Before & After: Black Shiplap and an IKEA Hack Transform This Uninspired Desk Space
Lindi wasn’t sure what to do with this awkward space on the side of her living room. “It didn’t really have a function and was largely unused,” she says. But soon she found her vision: Her home lacked a community work area where her kids could hunker down over homework and Lindi could edit images for her blog.
Black vertical shiplap anchors the space, and floating wood shelves in a dark stain add depth—and match the desk. The result: a dark, moody space perfect for processing bright images or puzzling over tricky math questions.
Lindi’s biggest splurge were the upholstered chairs, which add a richness to the setup—and allow two people to work at once. To keep unsightly cables from flopping all over her gorgeous set-up, Lindi installed a hidden power outlet that blends in with the dark wood.
In total, the project cost only $570 CAD. That’s less than $500 American dollars! One money-saving secret: a clever IKEA hack. Lindi found the white filing cabinets in IKEA’s as-is section and found they contrasted perfectly with the dark shiplap.
And if you’re wondering what that hidey-hole is at the bottom, prepare for extreme jealousy: It’s a secret entrance to Lindi’s kids’ playroom.
Want to see the whole build? Check out the highlights on Instagram.
Thanks, Lindi!