IKEA Hackers

Lillangen + flower pot = bike rack

2013-05-17T14:49:00.000-04:00

Materials: Lillangen wall bracket

Description: Over the last few months I have been thinking about building a homemade bike rack for our bicycles. The main goal was to save us some annoying manipulations when bringing the bikes in and out of our backyards. We were also tired of seeing our bikes sitting on our deck. Now they are sitting just outside our property in a dead end street that we have tried to turn green with the help of our neighbor.

This hack is really easy and I am pretty confident it will give ideas to some of you!

Step One : Build a flower pot!

The first step is to build a solid element to which the Lillangen brackets will be attached to. I decided to transform an old bed frame into a huge flower pot. Free your imagination to find the best solution for you. The only requirement is to build something "unmovable" if you don't want your bicycle to be stolen!

Step Two : Get a few pairs of Lillangen brackets!

Decide how many spots you will need for your bikes and run to the nearest Ikea store to get those Lillangen brackets. In Montréal they are sold for 10$ a pair. I have decided to repaint them in black to match my homemade flowerpot. However the spray paint I have used isn't really resistant and it has already started to peel off from the brackets but it doesn't really matter.

Step Three : Attached them to the flowerpot.

I have used a set of nuts and bolds purchased at my hardware store to attached the brackets to the flowerpot. I have also decided to add some washers. When installing the Lillangen brackets make sure to leave enough room (a couple of inches) in between the brackets so you can squeeze in the wheel of your bike.

Step four : Enjoy your new and convenient bike rack!

~ Tanguy, Montréal

How to create a Gerhard Richtexpedit bedside cabinet

2013-05-17T12:43:00.000-04:00

Materials: Expedit 2x2 and 1x1, inserts with door and drawers

Description: First of all, visit gerhard-richter.com and search some colour-combinations you like and buy them as spray colours.

Ikea does not offer a 2x1 Expedit, so I had to combine a 2x2 and a 1x1 in two 2x1.
I want a 2x1 horizontal with rolls, the vertical 2x1 is a side product.
I used my old and crappy 2x2 and bought a new 1x1.

You don't have to modify any Ikea-parts, all you have to do is simply combine the sides of the 1x1 with the tops of the 2x2 and the other way round, the rest is self-explanatory.

If you choose in the first step other colours than "white" you have to enamel the parts. If you like glossy, add a clear coat. The package of the 1x1 is a perfect spray cabin.

That's it.

~ cvb, Berlin

Laundry organizer from kitchen cabinets

2013-05-17T07:37:00.000-04:00

Materials: Faktum article number: 441.786.10

Description: This describes a solution to be able to organize white and coloured laundry.

Take 2 Faktum kitchen 441.786.10 units and one package of shelves

1) Trim a little bit the bottom side panel so you can nail the back panel later on without any obstructions.

2) Put the unit together as planned but flip the bottom panel in this way that the "nice" side is on the outside of the unit

3) Flip the complete unit so the top goes on the bottom and add the front panels

4) Nail one shelf per unit on the bottom, or you can use it as a "threshold"

5) Put a bucket on the top and draw a circle, cut it out

6) Nail some cable conduit clips to the border of the inner circle to have a nice finish

7) You can nail some "felt" caps on the bottom so they are not touching the ground

8) Fix them together and adjust the door panels (you can also flip the doors as desired)

9) Enjoy your creation

~ Mortias

Compact living desk mod

2013-05-16T14:30:00.000-04:00

Materials: Variera kitchen shelf insert, Capita legs and Ekby shelf

Description: Not much of a hack if you compare to some of the other things posted here and part of it has been posted plenty of times.

I live in a small room in London and wanted to make use of the desk space more efficiently.

I put my monitor and speakers on the standard Ekby shelf on Capita legs hack that have been posted here plenty of times before.

What I haven't seen here before though is the Variera Kitchen Shelf Insert.

I mounted it upside down under the desk to keep my Xbox of the floor without taking up space on the desk.

Quite an easy hack but made a huge difference in my room.

Let me know what you think!

~ Jonas, London

Macro camera slider rail

2013-05-16T12:28:00.000-04:00

Materials: Finnvar stand

Description: I repurposed the FINNVAR stand and turned it into a height adjustable slider rail for my DSLR camera slider (which I built by cannibalizing my girlfriends roller-skates and spending countless hours at the tool store - but that's a different story).

The concept is pretty straight forward and easy to copy: Essentially everything remains the same besides the the top board which is replaced with a longer one (1,4m), in order to get some sliding range. It's also very important to add stops to each end of the sliding board, to keep your slider - and your camera on top of it for that matter - from sliding off the construction.

