Your IKEA Furniture Needs to be Hacked

With two local locations in and around Philadelphia, everyone you know is shopping at IKEA. If you aren’t careful, your home will start to look like an IKEA showroom. We can’t blame you, the refreshing Scandinavian design seen throughout the store is pretty eye catching, and the prices can’t be beaten.But if you want your home to look custom and high-end, you’re going to have to upgrade your IKEA furniture a bit. These hacks are an easy and simple way to take your basic furniture to the next level.

• Nice Legs- Did you know that it’s possible to purchase lots of different sofa leg options a la carte when shopping at IKEA. For around $30, you can add legs that work better with your existing furniture or that suit your needs. You can create a custom couch by swapping for something that makes your piece feel one-of-a-kind.

• Don’t Take Pulls for Granted- Once you’ve assembled your new dresser, it probably looks great. But did you know that you can easily change the knobs? Swing by the hardware section to grab some cool IKEA knobs or check out the options at websites like CB2 or Athropologie. By changing out the basic knobs for a statement making option, you’ll create a piece that won’t look like the same dresser your best friend has.

• Meet Your Best Friend, Billy- The Billy bookshelf is one of the best-selling products at IKEA. Available in multiple color options, it’s the bookshelf so many of us owned in our first apartment. Did you know it’s possible to customize this piece by adding doors and unique shelf options? You can fake gorgeous built-in cabinets or bookshelves by adding height extenders and different door options. Replace the simple existing knobs (like in our previous tip) to create something that none of your friends will guess was from IKEA.

• Don’t be Afraid to Paint- Adding a splash of color is always a fun way to inject style into a room. IKEA furniture comes in a very limited color palette of neutrals and wood tones (save for a few pieces) and it’s possible you’ll want to change things up! It’s important to know the right and wrong ways to paint your IKEA furniture (or else you’ll end up with a big mess). Check out this article for tips on how to paint the laminate pieces that can be so tricky.

• Follow the Pros- Pinterest has IKEA hacks for every single item in the store. Follow the blog IKEA Hackers for a regular dose of creative hacking at its most genius. Keep an eye on these sites for great ideas that even the least crafty can execute.

• Don’t Throw Away Your Bags- We’ve all had to spend the $1.50 on the bright blue FRAKTA shopping bag. This thing is endlessly hack-able and so unbelievably sturdy. Use it on moving day to haul things that won’t fit in boxes. Keeping a few in your trunk to carry in several grocery bags at once. Send one with your college student to use as a storable laundry basket. You can even use these bags for a very important wedding day hack! Try making a bridal gown holder by cutting a hole in the bag to use it to avoid damage while walking through dirty areas during photo ops or for those oh-so-difficult bathroom trips on a bride’s special day! These bags are probably the best and most hackable bargain in the entire store.

It’s possible to take the simplest of IKEA basics and turn them into extraordinary pieces. It just takes a few hacks and some creativity. Let us know your favorite hacks, we’re always looking for more inspiration!

Photo by ATBO via Pexels.com.