40+ Clever Times People Hacked Ikea Furniture and Made it Their Own

IKEA furniture comes in simple colors and designs. This may work for a modern or contemporary design, but if you want a little extra something, then you’ll have to use your creativity and crafting skills to make it work for you.

Like this person who used an IKEA Kallax piece and turned it on its head, so to speak. By mounting some legs to it and giving it a good paint job — as well as some detail — this shelving unit quickly went from simple to a really sweet art deco piece.

Having a nice place to sit by the window and read a good book is a beautiful thing. When you have a large window that doesn’t come with a window seat built-in, though, you may think you have to settle for boring.

Good news — you don’t! You can take the Ikea Kallax, and create a gorgeous and functional piece out of it. With just a few accessories and cushions, you can transform what used to be a simple shelving unit into a cozy place to sit. Now, there’s no reason not to take in the beauty of nature through the windows of your home.

Sometimes it’s the accents in a room that really shine, especially if they are antiques — or look that way, at least. This particular hack can add a little something extra to your space. All you have to do is buy the Ikea Card File Drawers.

Then, paint them the way you want and throw on some label holders that match the paint job. It may take a bit of work but you can end up with something like this…

Creating something that’s truly your own sometimes means getting that saw out and making some pretty drastic changes to the piece of furniture that you purchased. That’s what this individual did when creating this gorgeous and one-of-a-kind cabinet.

Taking an Ivar Cupboard, they cut some curves out of the doors and then inserted some rattan mesh. This combination has resulted in what we think is a pretty awesome cabinet. Though this hack takes a little more effort than others on this list, it may be well worth it.

Is your style a little more rustic and country? Don’t worry, you can change your IKEA bed from a simple, modern style to a chic country bed in no time. It’s simpler than you think — a little paint and some wooden planks are all that you need.

This person attached some wooden planks to the frame of the IKEA Malm Bed, and then gave the whole frame a quick paint job. When all was said and done, they ended up with this super cute creation.

If you want to liven your living space up with a little color and also add some storage space to keep things organized, then this next hack is a great option for you to consider. All you will need is a dresser from IKEA and either some painting skills or at the very least, fun contact paper.

Add some legs to the dresser, and then choose the image you want to place on that dresser. Once you have painted or stuck the image to your dresser, you can add a fun handle to round out the look of the dresser.

Many people think cats are sort of lazy pets, but that is far from the truth. They love to play and climb, which means having a nice kitty tree is always a good addition to any cat lover’s household. This person got a little creative.

In an effort to make the tree more challenging and not take up space in their house, they used the IKEA Frosta Stools and attached them to the wall. Utilizing multiple, they were able to create this cool network.

Many little girls love fairytales, and because of this, they also love to decorate their rooms with princesses and castles. With that knowledge, these parents took that concept to all-new levels.

Little boys have their race car and superhero beds, and this little girl has a castle bed. Her parents took the IKEA Kura Bed and added some creativity to it in order to create this beautiful fairytale castle bed.

So, you want a place to store all the stuff that sits in your pocket. Things like your wallet, cell phone, and keys. Sure, you can just throw them on the table or bed stand, but that’s just so boring. Instead, why not use your ingenuity and create a unique little cubby.

That’s what this person did. They took the Hack Magazine Holder and mounted it to the wall. Then voilà — you have an instant cubby for all your stuff.

If you have a pet, then you probably have invested in many pet beds. They all tend to be the same, though — a big round cushiony circle that isn’t really that cute to look at. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. With a little inventiveness and work, you might end up with a bed like this.

This cat owner wanted to give her furry friend a place in which he had room to have a friend over. So, the owner took two Duktig Doll Beds and bolted them together to make this kitty bunk bed.

Sometimes you want to make a piece your own, and that’s okay. Maybe the color scheme doesn’t fit the room’s pallet, or the style doesn’t fit your vibe. If that’s the case and you have a Hemnes Dresser, you may want to take a look at this hack.

The individual sanded down the dresser and then repainted it to match their needs. With a switch out of the drawer handles, the dresser looks brand new, not to mention super stylish.

When you have cool collectibles, you want to show them off. There are many collectible cabinets to choose from, but you may have to craft it yourself if you want something unique and fun.

Maybe you’ll do what this individual did and use IKEA’s Ribba Frame and Lustigt Shelves. How fun and creative is this wall display?! It just took a little time, as well as some glue and paint — and now this person has a masterpiece of collectibles.

When you’re dealing with limited space, sometimes you may feel you have to go with a less stylish option when it comes to your furniture. But, as this narrow entryway bureau shows, that’s just not the case at all.

Taking two Hemnes Shoe Cabinets and combining them together under one stained wood top makes for a beautiful introduction to your home. The process was easy and only took a bit of time to create this stunning piece.

If you have both a cat and a dog, you may find that one or both never get left alone when they’re eating. The other always has to stick their nose in and test out the food themselves. That’s what was happening in this home until the owner came up with an ingenious solution.

They took the Kallax and made it work for them — placing a few wicker baskets in the cubbies and using one to store the cat’s treats and food. Not only is this piece of furniture super organized but it’s puppy proof, too.