I also added some felt patches to one side of the board, to make the ride smooth and quiet.

~ FJ Renard, Berlin

2 x Frosta into a dress hanger

2013-05-16T07:24:00.000-04:00

Materials: 2 Frosta stools, Blecka hooks, wood, jigsaw, drill, screws

Description: I was looking for a birch self standing dress hanger, but Ikea has unfortunately has little choice... so I decided to hack Frosta stool, inspired by previous hacks seen in this site.

I simply mounted inside-out the legs of the first stool, inserted and screwed a 140x4x4 cm wood stake; on the top of it I screwed the other four legs; I added 4 Blecka hooks; from the seat I cut 4 "slices" and mounted them as coat hangers....TA-DAAA!

~ Serena, Novara - Italy

Double Rast Cabinet Hack

2013-05-15T14:05:00.000-04:00

Materials: Ikea Rast drawers

Description: Screw two Rast chest of drawers together, add some timber or MDF, decorate with molding and give extra legs. Voila!

See more of the double Rast cabinet.

~ Kata, Budapest

Hacker Help: Sofa with built-in storage shelves?

2013-05-15T12:02:00.000-04:00

Materials: unknown

Description: I'm looking to hack or build a sofa sectional with built in storage shelves on the side arms all the way to the back of the sofa. I think this has extremely hacker potential, anyone have suggestions?

~ Gus

Easy IKEA Cabinet Makeover with shelf paper

2013-05-15T07:53:00.000-04:00

Materials: IKEA Cabinet (no longer sold), Chevron Shelf Paper, Tape Measure or Ribbon, Scissors

Description: One of my favorite IKEA pieces in my home is this white cabinet (no longer available at IKEA) in my bedroom. Since the walls in my room are an off-white, the cabinet tends to blend in so I wanted to add something to make it POP! I decided that I would add chevron shelf paper to the back of the cabinet.

I started this project by measuring the back of the cabinet. I couldn't find my tape measure so I ended up using a piece of ribbon (also from IKEA) to measure the distance and measured the paper using the grid on the back. Before applying the paper to the back of the cabinet, I removed all of the wooden shelves.

When I started peeling the backing off of the shelf paper, I pulled too much off at once and it was a big sticky mess! After finishing the first section, I started only peeling off a small amount of the backing away from the top while smoothing the paper onto the cabinet.

I continued this process of measuring and applying the shelf paper until the entire back of the cabinet was covered.

The best part about this project? It was cheap and simple! I spent $4 on a 2-pack of shelf paper (I still have a whole roll left) and the project was complete in less than an hour.

What I love about using shelf paper on my IKEA furniture is that it's easily removable so when I get tired of chevron, I can take it off and start all over again!

See more of the IKEA cabinet with shelf paper backing.

~ Erica, Kentucky

iCork Clock

2013-05-14T14:11:00.000-04:00

Materials: Kvissle, iHome, hot glue gun, drywall screws, Drill, magnets

Description: I first got the idea from the Kvissle Boom Box Hack.

I took my old iHome apart. The speakers didn't work and the some of the buttons were malfunctioning. So I got rid of all the unnecessary components.

I traced the clock screen onto the back of the cork top and cut it out with an Xacto knife, then hot glued it to the cork. The cork flaked a bit in some areas so if I redo it I might try another technique.

I positioned the circuit board and hot glued the button and nobs components directly to the inside of the box.

The top is held on by magnets which were hot glued as well.

The power cord was routed through the side hole of the box and i secured it to the wall using screws through the foam pad holes.

~ Mason R, California

Framed: Vika Furuskog gets a custom base

2013-05-14T10:45:00.000-04:00

Materials: Vika Furuskog table top, 14 ft 1x4s and 12 ft 1x3s, compound miter saw, Kreg Jig

Description: We built this desk for my son's tween room make-over.

Here is how we did it.

We bought a VIKA Furuskog table top at IKEA and some pine boards at the hardware store. We got 12 ft 1x3 for the frame to hold the table top and 14 ft 1x4 for the table legs.

Here you can see the cut list.

We used 1x4 for the legs and 1x3 for the frame under the desk top. From the top: the first four boards will create the square frame that is screwed into the table top. The next two boards are the bottoms of the legs, the last four are the table legs themselves.

Here I added some orange dots so you can see where we put the Kreg Jig holes.

We drilled all the Kreg Jig holes, then clamped and screwed the wood together.

Then we attached the frame and legs to the table top. All in all, we built this desk, while I was wearing the green shirt, in about 2 hours.

I used oil based primer (two coats) and water based Alkyd paint (two coats) to finish the table.

