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
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Related Stories
Trends
8 Interiors Styles We May See More of in 2021
By Kate Burt
What sorts of looks have you noticed bubbling up in the background of Zoom calls or here on Houzz? Any of these?
Full Story
Colour
22 Ways to Work Luscious Dark Green Walls
Rich yet soft, moody yet uplifting, deep shades of green are perfect for bringing a sense of wellbeing to our homes
Full Story
Seasonal
How to Make Your Own Wrapping Paper
By Siobhan Lam
Keep it simple this Christmas by using household supplies to create beautifully wrapped gifts
Full Story
Colour
How to Use Pantone’s Uplifting Colour of the Year 2021 Duo
By Jennifer Ott
Hello, yellow! Good day, grey! See how to use the two colours predicted to be both hot and cool in the coming year
Full Story
Styling
How to Make Your Home Your Own
By Kate Burt
Personal touches, treasured knick-knacks, abundant artworks… Discover some of the many ways you can ‘collage’ your home
Full Story
Bathrooms
What Will Our Bathrooms Look Like in 2021 and Beyond?
By Kate Burt
Get ready for more characterful, homely décor, home-spa touches, and plenty of colour
Full Story
Trends
Are These the Interior Trends Coming Our Way in 2021?
By Kate Burt
How will we be furnishing and designing our homes next year? Some of these trends might surprise you...
Full Story
Tips for Pros
How to Focus a Home’s Design Around People and the Planet
Decorex 2020 was about more than trends; it focused instead on how design can benefit both us and the environment
Full Story
Bathrooms
12 Ways With Clay Pink Bathroom Tiles
By Kate Burt
We’re spotting a lot of this colour cropping up in new Houzz projects...
Full Story
Colour
How to Choose a Paint Colour You Can Live With
By Yanic Simard
See 8 tips and tricks that can help you commit to a colour you’ll love
Full Story
Hello exploit space, here are some of my recent Ikea furniture updates...
Clever stuff, mrn_fusion.
mrn_fusion beautiful, well done you