9 Hacks We Discovered Hiding Deep in IKEA’s Website

IKEA might love it when customers hack their products, but I particularly love it when IKEA hacks themselves. I recently dove deep down into their website, and pulled out some of my very favorite decorating and storage projects hiding in there—all of which take their items up a notch or ten.

Here’s a way to add a little interest and style to an otherwise functional yet basic IVAR storage system. Attaching fabric to the previously open sides makes the unit look a little more finished, and the covered drawers add texture and dimension.

Back in 2016, IKEA showed the world how to make a tiny bedroom work for two, using a handful of clever decorating ideas and hacks to make it work. The focal point was this platform storage bed which used METOD kitchen cabinets as its base. You can see how they did it here. The rest of the room is a treasure trove of inspiration as well: take a look at those rolling IVAR units, for example.

IKEA updated a MALM bed with some deep green SANELA velvet curtains, and it’s now a sumptuous piece of furniture with very on-trend channel tufting. This project is a great way to get a boutique hotel look on a budget.

With one wall and a curtain, IKEA created a walk-in closet chock full of versatile storage options that work for all manner of clothes, shoes, and accessories. This idea goes back to 2014 and is just as helpful and relevant today.

And speaking of curtains, this method of creating a canopy bed with VIGDA ceiling mounted sliding hardware is so do-able. It’s not only a beautiful focal point in a bedroom, but also a practical way to divide a small studio space.

During one of IKEA’s home visits, they shared one family’s IKEA’s IVAR unit, which got a bold purple graffiti treatment. It turned their utilitarian laundry room into something special.

This basic curtain project only takes some fabric, rings and hooks and is a clean, simple way to decorate a window. Back in 2015, IKEA came up with three different variations on this theme, with instructions for all right here.

Check out this idea from 2015. In a feature on sky high storage, IKEA rigged a couple of curtain rods with rope and pulleys to take advantage of the ceiling height. Lower them in the morning when you need to get dressed, then raise them up and get them out of the way the rest of the day.

IKEA has a lot of good off-the-shelf options for displaying art, including their line of picture frames and ledges. But I particularly like how they added another layer of possibility with a hanging wire with clips below one of their MOSSLANDA units. Swap out postcards and photographs as often as you like.