When Professionals Hack: IKEA Projects That Are Both Extreme & Extremely Creative

If you scoff at people who paint an IKEA dresser and call it a hack, this post is for you. These projects take hacking to a completely new level, transforming multiple items into something unusual and noteworthy. They are Frankensteinian yes, but all the more interesting for it.

All of these hacks were commissioned by IKEA for its Space 10 living lab in Copenhagen, which was conceived as a place to test new product ideas and discover ways to increase our well-being. Above is the Roller Boy, a plant cart designed by Spacon & X. It’s designed to “grow fresh air” inside closed buildings and make breathing a better experience.

Danish designer Maaike Fransen dreamed up a slightly more tongue in cheek project. She calls this configuration a workstation for lazy people. IKEA carts and mattresses are the basis of the chaise-like chairs, where employees can lounge as they work away. The desks are made of two LACK tables joined together with an IKEA shelf.

Reform is a Danish company who collaborates with well-known architects to hack a basic IKEA kitchen. Bjarke Ingals Group (BIG) developed the custom doors above using seat belt fabric. Reform now manufactures those doors for customers to use with their IKEA bases.

Take one RISATORP kitchen cart, a couple of round SKOGSVÅG mirrors, a shelf, and throw them all together to get this double-sided vanity. The eyes on the chairs are a particularly amusing addition, also from Maille Fransen.