bench Pillows.
Lively Dresser
Play Kitchen
An Amazing IKEA Lamp
Bedside Table
Kitchen Island
Combined The Ivar Cabinet And The Applaro Wall Panel With Shelves To Make My New Bar Cabinet!
A Cat Walk Made Of IKEA Ledges And Some Crates Will Make Your Kitties Amused
Hamper Into Side Table
IKEA Hack
IKEA Hack
Again, not a hack because IKEA advertises an identical combo in their catalogue.
Entryway Organization
Stylish Open Shelf
Isn’t This Billy Hack Stunning? Who Knew That You Could Transform A Simple Bookcase Into Something So Stylish And Elegant! The Cane Webbing Adds A Lightness To The Large Piece Of Furniture And The Colour Combinations Are Gorgeous, Too!
IKEA Billy Bookcase "Built-In" Hack
I Am In Love With My DIY IKEA Hack Breakfast Nook. It Is The Coziest Spot In The House For A Cup Of Coffee. South Of Boston, Massachusetts.
Elevate The Alseda Stool From Floor Pad To Coffee Table.
IKEA Tarva Rattan Hack
i k e a t a r v a h a c as promised i thought i’d share the @ikeauk tarva rattan hack (but can be done with any simple pine chest of drawers too ( just measure how much cane and wood strips you need if not doing it on the tarva)you’ll need the following;• cane webbing 2ft x 32” (i ordered mine in the traditional open weave from somerset willow growers their customer service is amazing!)• pine wooden strips i got 4 x 2400mm x 25mm from @bandq_uk• staple gun• black paint or another colour i used @bandq_uk liberty in black matt• no more nails adhesive• @ronseal.uk wood filler in natural• a saw• mitre box• pencil• scissors• tape measure• sandpaper• clamps (at least 6 if possible)step 1: assemble unit as per manufacturers instructions but don’t attach the front part of the drawers.2: measure the sides of the drawer panel and cut your pine wood strips using the mitre box checking they align as you go. make sure you purchase all the correct sizes unlike me ( i started cutting from one that was smaller that i picked up by mistake!)sand all the edges and make sure they’re straight3: soak your rattan in warm water for 30 minutes (i put it in the bath) then sandwich it between towels and put heavy books on it to help keep it flat. this step is important because the rattan needs to be damp to be easier to work with if it dries out you can soak it again.4: i used my strips of wood to mark with a pencil where they would be i then stapled the rattan ensuring the staples would be covered by the pine strips. once you’ve done this on all 4 sides cut away the excess.5: apply no more nails around the perimeter of the drawer panel secure with clamps, i then used the glue to go around the edges in the same way you would use caulk. i stacked my entire cookbook collection on the panels to ensure there was plenty of pressure!6: leave these to dry for at least 6 hours or overnight you can also use this time to paint the unit and the knobs if you were planning to.7: use wood filler to fill where the mitred joins meet.8: attach the panels back on the drawers and fix knobs and you’re done!
Kalax + Wooden Foot And Top Make For A Sweet Coffee Spot !
Built In And Painted Pax Wardrobes
Give The Arkelstorp Console Table A Bleached Wood Look.
IKEA Malm Headboard Hack
I Call It The "Kallax Countertop" (IKEA Kallax Hack)
IKEA Valje Shelf Unit. Simple But Classic IKEA Hack
Never heard of that, we've had woodblocks laying on the floor besides the fireplace. And what about those rotan hampers for wood...? Maybe you were just unlucky..
DIY Walk-In Closets
Craft Room Desk
Chic Vanity
IKEA Hack
A Comfy Hol Table With A Kitty Loo Inside And A Kitty Bed On Top Is Stylish Idea
Kallax Shelf Turned Into A Bench With Storage
Tarva Dresser Hack! Inspired By A West Elm Dresser That Retailed For $800
It would elevate it more if all the hardware matched - other than that it looks great!
Created An Ultra Wide Desk For A His-And-Hers Computer Setup.
Be A Dream Maker To Your Kids With A Kura Bed Makeover.
Your Own Craft Area
Patterned Perch
IKEA Hack Craft Room Table
DIY IKEA Hack - Copper End Table
IKEA Kallax Hack: How To Turn Shelving Units Into A Stylish Bench
Langer Table Hack
$25 IKEA Kallax Conversion
Put Some Modern Glam Into The Duktig Play Kitchen With Marble And Brass Accents.
Build A "Roof" On The Ivar Shelving Unit.
Floating Basket Planters
Black Mirror IKEA Chic
Simple IKEA Hack For Chic Shelving
IKEA Kallax Cactus Shelving Hack
IKEA Kallax Rustic Tall Unit Hack
Bar Table Hack
.... I've noticed quite a few bars. Is this before or after lockdown?
IKEA Hack
Gulliver Changing Table In White And Matilda Sheer Curtains Turned Into A Dog Crate
IKEA Malm 2 Drawer Chest Turned Into A Comfy Dog House For A Small Pet
IKEA Hack
DIY/IKEA Hack. We Call It The Catelyn Stark Book Case.
Kallax Inserts Dresser Transformation!
Make A Handy Farmhouse Kitchen Workstation From The Bror Work Bench.
Style The Skogsta Bench With Paint And Rope.
Put The Ivar Panel At The Head Of Your Bed With A Cane Accent.
