If you’ve ever wandered into an Ikea with the intention of “just grabbing a lamp,” only to emerge hours later with a full cart and a foggy wallet… welcome. You’re among friends here.
Ikea’s cheap. But it’s also sneaky. And with a little creativity (and maybe a screwdriver), you can hack their stuff into things that look waaaay more expensive than they actually were. Think of this as your secret DIY spellbook, but for saving coin and making your home look like you actually tried.
Let’s get into these ridiculously clever, chaotically genius, and occasionally “wait, this works??” Ikea hacks that will save you serious 💸.
1. Turn a $9 LACK Table Into a Mid-Century Nightstand
Everyone has owned a LACK table at some point. Probably in college. Maybe now. It’s like the cockroach of furniture — never dies, always shows up.
Here’s the glow-up: chop the legs down. Add some gold hairpin legs (cheap online, I swear). Stick a round leather pull in the center if you want fake-drawer vibes. BAM. Looks like something you’d find at West Elm, but for the cost of two iced coffees.
2. Use SPICE RACKS As Bookshelves (Yes, For Real)
Ikea spice racks — specifically the BEKVÄM ones — are like little wooden miracles. Flip ’em upside down, screw ’em into the wall, and you got yourself the cutest little bookshelf ever.
Great for baby rooms. Even better for tiny bathrooms where shelves go to die.
You can stain them, paint them bubblegum pink, go wild. They cost, like, four bucks. You literally can’t mess this up.
3. Turn an IVAR Cabinet Into an Arched Beauty
Okay so the IVAR. It’s plain. Like… sad plain. But it’s cheap, it’s solid wood, and it’s DYI gold.
People on TikTok been adding arch-shaped trims to the doors and painting it deep green or creamy beige. Add rattan webbing if you wanna get real fancy. The transformation is lowkey illegal it looks so expensive.
What was once garage storage now looks like it walked outta an interior design magazine shoot.
4. Hack the TARVA Dresser Into a Japandi Dream
This one takes a lil more elbow grease. But oh man. It’s worth it.
Sand it down, cut out the drawer centers, and pop in cane panels. Add thin wood trims on the front for that clean, Japanese–Scandinavian crossover vibe.
The TARVA is like a blank canvas that just begs for a glow-up. And the final piece looks custom-built. No one will believe you spent under $150.
5. Flip the LURÖY Slats Into a Wall Organizer
This one? Kind of genius.
Grab the bed slats from the LURÖY. Mount ’em vertically or horizontally on a wall. Add S-hooks, hang plants, mugs, scissors, whatever floats your daily chaos.
It turns into this modern, Pinterest-looking organizer and gives serious Muji energy. Costs basically nothing if you already have a busted bed frame.
6. Use KALLAX Cubes For a Luxe Entryway Bench
KALLAX is like the Swiss Army knife of Ikea. But make it hot.
Lay it on its side. Add a cushioned top. Stuff some baskets in the cubbies. BOOM. Instant entryway bench that screams “I have my life together” even if you very much do not.
Total price? Under $60 if you thrift the baskets.
7. Floating Nightstand From EKET Cubes
If you’ve got no floor space but still want somewhere to toss your phone at 1am, EKET cubes are your BFF.
Mount a single one on the wall. Paint it whatever color matches your room mood. Add a tiny sconce above it if you’re feelin’ fancy.
Looks sleek. Costs peanuts. Takes like 20 minutes max.
8. Make a Kitchen Island With Two RÅSKOG Carts
You know those rolling carts everyone uses for like… nothing in particular?
Stack two RÅSKOG carts back to back. Strap a butcher block on top. Add hooks on the side. Voilà. Instant kitchen island for the smallest kitchen ever.
You just saved yourself 300 bucks on a real island. Use that on groceries instead.
9. Turn A $40 LACK Shelf Into A Floating Vanity
Wanna feel like a TikTok makeup star but don’t have the budget? Here’s your moment.
Mount a long LACK shelf at counter height. Add a big round mirror above it. Toss a stool underneath.
You got yourself a floating vanity that looks ultra bougie. And you’ll actually use it, unlike that drawer full of lipsticks you never open.
10. Transform BILLY Bookcases Into Built-Ins
Everyone and their grandma owns a BILLY. But here’s the trick: make ’em look like they were built into the house.
Stack ‘em. Add trim along the tops and sides. Paint ‘em the same color as the wall. Suddenly, you have a library worthy of a British rom-com. You’ll just need a fake fireplace and a brooding stranger now.
