The Coolest IKEA Hacks We've Ever Seen
- 1/53
The Coolest IKEA Hacks We've Ever Seen
You won't believe how high-end IKEA products can look with a little paint, a few tools, and creativity. These unexpected ideas will make you look at the build-it-yourself furniture in a whole new light—and get you pumped to get your DIY on.
- 2/53
Before: INGO Table
Made of pine, this sturdy table has a plain, sleek design and comes unfinished.
BUY NOW $79, ikea.com
- 3/53
After: Farmhouse Fab
Believe it or not, this gorgeous dining room table was once the simple INGO. You'll have to get out the power tools for this hack, but the stunning result is well worth the effort.
See more at East Coast Creative.
BUY NOW Wood Stain, $5, amazon.com
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- 4/53
Before: BEKVAM Step Stool
This IKEA favorite might look like a typical step stool made of solid wood. But in reality, there are so many ways to use this versatile item.
BUY NOW $20, ikea.com
- 5/53
After: Play Kitchen
Your kids are going to love playing "let's make dinner" alongside you—and you're going to love how affordable this set up is. It's as simple as painting the steps black, drawing on a stove top, and adding some knobs on the front to get the "burners" going.
See more at Mommo Design.
BUY NOW Chalkboard Paint, $10, amazon.com
- 6/53
Before: FINTORP Rail
Hooks can be attached to this simple rail, which you can use to organize just about anything.
BUY NOW $6, ikea.com
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- 8/53
Before: BORRBY Lantern
For either indoor or outdoor use, this lantern cam hold a large candle inside.
BUY NOW $15, ikea.com
- 9/53
After: Modern Terrarium
Potting soil, charcoal, gravel, and plants fill the lantern with an earthy brightness. The result is both decorative and super low maintenance.
See more at Thou Swell.
BUY NOW Gravel, $12, amazon.com
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- 10/53
Before: TARVA Chest
Like most IKEA chests, this simple dresser has endless decorating possibilities.
BUY NOW $179, ikea.com
- 11/53
After: Rolling Desk
This transformation requires some serious handy work. By making it fold out, the top drawer becomes the main surface for a desk. This blogger was even crafty enough to add her initials.
See more at In My Own Style.
BUY NOW Label Pulls, $30, amazon.com
- 12/53
Before: RASKOG Utility Cart
This rolling, metal cart is a popular a IKEA product because it's useful in literally every room of the house.
BUY NOW $30, ikea.com
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- 13/53
After: Vanity Station
This clever blogger used the cart to categorize her beauty routine — and even doctored the side with a bin for her hot tools.
See more at Polka Dot Chair.
BUY NOWWhite Paint, $9, amazon.com
- 14/53
Before: LACK Side Table
This popular IKEA product can be so much more than a place to put your TV remote.
BUY NOW $15, ikea.com
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- 16/53
Before: RAST 3-Drawer Chest
Made of sturdy pine wood, this dresser is the perfect (and affordable) blank canvas for a bit of creativity.
BUY NOW $60, ikea.com
- 17/53
After: Craft Room Desk
A plexiglass-covered core door now sits atop the dresser and a pair of table legs, creating the perfect stylish workspace. The bare dresser got a coordinating upgrade with a fresh coat of paint and new pulls.
See more at Addison Meadows Lane.
BUY NOW White Paint $15, amazon.com
- 18/53
Before: EKBY ALEX Shelf
This simple shelving unit attaches to a wall to add extra storage to any space.
BUY NOW $50, ikea.com
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- 19/53
After: Chic Vanity
If you're looking for a chic alternative to your standard vanity, check out this super-glam creation. The blogger paired the EKBY ALEX shelving with old-school wooden legs and a sheepskin-covered bench to create a gorgeous place to spend your mornings.
See more at A New Bloom.
BUY NOW Desk Legs, $5, amazon.com
- 20/53
Before: LACK Coffee Table
This plain coffee table is practical, but not very exciting as it is.
BUY NOW $50, ikea.com
- 21/53
After: Mid-Century Style
It's rare you get something so classy from IKEA's seen-everywhere LACK table, but this blogger pulled it off. By removing the lower shelf and attaching wooden tapered legs, she created a midcentury-style classic that's entirely chic.
Get the tutorial at Triple Max Sons.
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- 22/53
Before: SODERHAMN Footstool
This plain ottoman is serves as a practical place to put your feet up, but it's not very stylish.
BUY NOW $159, ikea.com
- 23/53
After: Patterned Ottoman
This blogger took a rough find from IKEA's as-is section and made it shine. By adding some cheerful floral fabric, a boring ottoman became so much more interesting.
See more at Petite Party Studio.
- 24/53
Before: BEKVAM Kitchen Cart
The no-nonsense kitchen island is convenient, if a bit spare.
BUY NOW $60, ikea.com
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- 25/53
After: Vintage-Inspired Island
A fresh coat of gray paint, a chic marble top, and a shiny towel bar makes this kitchen helper as stylish as it is functional.
See more at Oliver and Rust.
BUY NOW Gray Paint, $50, amazon.com
- 26/53
Before: OTTAVA Lamp
We like this industrial-style light just fine, but it doesn't provide a luxurious look.
BUY NOW $40, ikea.com
- 27/53
After: Barn-Style Pendant Lighting
A quick coat of spray paint makes the shades look like vintage copper.
See more at Kojo Designs.
BUY NOW Copper Paint, $6, amazon.com
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- 28/53
Before: Tall BILLY Bookcase
These classic shelving units are the starting point for many makeovers.
BUY NOW $80, ikea.com
- 29/53
After: Elegant "Built-In"
A little architectural molding brings a refined sensibility to the shelves. The addition of the rolling ladder furthers the library look.
