Mr. T: another iMac standing desk

Materials: EXPEDIT Shelving unit 4x4 (white), 2x LACK Wall shelf 30x26cm (white), 79x39x1.8cm beech work plate, 50x24x25.cm beech work plate, 2 CAPITA console stainless steel, some EXPEDIT gear

Description: Recently I began to feel unhappy with my current home office environment. At work I am sitting all day in front of my iMac and when I get home I really didn't feel like sitting anymore. So I started looking for alternative ways of working and thought about my last job where we had tables to move up and down in case we felt more like standing at work. I loved this option but since there isn't enough space anyway in out home office (we're sharing about 12. 5m^2) a real desk wasn't an option anymore. After a long and frustrating search I discovered ikeahackers and started to look through the workspaces shown here. The desk which at last I liked the most because of its simplicity and small space consumption was [When iMac goes to work] by Piritea from Italy.

Having this in mind, my girl and I drove to IKEA and walked through the LACK department and talked about that the LACK shelf was guaranteed to hold 3kg and how my iMac weights about 18. something. Talking to some of the IKEA staff members and putting together some pieces of work plate we had as a leftover of earlier self-made-furniture we designed Mr. T using two LACK wall shelves as a stand for the iMac, an EXPEDIT 4x4 shelving unit and the gorgeous CAPITA consoles. 

Bracelet from IKEA Lillholmen Cotton pad holder

Materials: Lillholmen Cotton pad holder

Description: A cotton pad holder can be made into bracelets. Draw a line across the cotton pad holder where you want to cut it. The best tool for this is a waterproof marker and a paper line with the width of the required bracelet, wrapped around the metal.

Open Your Home with Spare Doors

Materials: As Is Ikea Glass Front Doors

Description: By gathering identical glass-front doors from Ikea's As-Is department, I've assembled two walls of framed posters. The first one uses identical rustic glass-front doors. I taped Broadway posters to the back and drilled a small hole to hang them on screws in the wall. I then hung seven of them on an angle across the entire wall.

On the Miles Davis poster, I laid out identical square doors leaving equidistant spaces between each door. I marked with pencil and cut the poster to fit behind each door, while keeping the proportions intact. This allowed me to hide the wrinkles in the poster from it being rolled up and poorly stored for years. I used the pre-drilled handle hole on the door and put a large screw through it to hang each door as a frame.

Lastly, I used a large Ikea glass door to create this pot rack. By drilling screw eye hooks through the door and bolting them underneath, I hung them evenly on small chain links to plant hooks in the ceiling. I made sure to use plant hooks with toggle bolts to hold the weight of a full rack. The screw eye hooks on the bottom then only required S-hooks to hold the pots and pans. The glass allows the ceiling light to shine right through.

~ Michael A

Ribba jewelry display frame

Materials: Ribba frame, chicken wire, cork, carbon tube and hangers

Description: As I have quite a lot of jewelry, I decided to display them in a picture frame.

I bought 2 Ribba frames from the as-is-section (4€) and used only the frame itself. For the earrings I cut a piece of chicken wire to fit the frame and "clipped" it with these little metallic, bendable things that would normally hold the photo mount and the glass in place. The same with the piece of cork which is the best solution for studs.

LUPIN X-mas tree

Materials: LUPIN Venetian blind, carriage bolt with nut

Description: I took the thick slat from the bottom of the LUPIN blind and 16 thin slats, put a hole at the top of the slats (all at the same place) and bound them together with a carriage bolt and nut. Then I hung it up, spread the slats out like a fan, and pinned christmas decoration on it. - Done

~ Sabine, Basel, Switzerland

Strawberry RAST Play Kitchen

Materials: Rast Bedside table, RAM frames, RIBBA frame, SORLI mirrors, even IKEA packaging

Description: Mandate: Create a play kitchen for my daughter for Christmas. Needs to fit space where a kitchen base cabinet is missing.

Labour: Building took 10 hours over 3 days. Countless hours on design/getting stuff.

Cost: Probably more than a shop bought kitchen - but that's mainly because I had to buy all tools, paints etc.

I'm thrilled at how well it has turned out, considering that I am a complete novice at DIY, the tight time deadline (before Christmas) and the fact I was nursing a painful tooth!

