IKEA Hackers

Powder Room by JANEJIRA

2012-01-27T16:33:00.000-05:00

Materials: kitchen cabinet

Description: Get the expensive floating vanity look without paying high dollars! I used the kitchen cabinet here, and installed sideways. Best of all, I found the cabinet and doors on the clearance section, so I paid something like $20 for the whole vanity! The handle was a leftover from a kitchen project.

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Ledswax

2012-01-27T14:25:00.001-05:00

Materials: 100% IKEA

Description: This is the first try out of a new combination of Leds and a candle light all based on Ikea materials.

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Hi-Fi Stand for little monitors

2012-01-27T11:15:00.001-05:00

Materials: Capita, Lack (X2)

Description: This is a slight variation to this hack.

I bought a couple of Lack shelf, and used a couple of Capita legs, but the 16cm version (in that hack they are smaller). Total: 12€ per stand.

~ Andrea Maschio, Italy

Minecraft-inspired window seat/stools

2012-01-27T10:09:00.000-05:00

Materials: Solsta Pallbo stools, Hampen Rug

Description: I wanted a window seat in my spare room that could double as spare stools for when visitors come around.

With limited space, the Solsta Pallbo stools were small enough to do the trick. I realised their shape and colours (2 dark grey and 3 natural) made them ideal for turning them into Minecraft (computer game) blocks for added interest.

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Ideas: An Organized Micke Desk

2012-01-27T07:31:00.000-05:00

Materials: Almhult cutlery tray

Description: I bought a micke desk (width 55 7/8; depth 19 5/8; height 29 1/2). However, the drawers became cluttered. While walking through Ikea to get some inspiration and pick up a few items I found the Almhult cutlery tray ($2.99). I pick up two of these and trace my steps back to the work station exhibit to find a Micke desk to see if these trays would fit, and they did with space at the side. As you can see from my photo they are five compartments that allow you to store all your needs to have an effective work station.

~ Liza, New York

Ikea Rolling Dog Bed v2

2012-01-26T16:54:00.001-05:00

Materials: Ikea chair (Solsta Olarp), Poang footstool lambswool cushion, Ikea large wheels

Description: I purchased the Solsta Olarp chair and the Poang lambswool footstool cushion in the "As Is" department (about $25.00 and $19.99). Any small chair will do (depending on the size of your pet!)

This is a pretty easy hack...

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Rolling Dog Beds

2012-01-26T14:36:00.004-05:00

Materials: Ikea Ektorp Bromma Ottoman, Ikea wheel kit (2), Poang sheepskin stool cover

Description: I made 2 of these. The ottomans were without covers (except the base of one of them) as they were purchased in the "As is" department (about $45.00 @), so were the Poang footstool lambswool cushions ($19.99@).

NOTE: PLEASE MEASURE, MEASURE, MEASURE! These instructions are what worked for me (twice), but I can also "adjust on the fly". Please read through thoroughly before you start. It's worth it!

TOOLS: Sewing machine, Scissors, Staple gun (1/4" staples), hammer (to finish staples), saw to cut feet off ottoman.

MATERIALS: You will need about 94" of Velcro (fuzzy side only, no hook side) and 2' of both hook and loop Velcro, 3/4" wide is fine. Also, 3 yards of 55" wide upholstery fabric, thread to match. 2 Packages of Ikea large wheels. Wide tape to temporarily hold fabric in place (optional).

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Hang more than curtains with a Kvartal Curtain Rail

2012-01-26T12:54:00.003-05:00

Materials: Kvartal curtain rail, saw, drill, hammer, desk

Description: Vintage desks are beautiful, but not always functional & standard "add your own hanging file folder kits" didn't fit my desk. I had a Kvartal rail piece left over & it was a perfect fit!

1) Measure the width of the drawer, add 1" to that measurement, & cut 2 pieces of the Kvartal rail to that size. (I used a chop saw, but a hand saw or tin snips should also work.)

2) Drill a hole in each side of the drawer for the rail to sit in. Make sure the hole isn't too big or the rail will be loose. I used a drill to start the hole & then my Dremel to finish it, but you could continue with larger drill bits until you have the right size hole.

3) Insert the rail into the holes & use a hammer to gently knock it into place (it should be a snug fit).

4) Repeat this process to add a rail to the back of the drawer. (Use your hanging file folder to decide where to position the back rail).