Then we hung some shelves and a gallery wall above the desk. The shelves are Ash boards that I sanded and stained. We used the IKEA Ekby Bjarnum brackets to mount them to the wall.

See more of the Vika Furuskog custom desk.

~ Katja @ Shift Ctrl ART, California

Kura bed hack makeover from deep sea to outer space

2013-05-14T07:37:00.000-04:00

Materials: Kura bed & Trofast steps

Description: To give you a bit of background, we moved into this house when Ebi-kun was 2 years old, it was perfect timing because he transitioned from co-sleeping to going to his own room. As he was only two, he didn't have much say in the design and I did it with a "under the sea" theme, Ikea helped a lot by having a lot of great fishy items at the time. (See original sea themed room here)

Now he is 7 and 2nd grade at school we decided he needed something a bit more grown up, he said he still liked the fish but it felt a bit babyish. So, we sat down and had a talk and decided on a space theme.

The top of the bed has wooden rails screwed to it then the space ship windows are made from orange plastic.

The side of the spaceship uses silver vinyl and the orange glittery door is fabric stuck on with strong glue - as is the triangle logo. The number plate is printed on sticker paper (I imagine I will have to replace that in time). The whole thing was nailed to the bed frame using round headed tacks.

The bed frame was painted with silver metallic acrylic paint as was the bookcase which also doubles as steps.

At the head of the bed are Stripa shelves - I'm not sure if these are still available, actually meant as picture shelves but they are the perfect size for precious bits and pieces!

See more of the Star Wars room.

~ Jo Ebisujima, Japan

Miniature Car Display

2013-05-13T15:08:00.000-04:00

Materials: Ribba X 9

Description: Wanted a cool display for my collection of Miniature Coal Made Cars.

Connected 7 horizontal RIBBA's with 2 RIBBA's, one on each side.

You can play with the height/distance to fit your needs

~ Saar Machtinger, Israel

My hidden spice rack hack/kitchen fan

2013-05-13T13:06:00.000-04:00

Materials: RATIONELL 60cm kitchen drawer + VINDRUM kitchen fan.

Description: When I were about to put up my kitchen fan in the corner of the kitchen, I soon discovered I needed a corner cabinet to mount it on, I began to build a custom made cabinet, just to hang the kitchen fan on. But I realized there were lots of space going to waste inside this "come to be, empty cabinet" And as it would be hanging a kitchen fan on the front of the cabinet, no door could be fitted to get access to it's inside. I didn't want one of those pull-out-under-the-cabinet-kitchen-fans as I wanted a retro feeling to the kitchen.

I then came up with my idea of hiding a spice rack inside the cabinet, a pull down spice rack to be precise. I rushed away to IKEA and got myself a standard kitchen drawer of 60cm width. Then my scheme of how to mount this began, I began drawing mechanisms of how it could be stowed away and still hold up a load of spice cans and bottles. I turned my head inside out and back again for about a week, then I finally got it!

Like an Eureka moment!

I got this old non working Honda civic hatchback in my yard, I ran out to it and dismounted the gas springs that held the rear window open to get access to the trunk, then I mounted the spring ends on the backside of the drawer in an A-shape and mounted the spring heads in the cabinet, in that way when pulling down the drawer the springs get compressed and line up horizontal behind the drawer.

This makes the drawer stay down and makes the springs push up once you push the drawer upwards and hold it up once fully closed, if the springs have the right pressure that is, mine needed 11kg of thrust to push them in individually. So theoretically it could hold up 22kg.

I've been using my hidden spice rack for about five years with not a single malfunction. It's a reliable construction.

Unfortunately I can't show the backside of the drawer and its construction, as it involves a major disassembly which I'm not willing to do. The ropes I added for looks, I've always loved mechanical things.
So it's optional if you want them or not.

~ Robin Dahl, Sweden

Kura bunk bed with underbed storage

2013-05-13T10:59:00.000-04:00

Materials: 2 Kura bed, 2 Malm drawer

Description: We cut one of the structure of a Kura bed and we put it under a complete Kura bed.
Then we created the space under the structure for two drawers with wheels Malm.
We decorated with colored paper applied with spray glue.

~ Kiki&Zoe, Italy

Floating Ikea horizontal cabinet on soffit

2013-05-13T07:56:00.000-04:00

Materials: AKURUM Wall cab horizontal w glass door, birch, RAMSJÖ red-brown, PERFEKT RAMSJÖ Contoured deco strip, red-brown , a matching extra door same number as cabinets, L-Brackets from hardware store, Pencil, Level, 2 in screw, drill, miter saw or box, impact drill and hand saw.

