IKEA. It's affordable, the designs are modern and the selection is pretty varied. Still, there's a certain satisfaction that comes from taking a cookie cutter item and putting your own stamp on it. Fortunately, a number of businesses have popped up that make IKEA hacks accessible to even the DIY-challenged.
• O'verlays If you want to take that RAST to the next level, O'verlays may be for you. The decorative fretwork can be applied to many popular IKEA pieces, including the EXPEDIT, LACK and MALM, among others, to create a more luxe look on your flat pack pieces.
• Mykea Another option for custom skins for IKEA furniture is Mykea. The colorful graphics can be easily applied and, if you ever tire of them, just as easily removed without leaving behind any residue. While their designs originate from the Netherlands, US orders are designed and produced domestically - which means shipping is still quite reasonable ($10).
• PANYL We've seen a number of examples of PANYL being expertly utilized here on Apartment Therapy, including the Patchwork Dresser: A West Elm-Inspired IKEA Hack shown above. The self adhesive vinyl skins can be purchased for a specific IKEA piece or you can buy it by the foot and get really creative.
• Prettypegs Customizing IKEA furniture is about more than covering up the fabric or finish. Swedish company Prettypegs lets you dress up the base with colorful and whimsical new feet. They offer affordable shipping around the world ($24 to the US & Canada).
• Bemz This Swedish company offers even more options for recovering your IKEA upholstered pieces. While some covers can cost as much as the furniture itself, Bemz offers the widest range of print and style options.
• Knesting Slip covers for popular IKEA furniture pieces may not be a new concept but Knesting is one of the few companies who makes theirs in the States. Knesting currently offers slipcovers for EKTORP, KARLANDA, KARLSTAD, POANG and more, all made in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Comfort Works This Australian company offers slip covers for IKEA sofas and chairs, as well as curtains and custom cushions. Fabrics range from cotton and linen to velvet and leather. Custom Works ships worldwide with a $24 limit on shipping costs.
• Parts of Sweden From simple add-ons, like furniture legs and handles and knobs, to more inventive items, like the magazine rack for BILLY bookcase that's shown here, Parts of Sweden is a great resource for any IKEA hacker.
• Semihandmade Hacking IKEA pieces doesn't stop with furniture. If you're thinking about installing an IKEA kitchen, or even updating an existing one, Semihandmade can set you up with custom door and drawer fronts.
• Modern Crafts Based in Minneapolis, Modern Crafts gives you another option for custom cabinet doors. Wood options include walnut, bamboo and zebrawood.
(Images: As linked above.)
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Forgive me my naivety, but doesn't all of the above take the joy out of the "hack"...er...customization? It's been awhile, but I used to peruse a couple of websites that pictured the work of Ikea hackers (which included simple customization-facelifts of various pieces) and I'm fairly certain none of them simply ordered the look they envisioned from a website. They created their own from scratch. I'm not against the idea of buying paneling, slipcovers or pegs, but somehow, being able to just order or purchase the new look takes away the very reason to customize and make the Ikea furniture one's own instead of the mass produced product it most certainly is. And I confess that I have an unaltered Aneboda wardrobe book-ended by two Billy bookcases in my apartment. The only customization I bothered with was lining the doors of the wardrobe with blue paper. I rather like them just as they are as they serve the very purpose for which I bought them. But as I always say, to each his/her own!
Can someone post a link to the page of "Uncle Bob"? He used to have an Etsy shop and makes (made?) custom legs for IKEA furniture. I don't find it on Etsy now. TIA!
Here is the link: www.unclebobsworkshop.com
We got 12 mid century feet for our karlstad sofa from uncle bob. It was the best upgrade we could have made. It completely transforms the look of the couch. It looks much more polished and it doesn't scream "ikea" anymore.
I really like the peg legs I ordered from Uncle Bob's Workshop. They make my Karlstad look a bit more special. I ordered oak in medium brown and the total was $50.00 including shipping. Delivery took a while, but he let me know that via e-mail before taking my money. He's one guy in a home workshop as far as I can tell!
http://www.unclebobsworkshop.com/product/furniture-legs/
Thank you!
I see your point but there's a flip side to this coin. These places are successful because they fill a niche in the marketplace and put a bit of customization into the hands of the non diy-er. A niche created, in no small part, by the ingenuity and popularity of the hackers. I'm quite certain the availability of such items will not squash the creativity & imaginations of the true hackers...it's in their blood.
While there will always be those who cash in on the creativity of others (such is the free marketplace and why it works!) I'd betcha dollars to donuts, true hackers are behind a good percentage of the above start-ups. Not only am I happy to see them benefit from their creativity, I admire them for it and I applaud them.
I not likely to avail myself of the above offerings as I prefer to make a piece 'my own'. (well, except for the slipcovers - hey, I don't sew, ok?) Nevertheless, I find them all inspiring and encouraging. I wish them well.
Love the Chevron print slipcover -- so cute!
Uncle Bob is awesome. Great customer service and the legs look so good on our Karlstad.
