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10 IKEA Furniture Hacks We’re Saving for the Weekend
A fresh coat of paint is just the tip of the iceberg.
IKEA furniture. There's simply no escaping it. The ubiquitous Billy bookcase, for instance, never seems to go out style. We are drawn to IKEA products precisely for being simple, cheery, and functional—its hard to argue with a $15 table—but it is also okay to want a bit more personality every now and then. Good thing then, that its no-frill designs need no longer be a limitation. The decision to buy a new IKEA sofa may never be the most momentous decision you will make, but it is something that you can always update and refresh.
A quick internet search will fill your browser with clever ideas and inventive hacks for turning your IKEA basics into statement pieces and customized solutions—and a fresh coat of paint is just the tip of the iceberg. These are just some of our favorites hacks, so consider your weekend plans made, and your home aesthetic upgraded.
A little bit of marble contact paper and copper leaf will take that boring side table into Instagram-fodder territory. The foundation is set with any IKEA table’s sleek shape, making an ideal blank canvas for creating the effect of luxe texture and shine—just follow Style Me Pretty’s lead.
Things get a bit more involved on designsixtynine. Hacking your way to a wall of built-in shelves (from the Billy line) will probably take up an entire weekend, depending on how handy you are, but it’s surprisingly straightforward and exponentially more affordable than, say, moving to another home with dreamy wall units. The results will transform your entire living room while offering stylish, functional storage.
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The versatile ottoman not only offers extra seating (and some, even storage space), it also—with the right pop of print and color—immediately livens things up. It’s also much easier (and cheaper) to find your must-have fabric than your must-have ottoman, so take these tips from Kristi Murphy and update your understated IKEA ottoman.
You can never seem find the perfect desk—one that’s spacious enough yet compact, chic yet practical and plentiful in storage. And when you do find one that's both sturdy and spacious, case in point, this IKEA Rast dresser has the solution to all your desk-related problems. You’ll need to get a little crafty, but a desk fit for a boss is just around the weekend.
Domino’s idea for turning this wheeled table into a chic bar cart is similar to the marble side table makeover, and just as easy. People will either think you worked harder at this than you did, or that you scored the ultimate accent furniture piece. With some wallpaper and attention to detail, this bar cart will liven up aperitivo hour at your home.
Admit it: You have one of those tables where all mail goes to die. Everyone does. Instructables can help, with a few of these magazine files and any flat shelf. Stained and assembled, you’ll have a clever way to keep your mail sorted and out of sight.
Does any piece of furniture for the kitchen have bigger MVP status than the island? You can use it for storage, for a cooking and prep surface, and even as a dining space. With a refreshingly undaunting project from Golden Boys & Me, you can build one to the exact specs you want using those good ol' friends of ours—the Billy bookshelves.
Ich Designer has an idea for an incredibly quick and easy solution to the problem of ever-shrinking kitchen storage. Cut down a slatted bed base to the size of your choosing and stock up on S-hooks, adding whatever other little buckets, bowls, or planters you wish. This project works just as well for any other room, too.
This hack from Oh Yes has a lot going for it: it adds tons of storage space while remaining compact, lends dimension to your bedroom, and if you have a studio, could act as a great space separator. This is definitely an all-hands-on-deck kind of project, but seriously boosts both the form and function of your bedroom with the simple use of some wood slabs and kitchen cabinets.
It’s a great feeling when someone notices how special a piece in your home is, or is dying to know what estate sale or hidden antique shop you found it. That’s not a reaction you’re going to get out of IKEA's trusty Rast dresser—unless, of course, you spruce it up à la Vintage Revival. Follow the tips on how to execute the perfect sand and paint job, and as a final touch choose the right hardware to seal the deal.
What IKEA hack are you gearing up to tackle? Tell us in the comments!
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Written by: Courtney Iseman
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