Description: Ok first, the top and bottom panels of your cabinet frame has a lip on the back. Saw these lips off using a straight edge such as a 4 ft level. Attach the level using clamps. Saw the lips off to make an even flat backing. Now build your cabinet frame using all steps in the instructions but skip the first step of attaching the angle bracket for hanging the frame to the wall and where you nail the backing onto the frame. Remember you will not be hanging this to the wall.

Now sand the back of the frame because it will be a bit rough. Then I stained the back of the frame. I used a red mahogany stain as I had the red brown doors but use whatever will match your finish to touch up the back of your frame.

Now decide where you will hang your cabinet make sure to find the 2x4s in your soffit. Mark your placement. Now using those marks measure and cut your contour decor strip. I had two cabinets so I took the full measurement of the two cabinets to make my cuts on the decor strip.

You will be screwing your decor strip into the 2x4s of the soffit so drill guide holes. Your guide holes should be a bit smaller than your screw so your screws can grab the decor strip well. Also have a screw every 6 to 8 inches apart.

Now drill your decor strips to the 2x4s in your soffit. Now pre drill your cabinet the way you drilled your decor strip. A thicker diameter screw will work well and a metallic finish will look better than a normal black screw. Now with another person helping you (which I did not have. lol)

Match up the frame to the decor strips and drill that frame into the decor strip. Six screws work well 4 near each corner and 1 in the middle of the front and the back. That puppy should be in there good. Repeat the steps for multiple hanging cabinets and make the even with each other. Now install your doors.

You should have a cabinet with a door on one side and a open side. Install L brackets to your cabinet frame at the top and bottom about 5inches always from the left and right frames. Now have your helper hold your your door and make sure it is square with the cabinet.

The door will not be flush with any of the sides as it is 1/8 of an inch smaller on all sides. Do your best ;-) Now mark the holes from the L Bracket onto the door pre drill into the door where you made your marks. drill about 1/8 of an inch down. Now have your helper hold the door up, line up the holes and bam screw that extra door in place.

Now its time for your cover panel. Do this as normal. Look at the pics for reference on the panel. Well that's it folks this voids the warranty so make sure you mount this bad boy correct so that it doesn't fall and break all your stuff.

You will be out your plates or glasses and a cabinet. Hope this helps. Oh one last thing you can use any door as long as it is the same size as your front door.

~ Nethaneel Hernandez

Hacked UDDEN kitchen

2013-05-11T13:44:00.000-04:00

Materials: Ikea Faktum cabinet and Udden kitchen

Description: We painted the Udden kitchen with spray paint.
Placed the cabinets and replaced the fronts of the Faktum cabinet with wooden fronts.

We made new doors for the cabinet in the kitchen. Placed the cabinet under the Udden kitchen and finished the outside with wooden planks.

~ Robbert, Holland

Modern Speaker Stands for Under $50

2013-05-11T10:37:00.000-04:00

Materials: Besta Vara Drawer Front (2 of 60x26cm, 6 of 60x16cm), electric drill, hand saw, ruler, screws

Description: For easiest directions, please go to this video tutorial.

1) Cut the two large panels in half - these will serve as the top and bottom base.

2) Three small panels will be assembled together for the leg support with one panel for the back, and two for the sides. Four screws from the back to attach to the four corners of the back panel into the sides of the other two panels.

3) Three screws to attach the top and bottom panel to the support each.

See a tutorial video of the Speaker Stand.

~ Winston, Australia

Full BILLY wall

2013-05-11T07:33:00.000-04:00

Materials: BILLY

Description: From IKEA:
5 large BILLY bookcases (80x28x202 cm) and 10 BILLY top bookcases (80x28x35 cm).

Removed every second vertical wall-side and drilled out holes to fit shelves/screws/etc on both sides.
Put together the 5 big bookcases first, placed wires on the back before mounting it to the wall. Once stable the smaller top cases were placed on top. The leftover wall-sides were used to fill the gaps around the bookcases and wall/ceiling.

Once done the light was added, vertical room "room separators" were cut to fit and a floor panel was added at the bottom.

~ Anders, Copenhagen, Denmark

Riveting Ply PELLO Recliner

2013-05-10T14:27:00.000-04:00

Materials: IKEA PELLO Armchair, Sheet of Marine ply, Pop rivets, Enamel spraypak (optional)

Description: My neighbour was throwing out a very worn and torn up Ikea recliner, but the bones were good and I just wanted to try and revive it.

With a bit of thought, patience and a good set of clamps I was able to clad the ply to the original steel frame with rivets.

In the middle I overlapped strips of ply to get the curve and strengthen the back similar to a closed venetian blind. There is also a single 10mm timber slat on the underside of the base to hold your weight.

