IKEA’s Showrooms Convinced Me to Put Coat Hooks Above My Bed

Ah, the IKEA showrooms: Some shoppers like to bypass them altogether, while others like to use them to play house. But I encourage all you showroom skippers to take a careful look around the next time you find yourself wandering through the Swedish superstore. You’ll notice they’re actually packed with some truly ingenious small-space styling inspo.

I took the scenic route myself on a recent IKEA trip, in search of said small-space solutions for my bedroom — and as always, the showrooms delivered. I found myself drawn to this dark green bedroom specifically, although it wasn’t the paint that had me hooked (pun intended!). One simple hack stole the show for me: the rail of hooks installed just above the bed. 

I actually own this exact same wall hook rack, the PINNIG, but in my mind it always belonged in the entryway; I never once thought to install it above my bed. Here, IKEA shows three next to each other to create one long, continuous piece. They styled the setup by adding several hats, a large wall clock, and a plant to hang from the hooks.  

The result is a stylish and storage-savvy solution that kills two bedroom birds with one stone: not only do the hooks create more storage, but they also help fill the space between the headboard and the ceiling. 

That awkward wall space between the top of the headboard and the ceiling is a design dilemma I’m all too familiar with; I’ve been struggling with how to fill that space in my own bedroom. And I’ve also been looking for a way to display some of my cute clothes and accessories (when properly and intentionally styled, I think fashion accessories can count as home decor, too!). If I were to try out this trick in my own bedroom, I’d use the hooks to hang a plant or two along with a few of my favorite bags, scarves, and hats. 

This IKEA “hack” is pretty much the holy trinity of small-space design: It fills an awkward space, it adds storage, and it’s affordable. At just $29.99 apiece for the hooks, I’d be solving two major problems in my apartment for under $100. So remember: Next time, don’t skip the showrooms! IKEA is full of fabulous home finds and deals, but inspiration is free — and truly priceless.