Long Storage Unit
Wall Hooks For Shoes
DIY Cabinets
Dowel Door Front IKEA Ivar Cabinet
Chic Ivar IKEA Hack
Even Tinier Makeup Vanity
We Couldn’t Share A List Of Our Favourite IKEA Hacks With Cane Webbing Without Including Our Hemnes Dresser, Could We? It’s A Fairly Large Piece Of Furniture But It Doesn’t Feel Chunky At All And The Cane Webbing Adds A Lovely Lightness To It. I Honestly Don’t Know How We Managed Without It As It’s Already Completely Stuffed Full Of Clothes!
Statement Chandelier
Charging Station
Fur-Topped Stool
IKEA Kallax Vinyl Record Doors Hack
Painted Ivar
My IKEA Hack - Kallax Media Cabinet
Makeover The Mackapär Shoe Cabinet Into A Gorgeous Bedroom Dresser Using Wood Dowels.
Convert IKEA 365+ Glass Containers With Scandi-Inspired Designs.
Turn The Bullig Storage Box Into A Cute Book Bin For Kids.
It’s No Big Secret That I Love To Hide Everything I Possibly Can And If You’re Searching For Some Stylish Living Room Storage Look No Further Than This Besta Hack! The Cane Webbing Gives The Otherwise Plain Besta Fronts Some Lovely Texture And Interest That Would Look Great In Any Living Room!
Rolling Kitchen Storage
IKEA Kallax Wine Rack Hack
IKEA Hol Hack To Hide A Small Litter Box And A Plant Stand In One
My New, IKEA-Hacked Bar Cabinet
Using IKEA Crates As Shelves
I did this back in the '70s in my first apartment, altho I used old wooden produce boxes that were free from the grocery store. Typical 'college kid' furniture back then! :)
I Saw This Concept On The Web, And Had To Build Myself One. I Used A Poplar Butcher Block For The Top, And Set It Up A Little Different Than The Original.
Change The Raskog Cart Into A Swanky Outdoor Drinks Station.
Marry The Mosslanda Picture Ledge With Kampig Wall Hooks To Create A Gorgeous Wall Organizer.
Shelves For Books
IKEA Cart For Your Desk Setup
IKEA Kallax Ornate Dresser Hack
IKEA Kallax Double Height Shelving Hack
How did they secure the one in top? I would be afraid of it falling down.
Marbled Makeup Chest Of Drawers
Upgrade Your Shoe Cabinet
Coat Storage Trellis
Brush Holders
$50 Seemed Like Too Much To Spend On 6 Pieces Of Wood Tacked Together (Vilto), So I Made My Own For $14! Also, A Cameo By The Billy Bookcase I Decoupaged With Book Pages.
Freshen Up The Vittsjö Shelf Using Chalk Spray Paint.
Help The Havsta Console Table Look Design-Worthy Using Cane.
Bring A Fresh New Feeling To The Nesna Table With Cane.
Custom Sideboard – An IKEA Hack
If You’re Thinking Of Upgrading Your Bedroom Storage Take A Look At This Fab Platsa Wardrobe Hack With Cane Webbing. Adding The Cane Webbing Makes This Wardrobe Look Really High Quality And Super Stylish. And If You Love This Wardrobe Hack, You’ll Love
Library-Chic Storage
Glamorous Perch
IKEA Kallax Media Unit Hack
My First IKEA Hack, Made From The Legendary Bekvam Spice Racks & A Couple Of Magnets :-)
Add Organic Sophistication To The Ypperlig Stool Using Macramé Cord.
Designed Shelving Unit
Boho-Style IKEA Bedside Table
What does 'hack' mean in modern English? Because, while many of those diy are nice, I wouldn't call them hack.
only the first one (stools into cat tree) was a hack; the rest were just applying fancier finishes to the products or turning them sideways
Load More Replies...I want an Ikea darn it, Ikea please give us a shop. From nz south island (the often forgotten island lol)
I like them, but some of them were more spacious and beautiful before they were hacked.
Yes, an inset picture from the catalog of the original product would be helpful. Not all of us know Ikea products by name.
Load More Replies...Even though they look impressive, vast majority of these aren't hacks but crafts. 'Hack' means that you use an object commonly found in most households (or easily affordable) to somehow make your everyday life easier.
Ummm.... I just don't buy IKEA. I go second-hand, and if it's a "hack" to refinish furniture, we been hacking for centuries!
You know, it would help if these had (more) pictures of what the actual product looks like... Not all of us are familiar with Ikea's Greatest Hits. XD
What does 'hack' mean in modern English? Because, while many of those diy are nice, I wouldn't call them hack.
only the first one (stools into cat tree) was a hack; the rest were just applying fancier finishes to the products or turning them sideways
Load More Replies...I want an Ikea darn it, Ikea please give us a shop. From nz south island (the often forgotten island lol)
I like them, but some of them were more spacious and beautiful before they were hacked.
Yes, an inset picture from the catalog of the original product would be helpful. Not all of us know Ikea products by name.
Load More Replies...Even though they look impressive, vast majority of these aren't hacks but crafts. 'Hack' means that you use an object commonly found in most households (or easily affordable) to somehow make your everyday life easier.
Ummm.... I just don't buy IKEA. I go second-hand, and if it's a "hack" to refinish furniture, we been hacking for centuries!
You know, it would help if these had (more) pictures of what the actual product looks like... Not all of us are familiar with Ikea's Greatest Hits. XD