11. Flip MOPPE Drawers Into a Mini Apothecary
MOPPE looks… like it’s for arts and crafts. Which is cute. But what if you made it steampunk vintage?
Stain the whole thing. Add tiny brass pulls. Label each drawer with weird things like “spells” or “twine.” Boom. Insta-apothecary.
Costs next to nothing and looks like you thrifted it in 1843.
12. Use FROSTA Stools As Plant Stands
FROSTA stools are stackable, affordable, and cute as heck. But you know what they’re really good for?
Plant stands.
Paint them mint green or matte black. Stick a big leafy friend on top. It suddenly becomes a curated vibe.
Get 2-3 of ‘em. Cluster ‘em like an art installation.
13. Make a Work-From-Home Desk From a LINNMON Tabletop
Desks are stupid expensive for no good reason. Grab a LINNMON top (they’re like $30), and pair it with a couple of ALEX drawers or even ADILS legs.
Add peel-and-stick marble contact paper if you’re feeling a little luxe.
Nobody needs to know your workspace cost less than your monthly internet bill.
14. Convert a HEMNES Shoe Cabinet Into a Coffee Bar
Hear me out.
HEMNES is meant for shoes. But it’s slim, has a top drawer, and fits mugs and pods like a dream.
Paint it navy or soft blush. Add a cute tray. Pop your espresso machine on top. You now have a coffee bar that’s sleeker than anything at Crate & Barrel.
15. Use TUPPLUR Blackout Blinds as a Projector Screen
This hack feels like cheating the system.
Mount a TUPPLUR blind on your wall. Pull it down when it’s movie time. Instant projector screen for under $20.
You don’t even have to tell anyone it’s not “real.” Looks just as good in the dark.
16. Turn the KNAGGLIG Box Into Rustic Storage Crates
These lil crates are like $6. They’re rough pine, super basic, but oh-so-hackable.
Stain ‘em, distress ‘em with a chain (yes, that’s a thing), or slap on vintage labels. Use ’em for anything — pantry, tools, toilet paper stash.
Adds that farmhouse vibe without the Joanna Gaines price tag.
17. Add Custom Handles to Anything, Seriously
One of the fastest ways to un-Ikea your Ikea stuff?
Switch out the hardware. Like, instantly.
Go for brass, leather, matte black — whatever matches your soul. Even cheap particleboard suddenly looks high-end.
People will ask where you got it. You’ll lie and say, “Oh just a little boutique in Copenhagen.”
18. Combine Two MALM Dressers Into a Faux Built-In
Got two MALM dressers? Line ’em up. Add a wooden top plank that goes across both. Maybe toss a mirror above it.
It suddenly turns into a mega storage + vanity situation.
For about $200, you just created something it would cost $1200 to custom build. Who’s the genius now?
19. Use VARIERA Plastic Bags Dispenser for Literally Everything Else
VARIERA is supposed to hold plastic bags. But it doesn’t have to listen to the rules.
Use it for scarves. Wrapping paper. Charging cords. Hair tools. It mounts to the inside of a cabinet and hides your mess like a pro.
Costs less than lunch and saves you sooo much space.
20. Hack the DUKTIG Play Kitchen Into a Real-Looking Mini Kitchen
If you got kids (or just love tiny things), the DUKTIG is iconic. But don’t leave it boring.
Paint it. Add peel-and-stick tiles. Change the knobs. Glue on a fake backsplash.
It ends up looking better than your real kitchen. Which is both cute and a lil depressing.
21. Make a KNUFF Magazine File Into a Charging Station
Get two of ‘em. Glue ‘em together sideways. Drill a hole in the back. Thread your cords through.
Suddenly, all your devices have a home and your counters aren’t chaos. A hack that makes your life less annoying? Yes please.
22. DIY a Vanity Mirror with STRALA Lights + MÖRKT Curtains
Want those glam lights without spending a fortune?
Stick STRALA string lights around a big mirror. Add some cheap flowy curtains behind for a soft backdrop.
You’ll feel like you’re about to film a GRWM video, even if you’re just getting ready to go to Aldi.
The Final Hack? Think Outside the Catalog
Don’t let the Ikea labels tell you what a thing has to be.
A shoe rack can be a plant stand. A spice rack can be a nursery bookshelf. A storage bin can be a bedside table if you believe in it hard enough.
Ikea gives you the bones. You give it the soul.
And if you do it right? You get a space that looks bespoke… for the price of fast food.
So go forth. Screw things together slightly wrong. Spray paint things in your driveway. Pretend you’re a Pinterest wizard. Just don’t forget to take the Allen key out of your back pocket.
Trust me. It hurts.
