3 Awesome IKEA Hacks for the DIY Newbie

Hello, everyone! I’ve an interesting article on IKEA hacks for the DIY newbie!

The DIY furniture scene has practically exploded in recent years; chances are you know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who has at least dabbled in making their own furniture. Woodworking is a very involved process, though, and you can’t just jump straight into it without any training at all. For the DIYers out there who are just starting, however, there’s a good place to start: turning ever ubiquitous IKEA products into all-new designs and forms. Here are some of the best IKEA hacks we’ve come across.

Well Worn Rustic Coffee Table

“Well worn” and “rustic” are two adjectives that’ll never be used to describe an IKEA coffee table — unless, that is, you follow this tutorial by Rachel Schultz. All you need are some basic woodworking tools, some paint, wood planks, and your favorite wood stain. This particular hack was done on a Jokkmokk table, although it could conceivably be used for any other IKEA table out there. It’s probably better to stick to the rectangular ones if you’re not that experienced with woodworking yet, although once you get the hang of it you can also try it on round tables like the Bjursta.

Custom Raw Wood Desk Organizer

If your desk is getting a bit too cluttered for your taste and space is at a premium, a small desk organizer is usually the best way to go. Of course, interior design is all about letting your personality shine through the various furniture and bric a brac in your space, so don’t settle for a boring, off-the-shelf organizer! This easy tutorial from Brit + Co will help you turn IKEA’s raw wood Moppe desk organizer into a custom piece that perfectly mirrors your tastes.

Fake Bookshelf with Hidden Cabinet

Here’s one that’s sure to make your little one squeal in delight: a false bookshelf that opens up into a secret cabinet. The base used for this hack is a 4 x 4 Expedit bookshelf filled to bursting with books. Dan Tappo, who posted about this hack on the popular IKEA Hackers website, notes that he only used really basic tools for the job with the exception of a bandsaw, but you can easily source Scheppach Basa and Record Power bandsaws from popular online outlets such as those showcased on Screwfix. Just make sure to be super careful when you use it!

Bonus: A Bike Made Out of Stools

This project is a bit more advanced it requires the use of a 3D printer), but it’s just so awesome that we had to include it: a working bicycle made out of a couple of IKEA Frosta stools.