Your new or used IKEA slipcovers can be professionally dyed by True Color Fabric Dyeing. Create a custom color or choose a color from the website. www.fabricdyeing.com
info@fabricdyeing.com
SDS
@Jen in NM:
Uncle Bob's web site is: http://www.unclebobsworkshop.com/
The link to the furniture legs is: http://www.unclebobsworkshop.com/search/?searchstring=karlstad
If you can't access via the above, I've linked it to photos of my Karlstad sofa on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/k2yhe/4617084452/
I highly recommend his legs! They really are beautiful and for the price, you can't beat it!
I've ordered from Uncle Bob in the past and while I recommend his products, take heed that shipping is not at all fast.
At one time I was enamored with Ikea, but after actually owning their furniture, the store has fallen out of favor with me. If you're setting up a place, I encourage you to peruse CL and consignment stores. This approach definitely takes more patience, but your home will be better for the care and time you took. Couches are very hard to get rid of. Even expensive ones. It's not unusual to find $3000-5000 sofas at a consignment store for the price of an Ikea sofa whose wood you can feel through the cheap stuffing. Just saying...don't make the same mistake I did over the years in thinking Ikea was "just as good". It's not.
I also have the Uncle Bob's tapered brown legs on a Karlstad loveseat. It's held up well over 2+ years now and I also replaced the cover. It's the perfect size for my studio and with the legs and cover does not look "Ikea" at all. My other Ikea purchases were a set of narrow Billy bookcases with the backs off that fit flush and are the perfect depth for the inset wall in my apartment. I am using Rast chests in my large closets -- cheaper than a system. I would never want an "Ikea" apartment, but I think it's about balance. It's worth checking user reviews -- the Karlstad ranks more favorably than many other Ikea couches.
I used to love thrift and consignment shopping but ever since a few apartments in my building reported bugs I will never again buy upholstered used furniture in NYC. Too risky. That being said, I'd definitely look for older, well-constructed items rather than just buy mass-market. I have some mid-century furniture that will probably hold up another generation.
The slipcovers are cute. I agree 100% with consignment as far as case goods which is where Ikea goods tend to end up as landfill. The only reason mine aren't (the drawer fronts fall off when you try to open one) is because it is sitting in a spare room and gets almost no use anymore.
Another happy customer of Uncle Bob's here.
Never mind if it takes a few weeks for those legs to arrive, they are well worth the wait.
Mine have made made me happy every single day for two years now. The transformation is amazing.
I am so excited about pretty pegs! The bases on the IKEA furniture are usually my least favorite part!
I think the stick-ons look a bit tacky. And if you're going to great expense to slipcover a sofa or customize kitchen cabinets, then why not just spend that money on the original items? Having said that, I've found the Ikea products I've purchased over the years have been very durable, and the designs have stood the test of time.
PANYLs are definitely not tacky looking at all. Quite the opposite - very high-end, modern- looking. I got mine a few weeks ago and have gotten so many compliments from friends & family, a couple of who also got them. It's an astonishing product.
Agree with the commenter above responding to the relationship between "pre-fab DIY" and "true DIY". For me, these products offer convenience, and a great-looking result at a great price. I can't get upset that I didn't make everything myself from scratch - I wouldn't even know how to!
O'Verlays people!! I agree the feet need some updating but how about the entire piece being updated?! Whatever your style you will have a truly custom piece! Do you prefer to hack? Then go ahead and add some color to the overlays! AMAZING product!!
For kitchen cabinet doors, also look at Scherr's (http://www.scherrs.com/). While most of the door designs were too traditional for my taste, they do make a very nice Shaker door/drawer front, and they'll paint it in the SW color of your choice. We were very happy with both quality and service. Best of all, the doors/drawers can be pre-drilled for Ikea cabs. About the same price as Ikea doors, too.
I love Pretty Pegs so much! So different!
I am desperate for a Kivik slipcover made from a heavy, extremely washable fabric like denim (ideal) or outdoor fabric. Bemz is the only choice so far and I don't like many of their fabrics. With a bunch of cats I need sturdy and washable, not linens.
I'll second Scherr's --they were really great to work with (it's a family business in ND) and the cabinet doors and drawer fronts they made were perfectly drilled to fit. While I would have loved to install true custom cabinets, it was out of my price range. The combination of Ikea boxes and hardware with custom solid wood fronts and trim made for a beautiful and affordable kitchen remodel.
I recently added O'verlays to my IKEA dresser and I love it! I bought three O'verlays, spray painted them gold and then glued them onto the drawers of my black dresser. I get tons of compliments and the piece really looks upgraded.
These products are just another tool in the hacker toolbox.
I immediately thought about putting some O'verlays on top of Panyl drawer fronts, maybe even with a couple of different Panyl designs under sections of the O'verlay...
My own IKEA furniture is pretty much "as advertised", I like the contemporary plain lines. But it's fun to know some of the amazing ways people transform them...
If you are looking for painted custom kitchen fronts using IKEA boxes, have a look at Dunsmuir Cabinets at www.dcabinets.com It is a contemporary look with integrated handles in your color of choice.