Pax Closet Palace from Komplement Interior Chest

Materials: Komplement chest of drawers, Solveig panel, Lack shelf, Pax corner add-on

Description: I moved into a basement apartment that didn't have any closet space or space to apply makeup etc. Being a fairly girly girl I wanted to have a closet *palace* not just a closet. I already had three 100cm Pax frames and interior fittings, so I devised a way to make utilize the space I do have as best as possible.

Besta Home for my Snakes

Materials: Besta 192cm, some glasses, and reptile materials

Description: I needed a big terrarium with 4 cases for my snakes. So Ikea was my solution.

An old hack but I think it's already good

~ David, Marseille (FRANCE)

Custom Lego table with side pocket storage

Materials: Lack table, Glis storage boxes, Kusiner wall pockets, screws, paint, epoxy, LEGO base boards

Description: We wanted to create a custom LEGO table for our son. We started with an Ikea Lack table and taped off a space for storage boxes at the back. Then we drew a road and used a router to cut LEGO base boards to mold around the road. We epoxied both the boards and the first set of Glis boxes to the top of the Lack table.

Expedit cutting table on wheels

Materials: Expedit (3 each of 2x2), casters (4 or 5), two sheets of plywood, screws, wood joiner, L-brackets

Description: 1. Prep the plywood first, according to instructions because the drying time can be long. I used stain + lacquer and it took 2-3 days total with drying time. And I only did the parts that will be visible when assembled.

2. Assemble the Expedits according to instructions.

3. Attach the casters to the 31x46.5 plywood. I used 5 casters: one at each corner and one in the middle. My plywood bows a little, but the weight of the bookcases flattens it. (OPTIONAL: Glue/screw/nail the plywood squares at the caster locations. This will raise the table by the thickness of the plywood (mine is 5/8").). Now you have the base.

4. Place the Expedits on to the base. Two back-to-back, and one at the end. Try to make everything fit as nicely as possible. Mine didn't fit perfectly square (I blame it on Ikea engineering), but close enough that it doesn't bother me. (OPTIONAL: Glue down the Expedits to the base so they don't shift. I skipped this part, because I thought they were heavy enough to resist shifting and I want to be able to disassemble the unit to get it of the room. Just in case. Otherwise, the only way out would be through the window, and that thing is heavy.)

5. Use wood joiners to attach the Expedits to each other. I used 6 total although more won't hurt.

6. Attach the top plywood to the Expedits using L-brackets. I used 6... 3 each at the long side.

See more of the Expedit cutting table.

~ rita

Mid-century TV unit

Materials: BESTA Shelf unit/height extension unit, BESTA HOLMBO Door

Description: I wanted a media unit for under my TV, since the rest of my living room has a mid-century feel, I decided that I wanted to attempt my first Ikea hack with some hairpin legs I'd ordered from Hairpin Legs. We used 1" wood screws with attaching the legs. Pretty simple hack, but it looks awesome.

~ Amanda, New Jersey

HOPEN for some under-bed lighting

Materials: Hopen bed frame, Dioder LED light strips, foot-operated light switch.

Description: I installed Dioder led strips under the edge of my Hopen bed frame and then put a switch in the headboard for easy operation.

It was a pretty simple hack. Route out the area in the headboard that you want to install the switch and use the included adhesive pads to mount the LED strips under the bed. The whole hack took less than 2 hours and looks pretty nice.

Cutting board for crumbs

Materials: cutting board, router, 12 straight bit

Description: We always have some bread or cake around which invariably leads to crumbs all over the counter. This simple mod really improves the board ability to contain the crumbs and make clean-up a snap.

These boards came as a set and were unfinished. I used my router table to cut the 1/2 inch channels with 1/2 inch spacing. I sanded the board to smooth the edges and surface. Lastly, I applied food safe oil to the boards to help prevent them from absorbing undesireable things.

~ Duane Davis, Dedham, MA

Upholstered Fjellse

Materials: Fjellse bed frame, Sultan Lade slatted bed base, plywood, pine beams, foam batting, fabric, staples & screws

Description: After seeing an similar hack on Ikea Hackers, I took the cheapy Fjellse bed frame, heightened the headboard with a sheet of plywood, and upholstered it all with foam batting and fabric.

