25 IKEA Hack Desks Made with PAX, HEMNES, and Other IKEA Favorites
It’s hard to do your best work in a boring, uninspiring space. But it’s a myth that a beautiful workspace takes a huge wad of cash. In fact, a simple trip to IKEA can equip you with everything you need to create an incredible home office that’s both comfortable and practical.
Here, you’ll find gorgeous workspaces — some in home offices, others in workspaces tucked into corners of a living room — that display some seriously clever IKEA furniture flips. Whether you’re hacking the ALEX, updating a KALLAX, zhuzhing up an EKET, or combining IKEA pieces to create something to suit your needs, a customized office space is just an IKEA trip away.
1. A Desk Made from ALEX Drawers and a Kitchen Countertop
The owner of this Brooklyn loft, Shiva Farrokhi, wanted to tuck a two-person desk into this nook but couldn’t find a desk that matched the measurements. So instead, she created her own using the KARLBY wood countertop from IKEA, which she laid on top of two sets of ALEX drawers for extra storage.
2. A Natural Wood Desk Made from Hacked RAST Dressers
For this custom desk in her home office makeover, DIYer Hannah Ries used two three-drawer RAST chests finished with stain and topped with a wood countertop to match. Hannah took her hack to the next level by flipping the RAST chests upside down and adding feet and fresh pulls.
3. A Floating Desk Between Two PAX Wardrobes
This might look like a wall of built-ins, but it’s actually a clever renter-friendly project made with IKEA hacks. DIYer Emily Neal used two PAX wardrobes painted the same green as the wall to make the base of her “built-ins.” Then, she created a floating desk in between using an IKEA countertop perched on wood rails that are fastened into the PAX cabinets.
4. A Waterfall Desk from IKEA Countertops
The desk in this playroom makeover looks fancy thanks to its waterfall edge, but it’s actually made with IKEA finds. The homeowner, Natalie Park, used the IKEA KARLBY walnut veneer countertops to create the desktop and waterfall edge. On the other end, she used a set of ALEX drawers underneath and a cabinet above (both painted a mossy green) to provide plenty of storage.
5. An L-Shaped Desk with EKET Storage
This L-shaped setup that hugs the wall in Luke Lusk’s (@twolinedesign) home office “looks like custom built-ins, but really is just IKEA cabinets with a plywood countertop,” Luke previously told Apartment Therapy. He used IKEA EKETS for the storage pieces and painted the plywood in Behr’s Iced Copper.
6. A Plywood Desk Made with an IVAR cabinet
After pivoting to a WFH lifestyle, DIYers Sarah Wissinger and Nick Malburg squeezed a workstation into their guest bedroom using a plain IKEA IVAR cabinet and a matching plywood top that’s attached to the wall on the left side of the chair.
7. A Desk Made from Blue Painted BESTA Cabinets
Rachel Mae Smith, DIYer and author of The Crafted Life and Colorful Living, created this colorful workspace with two IKEA BESTAs (a double unit and a single unit) and a slab of wood (painted white) for the desktop. She painted the textured BJÖRKÖVIKEN doors bright blue (Behr’s Deep River), and each orange leg beneath the desk adds a pop of color, too.
8. A Triple-Decker Desk Made with HEJNE and IVAR
A freestanding IKEA desk fits snugly under this étagère IKEA HEJNE and IVAR shelf creation by Amara of @thepajaamahubhome. Amara writes on Instagram that this setup is the perfect way to use vertical space in an office, and that the IVAR collection “is so versatile and can be combined in a number of ways to create bespoke pieces.”
9. A Decoupaged White IKEA Desk
This vintage IKEA desk was decoupaged with a 1989 atlas, which Clare Spooner scored from her parents’ attic. You could get a similar look by using wallpaper samples on the KALLAX desk or the ultra-affordable TORALD desk (just $29.99!).
10. A Built-in Desk to Match the Cabinetry
This sun-filled home office by @my.millennium.maison features both an IKEA desk and cabinet, in a monochromatic hue and with matching drawer pulls. It comes together to create an upscale, cohesive style. A HAVSTA cabinet can give you a similar look.
