9 of Our Favourite Ikea Hacks

Customise your functional Ikea pieces with some of these clever, creative upgrades

Amanda Pollard 29 January 2018

Acting Editorial Team Lead for Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and content editor specialising in interiors and architecture.

Acting Editorial Team Lead for Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and content editor... More

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You may have heard that Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad passed away this week at the grand old age of 91. In tribute to the flat-pack phenomenon he founded in the 1940s, here are some Ikea hacks to inspire you.

Violet & George

Mix and match
Perhaps the easiest way to pep up Ikea pieces is to team them with more expensive items. This white desk is simple and practical, and the understated design is the perfect foil for a pair of colourful Victoria Ghost chairs.

If you’re going for a designer look in your own home, make the most of the simple, affordable functionality of Ikea pieces, and spend your money on other items that will elevate your room.

Amelia Hallsworth Photography

Get a handle on it
This creative home is full of clever ideas, but one that stands out is in the kitchen. The cabinets are all basic units from Ikea, which have been personalised later with leather handles. The handles were apparently quite pricey, but it’s often worth paying a little extra for something if it has such a transformative effect.

Discover more genius Ikea hacks

Making Spaces

Fix the fittings
Here’s another example of how a change of fittings can revamp a basic piece of furniture. This black Hemnes bedside table has been fitted with a brass knob to match the warm metallic finishes in the rest of the room. This very easy upgrade lifts the design and helps it to tie in with the dramatic space.

Interior Therapy

Create some luxury
Window dressings can be expensive, particularly if you’re looking for something that’s thick and luxurious. If you don’t want to blow the budget, however, consider this simple solution. The designer of this bedroom bought three pairs of cotton curtains from Ikea and had them sewn together. The drapes are now much fuller and give this room a cosy and sumptuous look.

Flik Design Ltd

Work a designer look
You can upgrade your kitchen by making some bold design choices. This stunning space looks chic and high end, but the units are in fact affordable Ikea models. The designer chose matching cabinets in white and dark finishes to create a striking contrast.

JLB Property Developments

Call in the professionals
This beautiful floating cabinet looks like a completely bespoke piece, but it’s actually an Ikea cupboard that’s been professionally revamped. The cabinet is from the Besta range of storage furniture, and has been resized by the designer’s cabinet-maker and fitted with new, bespoke handles.

Curate & Display

Spice up your storage
When you’re thinking about easy Ikea hacks, don’t forget about the trusty Bekväm spice rack. By all means use it in the kitchen to store your oregano and paprika, but also consider how it can be used for other purposes. Here, four racks have been stacked up as a column of bookshelves in a child’s bedroom.

ComfyDwelling.com

See it from another angle
In this hallway, the designers have turned the spice rack on its head to make a very useful coat rack. The brilliant thing about this is there’s even a shelf above the hanging rail.

The Bekväm stool below is also ideal for storing shoes and provides a perch for tying laces.

ComfyDwelling.com

Colour code
You don’t have to leave your Bekväm stool plain, however. This quirky hallway idea incorporates a painted trio, which sit below matching wall stripes, and each zone is fitted with a hook. The three children who live here each have their own space to put coats, bags and outerwear. It’s a great way to make organising fun for kids.

More ways a surprise hit of colour can transform a room

How have you pepped up your Ikea buys over the years? Share your photos, ideas and experiences in the Comments section.