The Best Home Hacks

Living in a studio apartment presents some unique challenges—your bed is always right there, your kitchen is practically non-existent, and let’s not even get started on entertaining—but it also opens up opportunities for creative solutions. Rather than buy ready-made furniture or shelves that were designed for a much larger home, DIY perfectly proportioned decor and you might find that your place feels less crowded.

If you’re short on space, lofting your bed is one of the best ways to magically gain square footage. However, sleeping in the sky is not without its challenges—I’m looking at you, late-night ladder navigation. Here are 14 ways to make your loft bed dreamy. The built-in cubby smartly stores extra pillows and blankets—and books, if you’re me. The addition of a bedside outlet is so helpful, allowing for a phone charger, radio, fan, and more.

making a comeback 9″ x 11″ frame that has an interior depth of at least ¾” and spring-loaded backing clips on the back of the frame. I used this picture frame. 36″ x 12″ piece of black felt 1″ White plastic letters Pencil Scissors Ruler or T-Square Hot glue gun Mitre or circular saw Qty 18 – 3/16″ thick square balsa wood dowels, 24″ long 1.

In their original states, a white pendant lamp and an unframed mirror are blank canvases for creativity. Add the beauty of natural woven fibers and some hits of eye-catching color, and you have a sunny lamp that will brighten any room and a mirror that will turn heads. Put these two DIY ideas on your summer project list so you can enjoy the results all year long.

Serena & Lily IKEA FJELLSE Bed (I only had space for a single, but go for the queen!) Molding of your choosing (I used two of these from Home Depot) Set of IKEA VÄSENTLIG Curtain Finials White Spray Paint Set of Table Legs (I used these from Lowe’s) 2 Tee Nuts (make sure the thread size matches your table legs) 24″ Open Cane Webbing Wood Glue Saw Hammer Clamps Staplegun 1. Spray paint all the pieces before you get started. 2.

Bottles covered in macramé, or knotted rope, are an old school craft — the result reads either nautical or Bohemian. The netting’s an easy way to add texture and decorative pattern to a surface, and it works particularly well with glass bottles and tall vases. Learn how to do it here, and then start knotting! IKEA 365+ Glass Carafe Twine Scissors 1. Tie a circle of twine around the top of the glass bottle.

IKEA’s MELODI pendant lamp is a really great blank slate — there are a million ways to tweak and hack one to make it yours. Weave the plastic shade with natural round reed get a contrasting mix of materials that’s both organic and modern. IKEA MELODI Pendant Lamp Natural Round Reed Scotch Tape Spray Paint (optional) Tools Drill & Bits X-Acto Knife Measuring Tape Pen 1. Wrap the tape measure around the diameter of the lamp and put an odd number of pen marks on the shade.

The only thing better than a brand new IKEA hack is five brand new IKEA hacks, all in one bedroom. Can you tell which bunch of DIY projects began their lives as items from the Swedish big blue retailer? Here are the projects, and the IKEA items used to make them: 1. The WHITE CANE BED uses the FJELLSE Pine Twin Bed ($39.99) as a base, and dresses it up with woven cane, molding strips, curtain finials, and a lot of spray paint. For the full tutorial: → How to Hack An IKEA FJELLSE Bed 2.

There’s really no need to spend big bucks on garden decor. Look around the house or scour places like Goodwill and flea markets for common items you can turn into planters, feeders, furniture, and decorations on the cheap. Above, this mid-century modern style bird bath from The Red Jet was created with the legs of one of those round plywood decorators tables and an inexpensive bowl —both of which are easily found at Goodwill.

This is my children’s small bedroom. The semi-flush mount ceiling light (which reminds me of a ravioli) is an improvement over our last apartment’s “boob light”, but is still boring and screams “builder grade.” Someday I might replace the whole fixture but in the meantime I was looking for a quick, cheap improvement that didn’t require turning off the circuit breaker. I found it…at IKEA of course.

If you’re looking for clever ways to update your backyard or patio, without dipping into your ice cream budget, these projects are right in line with your priorities. They add seating, storage and decor for very little cash. Above, VT Wonen combined buckets and wood to make cheap and plentiful seating for outside. Add some spray paint and felt to some grapevine string lights for a welcome addition to your outdoor wall. From Drawn to DIY.

While I’m not the type of person to cut off all her jeans on the first hot day of the year—I only have two pairs, after all—I can’t help but appreciate the inherent summery-ness of a well-done pair of cutoffs. This summer, transform old jeans, horribly out-of-date jean skirts, and denim yardage into pieces you’ll be rocking all season long.

Zach is an all-around creative sort of guy —photographer, filmmaker, art director. Wanting to travel in search of stories to tell, he brought his considerable talent to bear on an old cargo van, making it into a super stylish mobile apartment and studio. He’s now driving around the country, doing freelance work and following his dreams. Zach stripped the van and built it back up with solar panels, working electric, and even a fridge.

Decorating an entire dorm room from scratch can sound overwhelming, until you think about it this way: You now have one big (well, not so big) blank slate to make your own. All of these IKEA project ideas will add serious style to your place, but at IKEA prices, you’ll still have enough cash left over for those 50-cent hot dogs. The peppy colors and punchy patterns on these little alarm clocks will wake up your dorm room.