Looking for a stylish yet affordable piece for your patio? This can be hard to find, but not if you take a walk through IKEA and come up with a solid and creative plan.

Taking a piece from the Lack collection and creating a little nest for some succulents changed the whole vibe of this table. Now, this individual has a very Zen table that adds interest and color to the rest of the space.

Love to read? Are you setting up a new school? If you said yes to either of these questions, then you may want to consider this next hack as an option. Filling bookshelves with books can be very easy for some, and you just may need this much room, but it can be pared down as well to suit your needs.

Take IKEA bookshelves, stain them, and then mount them to the walls. By doing this, you will have something that looks like it was built into the home.

Maybe you’re tired of losing your keys or sunglasses and want to work on a creative hack to solve this problem. This person has already done it for you, and it’s super easy — plus, it looks pretty cute, too.

Taking a set of Bekvam Spice Racks and adding a few magnets to them gave this person these cute little shelves to house their keys and shades. They left the raw wood, but you could also paint them if you wanted to.

One of the most annoying things about having a cat is the litter box. There just never seems a good place to put it — ya know, a place where it isn’t really visible and you’re not able to smell it.

But, by using this Fritids piece, this person has created a hidden litter box and a bench. Now, not only did they save space but they also got rid of an eyesore. All they had to do was cut a hole in the side of the piece so the kitty is able to get in and out with no issues.

Not spending a lot of money on furniture is nice, but that usually lends itself to run-of-the-mill, ordinary pieces. If you have access to a few other tools, though, you can make even the dullest piece exciting.

That’s what this person did by using paint and a CNC cutter to etch designs into the wood. Now, it totally goes with their style.

Here is yet another inventive way to transform the Ikea Kura Bed. What kid doesn’t like treehouses? This person chose to make one in the safety and comfort of their child’s bedroom. And we have to admit that it turned out pretty cool.

They connected the Kura bed to the Trofast steps, added some paint and a few wooden planks — and out came this masterpiece. What was once just a simple bed is now a hangout spot that all the kids want to be a part of.

Want to transform that coffee table from modern to classic and do it easily? Then, this next hack may be a great option for you. All you need is some marble contact paper, gold paint, and a Vittsjö Coffee Table.

Take the gold paint and spray the frame of the table. Let dry. Then add the marble contact paper to the glass, and you have a classic looking coffee table that will be a great accent to any room.

Keeping your laundry room nice and organized will help make this often frowned upon chore easier and less time-consuming. To do this, you may want to add some counter space for folding and a set of cabinets to store everything you need.

This person has made their laundry room look really modern and clean. They used a Karlby Countertop and a Voxtorp Cupboard system. Looks really good, right?!

Cats still have the instinct of their long distant wild relatives, and therefore they love to go outside and play. But often, we try to keep them inside. There’s a way to have the best of both worlds. Just take a look at this hack.

This person wanted to give their cat the ability to get a little fresh air, so they used two Hejne Shelves and some mesh wire to craft this walking space for their four-legged friend.

Creating a look, vibe, and style in your personal space can help you feel more at home. But, sometimes we don’t think that we can get the exact look we’re envisioning when we have to go with prefab furniture.

Luckily, this isn’t necessarily the case, as you can see with this stunning cabinet. Using the Moppe Cabinet, this person created a stunning piece that no one would guess started out from IKEA.

Having a place in your home where you have a drink station is always a nice and welcoming feature of any home. So, this person figured out a hack that would allow them to look like they spent more money than they actually had.

By taking the Vittsjö table and adding a wood top and bottom to it, this individual instantly created a drink station with all the works. You can even mount some pegs to the underside of the table in order to hang some glasses.

Having enough light when you’re working from home is crucial. It’ll not only help with productivity but also with mood. So, why not set up your work station under the window. Like with anything else, you can go for a simple look, but why not make it a little unique?

Combine a Karlby Countertop with a drawer system and attach some legs to create a nice, spacious workstation for you and significant other or roommate.

You always want the furniture in your home to say something about you. You also want it to match the interior style you have created in your home. So, prefab furniture is not always a good fit for either of these two things.

But, if you take a little time as this person did, you’ll be able to hack the furniture you do have and make it work. This creative genius took one of the IKEA sideboards and added a little character to it. In the end, they wound up with a mid-century modern piece that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else.

When you’re preparing to bring a little one into the world, there’s quite a lot of prep work to do. One of the biggest is setting up the nursery. Of all the things in that nursery, having a good changing table may be the most important.

But, not all of them will work with your vision, so why not create one of your own? By taking two pieces of IKEA furniture and merging them together, this parent-to-be created a super functional and efficient changing table.

Having a place to store and play music in your home is important for a lot of individuals. After all, music can help you relax, be more productive, and boost your mood. So, why not make it a centerpiece in your home?

This music connoisseur clearly feels that way as they took a simple piece of IKEA furniture and added some legs — as well as a wooden top — to create their very own music station.

The bathrooms in many homes are small and don’t have nearly enough space to house all the products that many of us use on a daily basis. Utilizing the space you have is important in this case. This is when being crafty comes in handy.

