IKEA Hacks — Makers’ Favorite Pieces to Hack
There are as many ways to hack flat-pack IKEA furniture as there are crafty makers in this world — from high-end architects hacking Metod kitchens for design firms like Reform to home bloggers upcycling old Malm dressers, Expedit bookcases and Akurum cabinets.
Common hacks include anything in IKEA’s shelf line, including the Svalbo, the Lack, the Fjalkinge and the Expedit or (newer version) Kallax. Here are 22 hacks that started out as IKEA shelves. The Malm line of bedroom furniture also lends itself to creative embellishment, given its very simple, stark lines and low price points.
The most hacked piece of all time is likely the fauxdenza, so called because it pairs IKEA cabinets plus a new surface material to create a one-of-a-kind floating credenza. IKEA’s rail system for hanging cabinets is extremely stable and easy to install, making it a favorite floater. Surface materials range from stained plywood to butcher block to granite and even marble — as shown in the final slide in these 30 incredible bedroom hacks. Akurum cabinets (now retired for the new Sektion line) were designed for high traffic use in kitchens, so they can withstand the weight of nearly any surface the maker’s heart desires.
The next most-hacked pieces are likely the Besta entertainment line and the Billy bookcases. I hacked the Besta and Billy, myself, and even cut down the Enje roller blinds to fit my windows. You can find schematics and step by steps to those on my blog.
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(Photos via Dans Le Lakehouse and Manhattan Nest)