If you scoff at people who paint an IKEA dresser and call it a hack, this post is for you. These projects take hacking to a completely new level, transforming multiple items into something unusual and noteworthy. They are Frankensteinian yes, but all the more interesting for it. All of these hacks were commissioned by IKEA for its Space 10 living lab in Copenhagen, which was conceived as a place to test new product ideas and discover ways to increase our well-being.

First impressions count right? One of the first things any visitor will notice about your home is the doormat. While many opt for the typical brown grassy mat, you don’t have to settle for a boring design. Add custom messages, cut shapes, and play with color! There are many inexpensive ways to add personality and give guests a happy place to wipe their shoes.

What can you make from IKEA’s most utilitarian offering, you ask? Well what can’t you make? The SULTAN LADE bed slats are a $10 take home add-on that make IKEA’s platform beds feasible without a boxspring, but they’re also simply just a bunch of raw pieces of lumber stapled together to a polyester cord.

First there were tension rods. Then came the drawer pulls. More recently it was shelf brackets. But did you know that you can use finials in all sorts of ways, beyond curtain rods? Above, Sarah Klassen shared this excerpt from The New French Décor, by Gilles Trillard, which shows glass canisters modified with finials as tops. Chris Plantan caps off her book stacks with sculptural antique finials, which decorate her gorgeous partners desk. As seen on Design Sponge.

Even if you got stuck in there for a whole afternoon (and, let’s be honest, who hasn’t?), you might still never see every little thing the IKEA marketplace has to offer. Take, for instance, the untreated wooden magazine file the Swedish retailer likes to call KNUFF. It’s affordable and so unassuming you might miss it if you weren’t looking for it, but the KNUFF can be used for a whole host of things around the house.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had shampoo explode in your luggage. Or if you’ve ever had a really unnecessary spat with your spouse about loading dirty dishes into a clean dishwasher. See? These things are totally universal problems that we all face. And that means, yes, somebody’s already thought of the perfect solution. Solution: This case from Lovely Indeed, made from a Tic Tac container.

We love good IKEA hacks and even more so when they solve small space problems.

Want to give those plain old IKEA frames a little extra bit of pizazz? Of course you do! Here are seven creative (and very inexpensive!) ways to dress them up using paint, tape, and a variety of creative techniques. Above: All it takes is a little spray paint to add gold corners, and a little touch of glam, to a RIBBA frame. DIY from Repolished.

The biggest benefit to buying IKEA isn’t to your wallet, it’s to your creativity. The fact that IKEA stocks so many affordable lines means that you can feel free to hack, adapt and remix the different pieces to suit your needs. But because we all know that the secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources, here are some ideas to get you started (don’t tell anyone!).

It’s finally spring! Time to dust off the door handle, step outside to your apartment balcony and start enjoying the great weather. While you’re out there, take stock at what you might need for the outdoor season ahead. A small table? Stools? A vertical garden? Planters? Whatever you need, you can source it affordably from IKEA–with just a little bit of crafty hack action to make your patio super chic.

These are also so helpful, and so very cute to boot.

IKEA’s SIGNE rugs are a bargain at $3.99 each, and are a durable (and washable) material that’s handy for tons of DIY projects. See how easy it is to take one of these simple striped flat-weave rugs and turn it into something else entirely. If you need something long, try stitching a few together to make an elongated runner. Clara (in the lead image above) also embellished hers with some felt leaves. IKEA itself suggests turning their striped goodies into floor pillows.

Those Swedes are pretty clever with their stylish designs and flat-pack furniture, but we U.S. residents have a few tricks up our sleeves as well. We can take IKEA products, mess with them a bit, and come up with something new that solves multiple problems at the same time. Check out these smart projects that meet at least two needs with one single hack.

To pull off a truly spectacular IKEA hack, you need tools, talent and an unflappable vision. You need to be able to look at a footstool and see a shelving unit. Can you tell what IKEA products inspired each of these nearly unrecognizable hacks? Workspace shelving from Dutch magazine vtwonen, made from a FROSTA stool. This table was crafted from an ANTONIUS laundry hamper by The Clever Bunny.

The options are endless.

A good majority of us have been there- that moment when you realize your phone is headed straight for a big puddle/tub/bowl of liquid. The moment that practically guarantees you have to buy a very expensive replacement. But if you’re quick enough, you may be able to throw one last Hail Mary and revive your digital device from the brink of death with this pantry staple. 2-4 cups instant rice Large zip top bag 1. As soon as possible (seconds count, act fast!

Galvanized stock tanks and troughs are essentially huge tubs which can be turned into or reused as any number of things. Depending on the context, they can read modern, industrial, or farmhouse. Learn all the ways you can hack them and create something spectacular and useful for your home. Bathroom Tubs: Jayme used a large round tank as a bathtub in her in warm and inviting modernist home in Philadelphia.

Adapt these common household items to use throughout the house.

IKEA’s KALLAX storage is so versatile as is, that it just makes hacks all that more wonderful. Astral wanted closed storage for her craft room and office, but also needed it to be modular in case her space requirements changed. The after adds a little height and a lot of personality: From Astral: The plan was to make a modular credenza for storage.