Ikea for lizard

Materials: Expedit, Tundra, Besta

Description: The Idea was to build a cheap but tasteful enclosure for reptiles.

It all started when I was working the morning shift in the Ikea of Groningen (NL). I had to drive in the pallets of Tundra laminated floors. On top of the pile was a complete sheet of Tundra, for protection. I knew I could use it for something, so I kept it.

Then I looked for a closet with the right dimensions to keep some kind of reptile species and thought of the Expedit series.

Ekby Alex Writing/Sofa Table

Materials: Ekby Alex & Vika Lage/Moliden

Description: I was in search for a very small writing table, but could never find one that would fit my small space. I've seen the Ekby used a few times, but not in the combo I ended up using (at least not yet).

Anyway all you need is the Ekby Alex & either the Vika Lage/Moliden legs. It's pretty simple, attach the legs to the Ekby. I pre-drilled the holes to prevent the wood from being damaged further. After I put it together I noticed it was a little tall, not too bothersome though. I have my chair on the highest setting and it's comfortable. This could also be used as a sofa table. When I rearrange I plan on trying it out as that.

~ Carolyn, TX

RAST to the Rescue: Effectively Hiding the Cable Clutter

Materials: RAST nightstand, BEHANDLA wood treatment oil, a piece of BOMULL fabric

Description: My girlfriend and I were looking for a cheap and effective way to hide the cables of the phone and networking equipment in the living room. The RAST nightstand was just the right size to hold these items but we wanted it in a different color to match our living room as well as a front cover to hide the ugly cables.

JÄLL frame is good for a "white/color" double laundry bag

Materials: JÄLL laundry bag, some MAJKEN and DITTE fabric, velcro and a sewing machine.

Description: As my really old JÄLL laundry bag ripped, I decided to use the frame to create an improved new one.

This one has two bags to separate white and color clothes. I chose a plain orange fabric and the pretty Majken print in an attempt to make an easy color code for my vague husband, and also to make a match for my orange bedroom.

The bags are tied to the frame by two velcro strips so they can be untied and taken to the washing machine all the way across the flat.

Now I'm thinking about making an extra bag for the baby clothes.

~ Ana, Bilbao, Spain

iMac Workstation

Materials: Numerar countertop, Expedit bookcase, Vika Byske leg, Ledberg Leds, 2x Signum cable organiser

Description: I recently got myself a 27" iMac and since its screen is huge, I decided to increase the depth of my workspace.

My room's width is almost perfect for the countertops Ikea offers, so I went right for the Numerar one. Since I needed some storage space as well, I kinda stumbled over the Expedit shelf, which I saw in another Ikea Hack posted on this website.

Thrifty Driftwood Deluxe - BESTA at its best?

Materials: BESTA storage units, Piet Hein Eek Wallpaper, Wallpaper glue, paper knife

Description: The rustic vintage driftwood trend has been around for a while and seems to appeal to most crafty hackers. Magazines full of pics of the (pricey...) designs by dutch upcycling hacker superstar Piet Hein Eek might have added to this appeal...

Browsed the web & did some IKEA hack spotting...Found this Thrifty Driftwood Deluxe idea where Ikea BESTA storage units have been hacked & pimped with a little help from Piet Hein Eek(-ish) wallpaper. The result? A stunning statement piece combining designer WOW-factor, upcycling cool, hacker fun & democratic IKEA pricing!

Billy Buffet

Materials: Billy Bookcase

Description: After trawling your website for more than a year, I finally have an IKEA hack of my own to post. It has taken a while to complete due to personal reasons, but it has been a very fulfilling project.

I started off with two wide Billy bookcases, one tall and one short, both in black. These were purchased about 4-5 years ago and were in great condition. However I didn't like the fact that the book shelves started to sag after a while, so I thought I could brace the shelves with some sort of reinforcement - this is how it all started. Browsing through the internet for ideas, I came across Ikeahackers.net which was full of amazing ideas.

So I decided instead of just reinforcing the shelves, I would hack the whole damn thing! At the same time I had started repainting my apartment white and blue, so the black Billies had no place in that theme. So I came up with a sketch to turn the Billy on its side and create a bar type table that I could use as a room divider. The idea to make a diagonal cut was actually drawn from an old post on IKEA hacker I came across.

