8 Innovative IKEA Hacks to Try

Who doesn't love some good IKEA hacks? We've rounded up several simple ones to give you some inspiration for your space.

Furnishing your home can get expensive. Fortunately, there are several ways to bring the price down. You can thrift furniture, look for deals on online marketplaces, or join your local Buy Nothing group. If you’re willing to put a little extra work into your space, you can even spruce up cheaper furniture options to make them look fancy and suit your taste. We found several examples of clever IKEA hacks to get you started.

With a little confidence, you can take on any of these, or even go on to plan out your own hacks. You can start as simple as you want, and slowly work your way up to the more ambitious hacks. Remember, even swapping out the drawer pulls and putting on a new coat of paint can spruce up an otherwise basic piece furniture. As you find your rhythm, you can start to consider more and more touches.

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Four butcher blocks arranged together against a wall
via stroemann.wordpress.com

IKEA Sideboard Hack

DIYer Janina used the IKEA Hyllis shelf unit to create a sideboard for her living room. Her final product is a testament to the versatility of these IKEA hacks. With a little creativity, you really can create anything.
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Long office desk with white shelves in the middle beneath
via keepsonringing.wordpress.com

IKEA Office Desk Hack

When it was time for an office makeover, the blogger at Keeps On Ringing purchased an IKEA butcher block tabletop, steel legs and file cabinets. They used these to create a one-of-a-kind work space. If you’re looking to replicate their success, just hang some artwork and you’ll have a space you’ll look forward to working in.
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Floating shelves with books and other knick knacks on them
via thehouseonstanford.wordpress.com

IKEA Shelf Hack

For a custom floating shelf look, one DIYer from  The House on Stanford took IKEA Lack shelves and hung them on the wall. For a little extra support and a unique look, she added L-brackets. This is a happy medium if you want custom shelving but don’t feel confident building your own.
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Activity table
via thecrazycraftlady.com

Activity Table IKEA Hacks

When blogger Aimee, aka The Crazy Craft Lady, needed a storage solution for her child’s toys, she turned to IKEA. She took the Trofast frame and Trofast storage boxes, along with the IKEA Linnmon table top and created this activity table complete with a storage area.
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Green couch with cat and side table
via rootsimple.com

IKEA Couch Hack

When the writer at Root Simple felt his IKEA Karlstad couch needed some repair, he made some new arms for the couch that were not only sturdy, but cat-friendly. It’s a clever way to create furniture that can stand up to the wear and tear of your furry friends.
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IKEA Cabinet Hacks

You can use IKEA cabinets, such as the Besta, to create a media center. This hack is one of the most versatile options out there. No matter what kind of storage you need to incorporate, you’re sure to find some shelving units that are a good base. From there, just plan out the layout and the finishing touches.
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Two dollhouses made out of bookshelves
via tamaracentral.wordpress.com

IKEA Dollhouse Hack

One DIYer took the IKEA Billy bookcase, along with some screws, glue, paint and beadboard, and transformed it into a dream dollhouse. A project like this takes some planning and confidence, but it’s a memorable gift for the doll enthusiast in your life.
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Bed with striped headboard and pink pillowcases
via prettyprovidence.com

IKEA Headboard Hack

It was once a desk, now it’s a headboard! Sarah at Pretty Providence used the IKEA Linnmon desk top as a desk until she no longer had room for it. Then she realized that the desktop fit perfectly as a headboard for her queen-sized bed. She used tape to create stripes and attached it to the wall. You could also try painting the headboard with your favorite paint.