Top 12 IKEA hacks to try now

You all know I love a good DIY and that IKEA is one of my favourite places to shop for affordable home decor. As a result, this post combines these two loves. In my top 12 IKEA hacks post, you will see how to take an ordinary IKEA piece and turn it into a unique statement piece that has a custom look. These pieces are suited for an updated traditional style home or modern farmhouse style home.

Small Wood Furniture Pieces

Accent Table

This half moon accent table imagined by Hunker.com has a beautiful bleached wood look that is elegant and refined. I need to get my hands on one of these IKEA Arkelstorp tables because this project is on my to-do list. 

Bedside Table

The IKEA Rast is one of the most hacked IKEA pieces of all time. Here, Dreaming of Homemaking transforms one into a classic bedside table reminiscent of an expensive Restoration Hardware piece. However, you can make this for a fraction of the price!

Secretary Desk

Who wouldn’t want an adorable rolling secretary desk like this. In My Own Style has transformed an IKEA Tarva dresser into a useful and unique piece. The interior colour could be red, soft green, gold, whatever colour makes you happy.

Kitchen Cart

This kitchen cart by Oliver and Rust exudes classic charm and would be a functional addition to the kitchen. This is a really creative makeover that uses high quality materials (like the marble top) to get a high end look.

Large Wood Furniture Pieces

Media Unit

This media storage unit by In Between Chaos is the perfect solution to anchor the space below a wall-mounted TV. It is constructed from four IKEA Rast units and finished in a crisp white paint with black hardware.

Sideboard/Buffet Table

I adore the rustic look of this sideboard by Lolly Jane. It looks particularly good juxtaposed next to the pretty mirror, green glass, and pink flowers. This is an easy DIY as the look is achieved through staining the Norden Sideboard in a dark walnut colour.

Wardrobe

I’m definitely drawn to clean-lined pieces with interesting finishes and details like this wardrobe hack by The Thinking Closet. The beautiful whitewashed finish on the IKEA Fjell unit gives off all the beachy vibes and looks like a much more expensive piece of furniture than it actually is.

Soft Furnishings

Sofa and Chairs

Many of the IKEA sofas and chairs can be easily updated with ready-made slipcovers designed specifically for select IKEA pieces. Bemz and Comfortworks are two well-known companies that offer mail-order slipcovers. This photo by by Hello Lovely Studio shows how new slipcovers can really elevate IKEA furniture.

Accessories

Storage Crates

This might be the easiest transformation of my top 12 IKEA hacks. This little project is featured on the IKEA website and is a painting project using the IKEA Knagglig pine box. Use a dry brush with chalk paint to achieve this look. Alternatively, you could use a coat of white milk paint.

Built Ins

Window Seat

A built in bench is one of the those design elements that can really make a house feel like home, as it provides a spot to sit and read, not to mention the ample storage. This sweet IKEA hack by Wit and Delight is constructed from IKEA’s SEKTION system over-the-fridge cabinets.

Built-In Shelves

One of the best IKEA hacks is to create a built-in wall of shelves like this one by Avery Street Design. Using the IKEA Borgsjo bookcases and lots of trim, this is a more time-consuming project, but worth it to achieve a custom look at a fraction of the price.

Built-In Shelves

This Billy Bookcase hack by Design Sixty Nine is full of originality and personality. The smoky grey colour is modern and provides the perfect backdrop for books, plants, and treasured keepsakes.

I hope you have enjoyed my top 12 IKEA hacks. Is there something you’d like to try from this post? I know I’d like to try at least 4 or 5 of them!

I’ve written a post about my mudroom cubby IKEA hack and hope to share more of my own IKEA hacks soon.