11. A Desk Made with BESTA Cabinet Bases
IKEA BESTA cabinets are the foundation for this cool, mid-mod IKEA desk hack by @prettylittleterrace. She’s put a desktop on two BESTA cabinets and covered the front with rattan and used the same paint color for the desk and the wall. Both elements, along with the pink chair, give the office a touch of mid-century flair.
12. A Wall-to-Wall Desk from ALEX Filing Cabinets
A sage green accent wall and a large connected workspace made out of ALEX filing cabinets make for a much-improved office space for a family of three.
13. An L-Shaped Desk Made with ALEX Drawers
Whether it’s a home office for several employees, or a homework area for a bunch of little ones, this IKEA desk hack by @jamie.levenhagen allows plenty of space for everyone. And of course, having multiple IKEA ALEX drawers keeps the desk area clutter-free by providing storage for everyday items.
14. A Live-Edge Desk with an ALEX Base
An elegant slab of stained live-edge wood on top of two IKEA ALEX drawers is the perfect minimalist desk setup in this small but elegant home office by @hartnettcj.
15. A Mid-Century-Style Desk Made with IKEA EKETS
A long piece of birch plywood rests atop two separate IKEA EKET cabinets in this beautiful home office by @1930s_semi_charmed_life. The peaceful green hue of the cabinets combines with natural wood tones throughout for a mid-century modern aesthetic.
16. A Double Desk from MICKEs and KALLAX Cubes
Digital creator @Seasonsincolour placed two MICKE desks together to create a fantastic homeschool spot for her kids. Eagle-eyed viewers may even spot IKEA KALLAX cubes affixed to the wall above the desks for extra storage.
17. A Double Workstation Made with ALEX Drawers
A white IKEA ALEX filing system works perfectly as a desk hack in this chic dining room office by @back.to.brick.14. The drawers sit at the center of this double desk, and sleek table legs hold up either end.
18. An Asymmetrical Desk with ALEX Drawers
Add a touch of asymmetry to your IKEA desk by copying this cool look from IKEA Hackers. They’ve chosen to use an IKEA ALEX cabinet on one side for convenient storage, while donning a set of slim desk legs on the other side for a look that’s a break from the norm.
19. A Multilevel Desk with Storage
When two desks overreach their space limit, it’s time to add a third surface into the mix, like this workstation by @woodlandstylehouse, which could work well for two teenagers or roommates. The extra tabletop on this IKEA desk hack provides an additional area to spread out when needed, along with serving as a divider between the work zones.
20. A Nested Workspace Under a Long Desk
This IKEA desk hack by @letsmakeitsparkle is ideal for those who need a little extra space, but want to keep a minimalist feel. Simply pull it out when extra work needs to be done, and tuck it back under the desk when you’re finished.
21. An Ultrasmall Space Desk from an IKEA EKBY ALEX
To squeeze a desk into a small space — like a studio or an already-crowded family room —follow this tutorial by Lauren Koster. She simply wrapped the EKBY ALEX shelf (which conveniently comes with two drawers built in!) in stained oak, then added hairpin legs.
22. A Colorful Desk Made from MICKE Drawers
To create this clever IKEA desk hack, Chelsea Foy, the blogger behind Lovely Indeed, attached table legs to a LINNMON tabletop, then added a set of MICKE drawers for storage space. But the next step is what really sets this DIY apart: Once the desk was fully assembled, Foy added colorful adhesive vinyl to each drawer for extra cheer.
23. A Full-Wall Desk with KALLAX Storage
This giant desk makes for an impressive statement piece in any home office, but the real draw is all of the storage space it provides. To preserve floor space in a small room, Jennifer Flores used an IKEA desk hack and took advantage of the vertical space by securing EXPEDIT (now discontinued, but similar to KALLAX) bookcases to the wall above the desk.
24. A Long Desk Made from IKEA Dressers
Emily Lex used three IKEA HEMNES dressers, a wooden countertop, and some pretty brass pulls to craft a desk for two people in a garage apartment. The result is a sleek and inviting workspace that looks custom-built.
25. A HEMNES Dresser Desk with Statement Hardware
Similarly, this beautiful desk that sits in a lovely home office by @emilylexstudio rests atop two sets of IKEA HEMNES dressers. This clever IKEA desk hack is a favorite, as the drawers function as a great way to reduce desktop clutter and store important items. The light wood desktop works perfectly with the white dressers to create an elegant yet functional workspace.