The Best Home Hacks

The cube-shaped EKET cabinet has us thinking outside the box, to all the stackable, modular options this simple design presents. By adding wheels to the bottom and stacking one on top of another using Velcro, you can easily switch out the cabinets or roll them from room-to-room—proving that this little storage unit has big potential.

When you combine any full-of-promise IKEA product and a $5 can of spray paint, the results are nothing short of a DIY miracle. Whether coated with a glamorous layer of gold, or covered in a lush, nature-inspired green, it’s amazing how a simple color change can make these IKEA pieces almost unrecognizable. Thanks to some spray paint, these chameleons are able to blend into any environment—yet remain the stars of the show.

Most people think of storage pieces as a bit of a necessary evil. Nobody gets excited about chests of drawers or towel bars — or do they? We love a good IKEA hack, and we especially love IKEA hacks that turn hardworking furniture that expands the storage capacity of your space into a statement piece that makes the room. The result of these projects is the best of all possible worlds — furniture that’s budget-friendly, functional, and also beautiful.

Sug-what? Pronounced seew-grew, this sticky substance is like moldable glue that’s clay-like out of the package, then hardens to rubber after 24 hours. People have found all sorts of ways to fix and create things with this flexible, interesting stuff. But perhaps most intriguing is its potential for renters.

The first time I saw Sugru, I was admittedly skeptical. A coworker was smearing it on a torn phone charger cord, and it seemed like the kind of mushy Play-Doh you didn’t necessarily want to slather all over your nice, clean electronics. But a couple days later, my work pal showed me the repaired charger—the rubber had hardened, but could still be bent, and the charger itself worked like a charm. Now I’m a Sugru convert.

IKEA says: Perfect for the living room, KVISTBRO storage table is a great way of combining the function of a sofa table with practical storage and attractive display. Based on a metal basket design, the wired pattern is beautiful in itself, but the basket can also be used for displaying all sorts of things like blankets, books or even kids toys. What We Predict: Wire baskets are endlessly useful— little superstars that fit in every room of the house.

IKEA says: The FLEKKE daybed is four functions in one: seating, single bed, bed for two, and two big drawers for storage. The backrest mounts on the right or the left side of the daybed. Real wood veneer will make this bed age gracefully. What We Predict: Buyers will find countless ways to make this daybed more custom, not to mention comfortable. DIYers will capitalize on the built-in storage and make it even more functional for small spaces.

Bar carts are entertaining secret weapons: 1) They free up kitchen storage from all those liquor bottles; 2) they encourage guests to help themselves; and 3) when styled nicely, they just look so festive, sparkly, and adult-ish —they are party decorations on wheels. While IKEA doesn’t sell one per se, their products offer endless opportunities to hack a bar cart that’ll cost less than a round of drinks.

No matter if you have a non-existent entryway or a spacious foyer, this is one of those spots where clutter seems to pile up before anyone notices. Lucky for us, we can always count on IKEA as an endless source of inspiration for team clutter control. Add one of these hacks or upgrades to your entryway and you’ll gain some extra storage space that also makes a great first impression. When in doubt, wall mount.

One of the best things about IKEA pieces is the myriad ways you can tweak, hack, tinker with, and customize them to create beautiful, unique pieces on a reasonable budget. And the changes you make don’t have to be big, time-consuming ones — sometimes all it takes is just a little effort (and a little ingenuity) to turn a piece into something you’ll be proud to show off. Take a look at these seven super-simple IKEA hacks.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.