Then begun the process of building it. I started off by removing the back and building the shelves to reinforce the frame of the tall Billy.

Then using a jig saw and careful angle measurements, I made a diagonal cut across. I then chopped the short Billy up and used those as the diagonal side panels.

Then I sanded the surfaces down with an orbital sander, applied sanding sealer and painted the entire bookcase matte white. At this point I purchased a beautiful (and very expensive) 246cm length piece of oak Numerar kitchen worktop to be cut for the top. However, due to mistake while cutting it, I had to scrap than plan! (As the saying goes, measure twice, cut once!).

Also, I had moved house at this point, and had no space for a bar so I downgraded this project to buffet. I ended up using the Numerar worktop for another hack. Instead, I got some very cheap Broder shelves, cut them up, sanded, lacquered and buffed. They were used as the top. I used two different heights of Capita legs to prop the entire hack up.

Voila, job done! I hope you guys enjoy it. It's taken me a while and it has been through several idea iterations along the way, but in the end, I am very happy with the way it turned out. Thank you Pearl for all your sweat, help and patience with this project!

~ Faisaal, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hacker help: Katie needs a desk

Materials: Vika Amon table top, legs

Description: My daughter wants a desk to fit in her 43x27" nook in her extra bedroom. Ikea table top and legs to the rescue.

If I cut down a Vika Amon table top (just the width - it's ok to stick out 2"), what do I need to do to reinforce the cut side to support the legs?

Suggestions?

~ Katie's Mom, Baltimore

Belt Seat

Materials: EMMABO frame, Seat Belt Webbing

Description: Seat belt turned belt seat.

This EMMABO Rocking Chair utilizes automotive safety strap webbing in a re-creation of its seat. Transforming this salvaged Ikea frame into a luxury piece of furniture.

see more of the Belt Seat.

~ Erika Cross, Ann Arbor, United States

Easy Trofast play kitchen

Materials: TROFAST

Description: Drawing of sink, cooktop and buttons for oven and dishwasher printed on adhesive foil and laminated.

~ Jan, Czech republic

Make your own two storey hamster apartment

Materials: Ikea Billy bookshelf, Dioder four piece lighting strip set, multicolour

Description: Sarah shares how to make a two storey hamster apartment with panoramic views of your living room. It's fairly straight forward and may take a day or less to complete.

The hamster cage is made out of a 'Billy bookshelf' with the lucky hamsters occupying the top two "floors". A glass panel is hinged onto the top shelf. The bottom half has an acrylic sheet secured against the front to allow for a thick layer of wood shavings and happy hamster digging time.

Vents are added for circulation. Red LED lights too so you can spy on your hamster to your heart's content.

See how to make your 2-storey hamster apartment instructions.

~ Sarah Robinson

Framework to cover switches

Materials: Lack table + Lillivi cloth

Description: I measured the size of the switches then I cut the back of the Lack table and remvoved the paper filling inside it.
I then covered the table with Lillivi cloth.

~ Damiano & Cristina, Montecatini Terme, Italia

Lack's leg clock

Materials: Lack's leg + cloth Lillivi + Rusch

Description: I removed the mechanism from the clock.
Made a hole in the Lack leg and put the clock mechanism inside. Then covered it with the Lillivi cloth with glue.

~ Damiano & Cristina, Montecatini Terme, Italia

Lillivi Framework

Materials: 2mx1m cloth Lillivi (15euro)

Description: With 4 pieces of wood I built the interior of the structure...2 pieces x 2m and 2 pieces x 1m.
I assembled everything with nails.
I stretched the fabric Lillie and I stopped everything with glue.
Et voila!...Lillivi framework ready in my kitchen.

~ Damiano & Cristina, Montecatini Terme, Italia

Revamp of two MALM nightstands

Materials: MALM nightstands, FINTORP knobs, Milkpaint in driftwood and white paint, several brushes and sander.

Description: I had some IKEA MALM nightstands which would never fit in this room again. So I bought from an another trip to IKEA these FINTORP knobs.

Took the paint out, some white for the front and some Driftwood Milk Paint for the side and the top of them.

After few coats I sealed it with semigloss lacquer and screwed the knobs to the drawers.

And that's it.
Drumroll please ....

See more of the revamped Malm nightstands.

~ Lydia Pudel, Deutschland