Compared to shopping at high-end furniture stores, buying IKEA basics and infusing them with your own style will save you hundreds of dollars—plus, when you control the details, you’re guaranteed a piece that matches your home’s personality. To inspire your next project, we’ve rounded up IKEA hacks that deliver serious wow-factor. IKEA has never looked more luxe. When Jennifer from Making Pretty Spaces revealed her revamped guest room for the One Room Challenge, the results proved that sometimes the most dramatic IKEA hacks are also the simplest. After spotting this $90 black nightstand at IKEA, she decided to make it more polished by adding gold drawer pulls from Rejuvenation. The takeaway: Simply switching out the hardware on an IKEA nightstand or dresser can have a big impact. Even better: You don’t need to be crafty to tackle this DIY. If you love the look of built-ins but aren’t about to splurge on a reno, follow Louise McCabe’s lead and hack an IKEA PAX wardrobe. After priming the surface twice, she painted the unit with Little Greene Paint Company’s Light Peachblossom and added metallic hardware for extra flair. The resulting masterpiece easily passes for a built-in, and it infuses the bedroom with elegance. RELATED: 7 Brilliant IKEA Hacks to Organize Your Kitchen This interior design student was going to toss out her plain white MALM dresser—until she realized she could update it to fit her glitzy style. Using shiny silver overlays from Lux Hax, she was able to turn the dresser into an eye-catching bar that coordinates perfectly with her luxurious velvet sofa. Because this DIY is as easy as applying a decal, you really don’t need to be handy (or even own a tool kit) to make it happen. To order decals, check out the Australian-based company Lux Has or the U.S.-based company O’verlays. High-end lighting can quickly get pricey. A budget-friendly solution? Visit your local IKEA and DIY your own. To learn the trick to turning a set of woven IKEA baskets into boho-chic pendant lamps, follow the step-by-step instructions over on A Pair & a Spare. They’ll instantly add a relaxed, bohemian vibe to any room in your house. If you want luxe style at an IKEA price, never underestimate the power of gold paint. Emma from One Five One used a can of metallic spray paint to make a $20 IKEA laptop table look many times its price tag. For instant glam, consider letting gold spray paint work its charms on other IKEA basics.
