13 KALLAX Hacks That Turn Plain IKEA Shelves into Something Special
Aside from the fact that IKEA makes furnishing a living space quick and easy (well, kind of easy, at least), it has also blessed fans with products that can be personalized on a whim. Those RAST dressers and EKET cabinets may look basic, but with a few helpful hacks you can turn your IKEA HEMNES (and pretty much every other item from the Swedish chain) into a DIY masterpiece. One particular favorite among DIYers, though, is the IKEA KALLAX hack.
The KALLAX line — or its older rendition, the storage unit formerly known as EXPEDIT — offers a collection of simple modular shelves that can easily transform to suit any home style (or storage need). You can do KALLAX hacks to fit just about any room in your home; try one of these 13 brilliant ones:
1. Create an enclosed cabinet.
Adding doors, legs, and oversized pulls turned this once-plain four-slot KALLAX into a chic custom cabinet with plenty of hidden storage space. What takes it to the next level is the burlap covering on the doors, which provides a cozy texture. Read more about the project here.
2. Hack a textured media console.
A long KALLAX shelf laid sideways is the perfect height for a media console — especially if you boost it with some sleek mid-century-style legs, as shown here. While the body of this KALLAX stayed crisp white, covering the doors with fluted wood molding and fitting them with gold tab pulls totally elevates the look. Check out the full DIY here.
3. Add caned doors.
For hidden storage that still feels light and not at all bulky, take a cue from this large KALLAX makeover that features custom door fronts that are fitted with breezy cane webbing. Leather pulls complement the boho style. Learn more about the project here.
4. Create a funky “frame.”
Instead of adding decorative trim to the outside of the KALLAX, try adding it to the edges so that you can “frame” the items stored within. This dopamine decor-inspired KALLAX hack features a custom-cut wavy outline, but you could also use decorative molding from the hardware store for a similar effect. See the full DIY here.
5. Fake a vintage Brutalist look.
Authentic Brutalist furniture from the 1950s through the 1970s can be expensive, but you can fake the look with some veneer, a few doors, and some strategically placed wood pieces. Find a full how-to for this striking Brutalist-style KALLAX makeover here.
6. Make a quick wine rack.
Not every hack has to be super-involved. The one featured here — turning a four-square KALLAX into a convenient wine rack — can come together in just 30 minutes. The biggest piece you’ll need is a holder for wine glasses; a couple of baskets underneath can hold any other essentials. See the transformation here.
7. Enclose it with farmhouse-style doors.
One DIYer found a brilliant discovery when shopping at the hardware store: Louvered shutters were just the right size to cover the front of her old KALLAX shelf. She added them to the sides with hinges to create a totally new look for the piece in an instant. Find more about the project here.
8. Give them a built-in look.
A row of three KALLAX shelves placed next to each other gives the illusion of a giant piece of built-in furniture for way less. This KALLAX redo also features a weathered wood look, courtesy of peel-and-stick vinyl. See the whole transformation here.
9. Get a glam ’70s-style burl wood look.
Contact paper offers lots of options to go bold, thanks to all the different designs available. This KALLAX makeover features a burl wood contact paper for a totally glam ’70s style that’s complemented by gold hardware and a gold platform underneath. Get the full how-to for the project here.
10. Use pleated curtains as offbeat “doors.”
The DIYer behind this cool KALLAX redo used pleated curtains to create the totally unique door system. A little vinyl in an oak finish and a set of sleek metal legs pull it all together. See the transformation here.
11. Make a Memphis-style shelf system.
The simplicity of KALLAX‘s shape means it can transform to suit nearly any style. For an especially funky look, try channeling 1980s Memphis style with circular cutouts, brightly colored accents, and a faux marble finish. Get the DIY instructions here.
12. DIY a glam console table.
Husband-and-wife duo Starr and David added doors to their KALLAX cube shelves for a glam storage system makeover. They added half-round molding to the plywood doors for texture, and then painted it all a dark gray-green — plus added gold pulls.
13. Add extra seating to your dining table.
One of the easiest ways to squeeze more people around your dining table is to use benches. But those can get pricey — especially the ones that come with storage. DIYer Alexis Nicole (@alexisnicolemakes) created a dining nook using two long KALLAX shelves, some trim, white paint, and wood for the lid. Now her nook looks totally custom.