See more at The Makerista.
BUY NOW Rolling Ladder, $360, wayfair.com
- 30/53
Before: Short BILLY Bookcase
This half-sized version of the classic BILLY bookcase is even more versatile than it's tall counterpart.
BUY NOW $69, ikea.com
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- 31/53
After: Double-Duty Kitchen Island
The bookshelf hack is kind of like the open shelving version of an island: The back is totally exposed and reveals organized compartments for baking supplies, books, and even snacks.
See more at Golden Boys & Me.
BUY NOW Wood Countertop, $99, amazon.com
- 32/53
Before: MALM Dresser
Make sure you anchor it to the wall after your makeover. The heavy chest poses a dangerous tip-over risk, causing IKEA to recall it.
BUY NOW $179, ikea.com
- 33/53
After: Mod Modular Storage
File this under overachiever status: Here's a stylish revamp that sports overlays and new handles. Two individual dressers were used to create a multifunctional area for clothing storage in this bedroom.
Get the tutorial at Sarah Hearts.
BUY NOW Brown Paint, $9, amazon.com
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- 34/53
Before: VURM Wine Rack
Instead of taking up precious counter space, this rack allows you to mount your wine to the wall.
BUY NOW $13, ikea.com
- 36/53
Before: ALEX Drawer Unit
Sure you could leave this ALEX drawer unit as you bought it, but why do that when you can spice up your office?
BUY NOW ALEX Drawer Unit, $89, ikea.com
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- 37/53
After: Two Seater Office Desk
By using two ALEX drawer units, an ADILS leg, and a wooden worktop from the hardware store, Nadine from Beauty Ressort created a perfectly spacious workplace for one or even two people to spread out and be productive.
See more at Beauty Ressort.
BUY NOW ADILS Leg, $4, ikea.com
- 38/53
Before: KULÖRT Pebbles
Though these adorable KULÖRT pebbles are no longer available online, you can try the same project with IKEA's broken glass KULÖRT.
BUY NOW KULÖRT Glassplitter, 1.99€, ikea.com Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 40/53
Before: LACK Side Table
Basic or not, this side table is less than $9 and there are endless ways to hack it.
BUY NOW LACK Side Table, $10, ikea.com
- 41/53
After: Lack Table with Plexiglass
This plexiglass covered table by Kristina of Ich Designer is beyond chic.
See more at Ich Designer.
- 42/53
Before: MALM Bed Frame
Though looking at it it doesn't seem like much, the MALM bed frame the perfect blank slate.
BUY NOW MALM Bed Frame, $149, ikea.com
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- 43/53
After: Stikwood Headboard
Best news? Sugar & Cloth's Ashley Rose purchased her MALM bed frame in the IKEA As-Is section for just $90! After sticking some Stikwood to the headboard, it looks so much more expensive.
See more at Sugar & Cloth.
BUY NOW Stikwood, stikwood.com
- 44/53
Before: KALLAX Bookshelf
Even cheaper than the high gloss KALLAX shelves, this unit allows you to think outside the bookshelf box.
BUY NOW KALLAX Bookshelf, $40, ikea.com
- 45/53
After: Kitchen Island
It sure doesn't look like a bookshelf anymore and I'm obsessed. Inexpensive, easy to DIY, and functional? Count me in.
See more at Jen Lou Meredith.
BUY NOW KALLAX door inserts, $17, ikea.com
BUY NOW RILL castor, $10, ikea.com
BUY NOW LÄMPLIG chopping board, $10, ikea.com
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- 46/53
Before: STENBÄR Plant Pot
Leaving this STENBÄR basket plant pot as is would be cute, sure, but when you can add a little something special to make it unique, it's worth doing so!
BUY NOW STENBÄR Basket, $30, ikea.com
- 47/53
After: Legged Basket Planter
Francesca of Fall For DIY made these baskets her own by simply adding legs to them. Seriously, how amazing are these?
See more at Fall For DIY.
BUY NOW Pretty Peg Legs, prettypegs.com
- 48/53
Before: MARIUS Stool
Not only is the MARIUS stool inexpensive, they're also pretty boring, if I do say. But when you spend under $6 on furniture, you can definitely afford to spend a little more spicing them up.
BUY NOW MARIUS Stool, $6, ikea.com
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- 49/53
After: White Fur Stool
Would you ever be able to tell that this stool by Darleen of Darling Darleen is the same one you just saw? I'm so impressed.
See more at Darling Darleen.
BUY NOW Faux Mongolian Fur, amazon.com
- 50/53
Before: BEKVÄM Step Stool
The BEKVÄM step stool is a simple classic you'd likely find in most homes with children or petite adults who need a boost.
BUY NOW BEKVÄM Step Stool, $20, ikea.com
- 51/53
After: Toddler Learning Tower
But when you add a few extra pieces of wood like Sina of Happy Grey Lucky, you get a brilliant (and very sophisticated looking) new contraption. This toddler learning tower allows children to safely step up to the counter without having to worry about them falling.
See more at Happy Grey Lucky.
BUY NOW Wood Clamp, amazon.com
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- 52/53
Before: VOLFGANG Chair
This IKEA VOLFGANG chair—or any simple white chair like it, for that matter—could definitely use a magic touch.
BUY NOW VOLFGANG Chair, $69, ikea.com
- 53/53
After: Glamorous Gold Chair
Even something as simple as spray painting the silver to gold and throwing on some cute faux fur, like Nathalia of The Key Item, it looks instantly more expensive and chic!
See more at The Key Item.
BUY NOW RENS Rug, $30, ikea.com
We found the most creative ideas for the retailer's most iconic items (how many do you own?).