5) Hang your file folders & enjoy! Notice that the file folders hang length wise (instead of the traditional across) in a vintage desk drawer.

~ Sissy J, Chicago

Fast & Easy Ribbon Ruffle Lampshades to match Ofelia Blanket

2012-01-26T10:26:00.000-05:00

Materials: Ikea Jära Lampshade (diameter 34cm), Satin ribbon (double sided, for example 75mm wide ribbon appr. 15metres), hot glue gun, hot glue (reserve more than 12 stick so you won't run out in the middle of project)

Description: Time needed, about 1 hour.

One of the most beautiful items I have seen in Ikea is Ofelia ruffle blanket. I wanted to have some lampshades to match Ofelia blanket, so I decided to try making them by myself.

The first edition, "try out", I did for my living room in purple with Ikea Ollsta (diameter 38cm) and 20 meters of 38mm wide satin ribbon. It was surprising how easy and fast it was!

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Kid's Bench

2012-01-26T07:58:00.003-05:00

Materials: Molger Bench

Description: I purchased the Molger Bench thinking it would be perfect for my young boys to use for putting their shoes on, however once I assembled it, I realized that the seat was way too high for them. So instead of returning it, I took the top seat off and attached it to the back. The lower shelf of the bench turned out to be the perfect height for them. The beauty of this is that when they get bigger it can be converted to the original bench!

~ Aya, Bellevue

LEKMAN Windows home server

2012-01-25T17:55:00.001-05:00

Materials: LEKMAN Box x2 - Normal computer build items

Description: I was needing some place to put my windows home server that was out of the way, and just putting the case on the EXPEDIT shelf I had did not look good plus there are very few computer cases, if any that will fit in the space. So one day I decided to gut my home server and mount everything in the LEKMAN box.

I mounted the hard drives on the left side and the power supply and DVD drive in the bottom for stability. Since I am not using a high power CPU hence no need of a real heavy CPU cooler I mounted the Main Board on the right. Still need to add some LED's but the holes are already there so I will do that later.

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Grundtal Wine Rack

2012-01-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

Materials: Grundtal double towel bar

Description: Stainless steel wine rack made from Grundtal 80cm double towel racks. Racks are screwed to a welded metal frame made from 1" x 1/8" steel strip. The base width of the Grundtal towel racks is inconsistent, to conceal this there is a 1" wide steel strip on top of the towel rack bases - the screws go through this cover strip, through the Grundtal mounting holes, and into the steel frame underneath. The screws are 10-32 machine screws, they thread into tapped holes in the steel frame. The frame and cover strip are finished with an 80 grit flap wheel on a grinder and then clear coated. You could also finish with a hand sander or paint the steel.

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Robust changing table

2012-01-25T11:02:00.000-05:00

Materials: BEKVAM kitchen trolley, wood boards

Description: We needed a small changing table for our newborn. Since both of us are students with limited income, we decided IKEA was the place to find a suitable changing table. The only one small enough to fit in our bathroom was SNIGLAR, but I thought it looked weak and rickety. Another piece of furniture caught my eye - the BEKVAM kitchen trolley. It's really robust!

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Split Level Jerker Desk

2012-01-25T10:28:00.001-05:00

Materials: Jerker table, Grundtal lamp

Description: How do you make the best desk in the world better? Buy a second hand one from the internet as a parts desk and add it on to yours. I took the top of a Jerker table and made a split level for my 24" monitor and bookshelf speakers.

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LAMPAN shade drilling

2012-01-25T07:37:00.000-05:00

Materials: LAMPAN lamps

Description: I do the lighting at a local contra dance (a type of American folk dance). To avoid the use of the hall's ugly fluorescent lighting I use a number of incandescent lights, including IKEA LAMPAN and torchieres.

It's evolved over the years, but currently I attach the LAMPAN to some pillars using bungee cords. These lamps have to be put up and taken down before/after each evening's festivities. The lamps extend horizontally from the pillars, so the tops of the shades point out into the hall, towards the dancers.

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RIBBA Digital Photo Frame

2012-01-24T16:27:00.000-05:00

Materials: RIBBA photo frame, old digital photo frame, screwdriver, sticky tape

Description: I had an old, ugly digital photo frame lying around - It surely wasn't cheap and had been given to me as a present. But it was just too ugly to have it in my living room. Time to change that.