I also wanted to inject some color so taped up the original timber sides and sprayed a bright orange over the rest.

Oh and you will need to to notch out the original arms to allow for the overhang of the ply or it won't go back together.

So for around $10 for the ply, $6 for the rivets I've got a pretty cool and comfy chair. Hope you guys like it.

~ Joe, Melbourne Aus

Closet Toolshed

2013-05-10T12:23:00.000-04:00

Materials: Grundtal magnetic knife rack and desk organisers

Description: I had a small space in the electrical cabinet in our small unit. I love my tools and working with my hands so I fashioned a small toolshed from the Ikea magnetic knife strip, desk organiser and some plastic organisers also from Ikea.

Since the strips were too long to put lengthways across the door I had to put them on an angle. Simple mounting and it was as easy at that.

I found some brackets for a foldable hinge and using an old wood shelf (also from Ikea cut down to fit) I now have a tool shed with all my tools in front of me and a basic bench.

The lights were some old LED spot light from by motorbike that I never fitted and am using a lipo battery to power them. But you could use some Ikea stuff there.

I also have used some old neo-molly magnets to hold things in place on the metal circuit breaker cabinet for extra space.

~ Doug, Singapore

Trofast sand and water table

2013-05-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

Materials: Trofast

Description: Cut out holes for the small Trofast bowls. Smaller so they won't fall through.

Paint to protect for outside use, use acrylic paint since the Trofast cabinet is already in acrylic.

Drop the bowls in and fill with water and/or sand.

The large bowls in the cabinet are ideal for storing all the sandbox toys!

~ Helen Magré, NL

Pretty Jewelry Holder from Wooden Cutlery Tray

2013-05-10T07:14:00.000-04:00

Materials: Wooden Cutlery Tray, Paint, Glass Knobs, Cup Hooks

Description: Sand the tray thoroughly and paint all sides and crevices carefully with a brush (I used Valspar's Tempered Gray for my main colour).

Let the coat dry, and then paint another coat.

I chose to add some hand painted details inside the boxes of the tray with white paint (Valspar's Ultra White) and one of my daughter's little craft brushes, but you could also skip this step or try painting with a stencil (or painting the back panels a different solid colour). The options are endless!

Add a coat of clear varnish.

Next, attach the knobs to the tops of each compartment. I used super glue instead of a drill - it was a lot easier and it seems to be holding well!

Screw the little cup hooks along the bottom of the tray (I used 5).

See more of the jewelry holder from cutlery tray.

~ Christina Dennis, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Alang Lampshade Swaparoo

2013-05-09T14:46:00.000-04:00

Materials: Alang Table and Wall Lamps

Description: Once you get the parts, this hack takes about 30 seconds. And you'll need 1 reducing washer per lamp.

Essentially, I liked the Alang wall lamp but wanted the gray shade from the table lamp instead of the smaller white shade that is the only one available on the wall lamp. The issue is that the shades mount differently on each lamp and will wobble if you don't secure them

1) Assemble both lamps as you normally except for the bulb.

2) Use a reducing washer found in the electrical section of your home renovation center. I went to Home Depot.

3) On the wall lamp, put the shade on the metal bracket.

4) Use the reducing washer between the shade metal ring and the standard plastic ring that came with the lamp. Replace bulb.

5) You can also use the smaller white wall lamp shade on the table lamp.

6) Just assemble the lamp without the shade, then rest the wall lampshade on the top of the socket for the bulb.

7) Use the same reducing washer and place it between the bulb and the socket. Screwing in the bulb will hold the shade in place. I used Ikea bulbs and they worked fine.

~ Steve, Charlotte NC

Raspberry Pi PRUTA case

2013-05-09T12:41:00.000-04:00

Materials: 1. Pruta (the small rectangular one), 2. a ruler or something to measure, 3. something equal to a credit card in size (i.e. your ikea family card :)), 4. a cutter, 5. pincers, 6. a needel, 7. one raspberryPi

Description: 1) Put your credit-card or similar in to the pruta box; this approximately marks the level where your raspberriPi will go.

2) Make the needle glowing (very hot?), holding it with the pincers, and use it to perforate the plastic as showed in pictures below.

The 4 small holes will serve to hold the corners of your raspberriPi while the big circular hole will room the yellow connector as you can see in picture below.

3) When you have the raspberryPi in place inside pruta box (for this purpose the holes made at step 2 are enough) make holes for others connectors in the same way.

4) If you want something for the eyes print the raspberriPi logo and glue it to the top of pruta box; With the same technique perforate the coloured part of the logo.

Enjoy! :)

~ Andrea Tarocchi, Milan