Just in time for summer gardening, Brooke from Prettyography shares this great idea for transforming a common thrift store find into something awesome for everyday use in the kitchen. Vintage ice bucket Twist-ties (2) Charcoal filter Washi tape Drill and drill bits 1. Prep the lid to be drilled. Remove any handle (if necessary). 2. Place washi tape around the center of the lid. This step will let you drill holes without the plastic cracking. 3.

Nothing threatens a closet full of clothes more than moths. And they can invade even the most well-organized closet. These pesky creatures are responsible for holes in your favorite clothing, and oftentimes, the problem occurs completely unbeknownst to you. Like pantry moths and other pests, these silent clothing killers multiply quickly, too, so it’s a problem you’ll want to solve quickly with a good moth repellent.

One of our favorite things about IKEA is the ingenious upgrades these simple designs inspire. You might never guess, if you saw them in person, that the bookshelves above began their life humbly flatpacked into a cardboard box. But they did! Here are seven different DIY projects that began with basics from that Swedish retailer, and ended with pieces that would be at home in the poshest of interiors. Above: Super-snazzy built-in Billys from The Makerista.

The tiniest, most adorable kitchens you ever did see.

Transforming IKEA furniture — and especially the BILLY bookshelf — has been done before. But when I saw this hack, I was truly impressed. Prepare to have a bunch of superlatives spewed your way, because it’s really that good… Gwen from The Makerista recently redecorated her friend Laura’s living room and, as part of the project, brought someone in to create these remarkable “custom” library shelves, using the IKEA Billy as the base.

Each day my postal worker delivers my mail through the slot securely wrapped in a single rubber band. Multiply that single band by sheer number of days and— needless to say—those rubber bits pile up. I’ve tried to refuse them to no avail, and I won’t throw them out. So they keep coming and I’m left to find alternate uses for the things.

As a proud parent of a cat, a pup, and a lot of plants, I’m a firm believer that family also includes our adorable pets. And family members deserve beautiful and functional surroundings.You might have already upgraded your own spaces with IKEA hacks for your bathroom, tiny kitchen, and closets, but if you haven’t given your cats their own IKEA hacks then it’s time to change that. After all, your cats can appreciate a good IKEA hack just as much as the next human.

We’ve all experienced it at one point: fruit flies, first a few then an infestation surrounding your fruit bowl. They’re pesky little critters, but we’ve found the best way to rid your kitchen of them. Here are our quick instructions for making a fruit fly trap with just a few simple materials. Vinegar, fruit or wine (apple cider vinegar works especially well) Glass or jar Sheet of paper Tape Find a suitable glass or jar.

Call them hacks, or makeovers, or just plain paint jobs, but these 25 DIY projects show you just what’s possible with IKEA’s TARVA dresser. It’s an unfinished wood blank slate, waiting for your personal stamp of style. Check out these ideas and finished projects, and try one yourself this weekend.

We often turn to IKEA for cheap storage options, which makes their basic wardrobes a popular item in a lot of homes. Clever DIY projects and hacks pop up as people discover ways to upgrade the units to look more expensive and custom-built in their spaces. Here are 8 great projects to think about yourself: Designer Tommy Smythe updated his PAX doors with molding and vintage knobs. Combined with the sleek black paint, this new storage looks high-end and beautiful.

These IKEA hacks will take some effort, sure. But, you won’t need any power tools, extension cords or impossibly tiny allen wrenches for these transformations. These are the sort of projects you could do in a few hours with some of your existing IKEA furniture (or hey, if you want to get wild and brave IKEA to purchase a fresh piece to hack, knock yourself out). You could enjoy looking at — and using! — these projects by tonight.

Nothing adds character to a space like art. But if you’re on a tight budget, your options might be a little limited. You could make like a college student and thumbtack a poster of The Starry Night to your wall — or you could make like a savvy DIYer and take some thrift store art to the next level. Related Video: The Secret To Buying Thrift Store Art Here are six ideas for updating thrift store art.

Salad greens are very easy to start by seed and can be grown indoors near a sunny window or outdoors on a small balcony since they don’t require pollination. You can either start seeds in small pots and transfer them to a larger container when they are ready, or just plant them right in to the soil. The latter is the easiest way for small space indoor gardening.

Don’t pay for extra packaging and products when you can make your own scented linen powder in a few easy steps. Your sheets will thank you. And if you like this, try a laundry booster and stain fighter, or a vinegar rinse to replace your fabric softener. Materials: 2 cups Baking Soda 1 bunch Fresh Herbs or Citrus Peel Oven or Microwave Blender, Electric Spice Grinder or Mortar and Pestle 1 Pint Glass Jar with screw on lid Awl or Hammer and Nail 1.

Here’s an oldy but a goody that’s even more relevant now as MORE people are doing it… I recently bought my first pair of “serious” jeans. The reason I know this is because as I was standing at the register about to pay A LOT of money for them, a cool dude who was standing next to me at the register said, “Oh, you’re going to like those.” “Do you have a pair?” I asked him.