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Vate pendant light as a stand lamp

2012-01-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

Materials: Vate pendant lamp

Description: My boyfriend is really creative, but until now we had no idea about him being an IKEA Hacker. But now I found this site:)

We bought a VATE pendant lamp once but it was too huge for our small apartment (and to be honest, I really hated the shape as well). Later he added some extra wires to fix the bulb on the other side, and now we have a nice lamp for our reading-corner in the room. We plan to paint it somehow, just wait for the inspiration:) (Did you recognise the GOSIG MUS rat?)

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Billy water meter cover

2012-01-24T11:32:00.000-05:00

Materials: 1 Billy bookcase, 2 Billy Ydre doors, electric hand cutting tool

Description: Remodeled my basement and didn't have the budget to have a plumber re-route my water meter coming into the house.

Decided to early on I would use an IKEA piece to conceal the water meter and pipe. Went back and forth between Besta and Billy. Besta being deeper has more storage, but the end, Billy won. Less was more in my small room.

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Fira & Trofast help in the Kitchen

2012-01-24T10:03:00.000-05:00

Materials: Fira drawer, saw, chopsticks, glue, screws, 2 Trofast with Lid

Description: I had a (non-IKEA) sideboard that I used to have in my room for books and stuff when I shared my flat with a friend. When my boyfriend moved in I put it in the kitchen, because with two (kitchen-) households I needed more space for all our cooking utensils. So I put the sideboard in the kitchen.

Fortunately two Trofast baskets fitted in the sideboard when you put them next to each other, so they became my "drawers" for all my plastic food-storage boxes and some kitchen utensils. So far not really a hack.

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Cool cold serving platform with multifunction

2012-01-24T07:10:00.001-05:00

Materials: Spontan magnetic board, cooler packs (the more the colder, I used 6 thick pieces), felt pads (leg protectors)

Description: I wanted to have a cold serving platform in order to keep foods cold during "buffets" with my family. While walking through Ikea, I saw just what I needed: Spontan magnetic board and a hack!

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NOT Expensive Glass Whiteboard

2012-01-23T17:14:00.001-05:00

Materials: TORSBY + RIBBA + 1/2" Mirror Hardware

Description: I wanted to outfit my home office with a Glass Whiteboard. After shopping around I was astounded at the cost of these... easily starts off at $500-$700 and goes up from there. Amazing!

Then, walking around Ikea, looking at the TORSBY dining room table on display (it had a white glass top), I realized it was the perfect size. Next, I saw the table was actually priced as two separate items.

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Molger for Music

2012-01-23T15:05:00.001-05:00

Materials: 2x Molger benches (birch), Parts Express speaker spikes, 4x 5/16" dowels, glue

Description: I have been looking for a stereo rack for quite some time. It seems the size i was looking for is unusual. I was inspired by the recently featured Lack rack. Nice, but not quite what I was looking for. While researching, I came across a audio journalist that used Ikea Molger benches without modification as equipment racks. I figured with a little Ikea hacking I could get what I have been looking for.

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From Dish Rag Holder to Spray Bottle Caddy

2012-01-23T12:21:00.000-05:00

Materials: IKEA wooden dish rag holder, 5/8'' spade bit, spray bottles

Description: This is a simple hack that uses those $0.99 light wooden dish rag holders found in bins at our favorite materials store, Ikea (I can not, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, find the official Ikea name of these things, but we've all seen them at the big blue and yellow).

After reorganizing under the sink, I no longer needed a dish rag holder, but I did need to use the vertical space in the cabinet to store other goods.

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Expedit iTV audio corner retuned

2012-01-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

Materials: Expedit and aluminium strip

Description: The inspiration for my hack was the Expedit Hi-Fi unit from Jon Dowland on 7 January 2012! As you all can see my Internet corner was a mess and needed a refreshment! With my Ikea Christmas tree card I bought a brown Expedit 2x2.
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Herman Miller meets IKEA LACK

2012-01-23T06:22:00.001-05:00

Materials: White Ikea LACK table, drawer pulls of choice

Description: Back in 2007, I posted an IKEA flat file here with a salvaged Herman Miller table base. However, I had a second set of metal legs from that buy of the type used with a rectangular top.

Last Fall I trashed the overweight orange top and discovered that a LACK table would fit the spoked supports. Naturally, it became a magnet for clutter without a back or dividers. Seeing a DVD box buried within, I calculated measurements for drawers that would transform the LACK into media storage.

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