IKEA is one of the best resources for affordable furniture. To make items from IKEA match the rest of your home decor, all you have to do is add some paint. But our favorite IKEA hacks take it just a step further than a simple color change. With a touch of creativity, they make the simple and affordable look high-end and trendy.
This quick project can be done in a single afternoon. All you need is a bookcase, a few pieces of wood or particle board and a little bit of paint. Get the look of a Pottery Barn entryway storage shelf without the insane price tag.
What do you get when you attach legs to an IKEA bookcase? A bar was the original inspiration for this table, but it has plenty of other uses. It doesn't require any cutting or measuring, just drilling a few holes and adding the legs.
Instead of trying to search for a desk that will fit into your room, you can make one that's exactly the size you need. In fact, it can be done for less than $60.
Two short bookcases for the base and a piece of wood cut to the size you need for the top. Just place the board across the top of the bookcases – it really is that easy.
This is another easy bookcase project (can you tell we like IKEA bookcases?). Make a window seat by covering a piece of foam in your choice of fabric to create a cushion for the bench. Or you can take it to the next level by covering a piece of plywood with foam and fabric to make a backboard.
Enough about bookcases – moving on to magazine files. Create a unique coffee table that is modern and functional. The really cool thing about it is that you can instantly alter the look of it whenever you want. And the best part? All you need to hold it together is heavy-duty glue. No drills. No screws. Just glue.
Most DIY headboards are pieces of plywood covered in fabric – but not this one. For a cute rustic headboard, grab a plain headboard from IKEA and a case or two of Stikwood.
Once you've cut the pieces of Stikwood to your desired length, just stick it onto the headboard.
Here's another hack for a cool desk or side table. Figure out a creative design and combine a few pieces of wood on the end legs of a basic table.
It will take a bit of imagination, but can be a one-of-a-kind original that only you get to enjoy.
Only have 30 minutes for a project? You can quickly make shelves by placing pieces of wood on the rungs of an IKEA towel rack. Unbelievable easy? Check. Chic and unique? Check and check.
Rustic furniture is supposed to have a homespun country look – so why should you pay a designer price for it? By making this at home, it will give it more of a rural vibe.
Paint a few 2 x 4 pieces of wood and drill them into an inexpensive IKEA table. No Pottery Barn prices here, either.
Do you ever have a rug design in your head that you think will go perfectly with a room, only to find out, after searching for weeks, that it doesn't exist? Search no more.
Get a rug in a solid color and use tape to create your design. Paint over the rug with whichever colors you want, remove the tape, and voila. Your perfect rug awaits.