19 Easy IKEA Desk Hacks that’ll Boost Your Productivity

No one works best in a boring, uninspiring space. But it’s a myth that a beautiful workspace takes a wad of cash. In fact, a simple trip to IKEA (along with our list of amazing IKEA desk hacks) can equip you with everything you need to create an incredible office that’s both comfortable and practical.

Here, you’ll find gorgeous work spaces — some in home offices, others in work spaces tucked into corners of a living room — that display some seriously clever IKEA furniture flips. Whether you’re hacking the ALEX, updating a KALLAX, or zhuzhing up an EKET, a customized office space is just an IKEA trip away.

This vintage IKEA desk was decoupaged with a 1989 atlas, which Clare Spooner all scored from her parents’ attic (umm, can we peruse this space soon?). We love a good sustainable hack — especially one that’s so colorful and dare we say, inspiring.

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 look we love.

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.

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 drawers keeps the desk area clutter-free by providing storage for everyday items.

A sage green accent wall and a large connected workspace made out of ALEX filing cabinets all make for a much-improved office space for a family of three.

An elegant slab of stained live edge wood adorns the IKEA ALEX filing cabinet in this small but elegant home office by @hartnettcj.

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. 

@Seasonsincolour used several pieces from the IKEA PAX collection 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. 

A white IKEA ALEX filing system works perfectly as an IKEA desk hack in this chic dining room office by @back.to.brick.14. Blue velvet chairs mirror the ones at the dining room table for a cohesive look. 

Add a touch of asymmetry to your IKEA desk by copping 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.

When two desks overreach their space limit, it is 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.

For those who are tight on square footage, floating desks like the ones shown here by @playroominspo are the perfect option to maximize your room to create a functional office space. In this IKEA desk hack, two desks are fixed to the wall, saving up space to allow for other functions in the room.

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.

To create a sleek workspace for two, Holly and Brad Lauritzen strategically spaced three gray ALEX drawer units and topped them with a beech GERTON tabletop. Organizational pieces—like white file folder drawers—and decor elements—like chalkboards—up the practicality factor of this desk.

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 shelf (which conveniently comes with two drawers built in!) in stained oak, then added hair pin legs.

To create this insanely inspired IKEA desk hack, Chelsea Foy, the blogger behind Lovely Indeed attached HILVER table legs to a LINNMON table top, 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 to add cheer.

This giant desk makes for an impressive statement piece in any home office, but the real draw is all of the storage space. To preserve floor space in a small room, Jennifer Flores used an IKEA desk hack to take advantage of the vertical space by securing EXPEDIT bookcases to the wall above the desk.

Emily Lex used three IKEA desks, 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.

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, since 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.