I’m Blown Away by This Sneaky Space-Dividing IKEA Hack (That Only Cost $200!)

There’s something special about open-concept layouts. Not only do these airy rooms feel spacious, but they also allow for a sense of community. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people started opting for closed layouts with separate spaces. 

Brittney Morgan and her wife, Sara, are two folks who wanted to divide the open living room in their eclectic Nashville apartment. “I wanted to create an entryway instead of having the door just open right up into the apartment (with nowhere to drop keys or take off shoes!) but still let light through, as there aren’t a lot of windows and it can get kind of dark in the main living space,” Brittney explained at the time of the tour.

But because their apartment is a rental, they couldn’t necessarily install an existing wall. So, Brittney and Sara looked to IKEA’s KALLAX system to divide the space. Functionality was key, too. The couple added cabinet doors and baskets to hide frequently used items (one cabinet is even a junk drawer!) and kept the top rows open to let natural light pass through and display objects. Plants adorn the top of the shelf, adding a green touch to the room. 

“It’s the first thing people notice when they walk in, and they always ask if we added it ourselves (and are always surprised when we tell them it’s from IKEA, despite the KALLAX being such a classic, iconic piece from the brand),” Brittney explained at the time of the tour. 

The IKEA piece, which costs less than $200, adds functionality to the room by giving them ample storage space. Its placement has also created a vestibule to decompress from the day, shedding away the layers of the outside world before entering the home. 

Brittney and Sara’s clever idea to use the IKEA piece to differentiate space isn’t the only ingenious design choice. To see more, visit the full home tour.