By taking IKEA Spice Racks and mounting them to the bathroom door, this person has done an awesome job using what they have. Plus, now everything looks tidy as well as organized.

Maybe your closet isn’t big enough, or you have to share it with someone who seems to take up all the space. If this is the case, it’s time to get those creative juices flowing, so you can design your very own wardrobe.

This person has used two Besta TV Cabinets to create an area for their clothes. The addition of the hang bar — in which people can hang their sweaters, jackets, and coats — in the center is a nice touch, too.

Maybe you want to create a workspace and get a bunch of extra seating space, too? Using this hack, you’ll be able to do just that. All it takes is a few pieces of IKEA furniture and a drill.

Using a wooden countertop and a few shelving systems from IKEA, you can create this bar and bench space with little to no work. Accentuate it with fun touches, and it will be a truly unique space in your home.

Your IKEA hacks don’t only have to involve furniture. In fact, you can use some of the accessories to create some pretty cute and nice-looking accents for your home — kind of like this person did with these pillows.

Using one of the many rugs that IKEA sells and a nice sewing machine, you can truly do wonders. That’s what this gal used to create fringed bench pillows for her home.

Kids’ toys are expensive and made of plastic half the time. If you want something that’s a little more environmentally friendly and easy on the wallet, then you might want to consider making your own toys. One of the pretty popular ones is the kitchen set.

By taking a wooden step stool from IKEA and some chalk paint, you can create this fun play kitchen for your little one. Add a basket to hold all their kitchen supplies and let them whip you up a delicious imaginary meal.

Finding inventive ways to display photos and other pieces of art can be challenging. You don’t always want to mount them on the wall, especially if you’re looking to create a more modern vibe for your space.

But, by using the IKEA Magasinhylla in the way this person did, you’ll be able to attain that unique and one-of-a-kind look you’re looking for. And that makes this a great hack.

Okay, IKEA furniture is fun to hack but so are their accessories. Things like lamps and so forth can make a big impact on the overall look of a room. So, why not upcycle that simple lampshade to fit your personality?

Maybe you don’t want to use a map like this person did but adding an interior image can be just the extra touch of something special to tie your room or house altogether.

Maybe you want to keep a clean and clutter-free bedroom but still want a bedside table. Of course, there are a couple of options, but this fun hack could be a great option. Not only does it give you a tabletop but a little cubby to store the current book you are reading.

Taking two small shelves and mounting them on top of each other with the tips facing each other is what makes up this ingenious hack.

Living in a small apartment but still want to have one of those fancy little kitchen islands? They can help your kitchen look way more interesting and can add counter space as well as storage space. So, why not use IKEA furniture to build yourself one?

By taking one of these shelving systems and adding a wooden countertop — plus, a couple of doors — you can end up with an inexpensive yet stylish island such as this one.

No matter what, we can all use extra storage space. It’s just a bonus when it can look as good as this cabinet. But, getting a piece that looks like this is not as hard as you might think — it takes a little craftiness, patience, and time.

Combine an Ivar Cabinet with an Applaro Wall Panel, before adding some shelves. After that, you can stain the cabinet or use paint to create the look you want for your new (and improved) piece.

Many of us are working from home nowadays, and that means we need a nice work area. But, if you’re dealing with a small space, you may have to utilize that nook. That’s okay, though, because if you can use a few pieces from IKEA to do just that.

You can take two Helmer and Alex Filing Systems and top it with a wood tabletop. When it’s all put together, you have yourself a nice and efficient workspace.

Making unique shelving systems that can be mounted to your wall is a nice accent to any room. Still, they can also be boring oftentimes. With that, if you’re looking for a fun hack, tray using some IKEA lid dividers and a few wood planks to create this shelving system.

Mount the lid divider to the wall, take a few thin wooden planks (painted or not), and place them at the intervals you wish.

Once again, using your space is crucial, especially when dealing with a small space. This person has taken that into consideration and crafted this cute little breakfast nook. What a great place to have your morning coffee, or just sit with a friend and yap the day away.

This person took a few Lack tables and added cushions — as well as pillows — to transform them into a cozy bench. Then, they threw in another table to round out the whole nook.

Coffee tables — and tables, in general — don’t always have to be boring or dull. You can, like this person, take something that fits your style and make a masterpiece out of it with a bit of work and patience. And who knows; it may become a conversation starter.

All this person did was take the Alesda Stool and add some legs to it in order to raise it off the floor a few inches. What came of that idea was this fun boho-styled coffee table.

Sometimes it’s not the furniture itself that needs a little hack but instead, the furnishing on or around that piece. Take, for instance, this amazing terrarium lamp. If it wasn’t there, this table would look very bland.

So, this person decided to grab an IKEA lamp and paint it. Then, they add some plant life inside to give it a unique look. You could try this same hack but with a seascape theme or perhaps, a desert. Whatever you think will work with your motif.

Always looking for more space? Well, why not add some storage to your headboard? This might even alleviate the need for a bed stand if you want a cleaner aesthetic in your bedroom.

By taking a Malm headboard and mounting it against the wall, you can get a nice little cubby where you can store things out of sight.