Want a bedroom that looks custom without the custom price tag? These 33 IKEA hacks for the bedroom turn basic flat-pack pieces into furniture you’ll love. You’ll find dresser makeovers with overlays, wallpaper, contact paper and arched trim, TARVA nightstand upgrades and a PAX system that turns a wire-shelf closet into real storage. There are easy lamps, benches and shelves too, so you can refresh the whole room one piece at a time. Perfect for a budget bedroom update, a kids’ room or a guest room makeover!
1. Easy DIY Pendant Lamp Makeover
A metal serving bowl from IKEA makes a surprisingly chic pendant lamp, and it’s one of the fastest projects here. Find the exact center on the back of the bowl, then drill through it with a 1.75 inch hole saw. Go slow, keep a steady hand and wear safety glasses, since tiny metal shavings fly. Thread a plug-in pendant kit through the hole, screw on the retaining ring and hang it. Two of these over the nightstands look like designer lights for a fraction of the price.
Get the full tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
2. IKEA Lack Table Hack To Succulent Vertical Garden
Who knew a Lack side table was hollow? Cut a pattern into the laminate top with a sharp utility knife, peel out the cardboard honeycomb, then trim the legs and glue them inside as dividers. Spray paint the frame, line each box with garden plastic, cover it with chicken wire and fill it with soil. Tuck succulent cuttings through the wire and leave it flat for a week or two until the roots grab. Then hang it on a chain or prop it on a dresser.
Get the full tutorial at Craftberry Bush.
3. IKEA Dresser Hack – DIY Nightstand With Washers
Plain hardware store washers are the secret behind this coral nightstand. Start with a small IKEA dresser, paint it a bold color (this one is Sherwin-Williams Ardent Coral) and glue rows of flat washers across each drawer front for a graphic look. A frame of thin trim around each drawer adds depth, new glass knobs dress it up, and a striped magazine rack built from a few pieces of wood hugs one side. Everything’s glued, so you don’t need fancy tools at all.
Get the full tutorial at Thistlewood Farm.
4. IKEA Kallax Unit Dresser Makeover
A Kallax shelf goes from dorm room basic to glam storage piece with three simple upgrades. Add the Kallax inserts with doors to six or eight cubes, then stick Greek key overlays onto the door fronts with glue dots before the doors go on. Swap the plain hardware for gold ring knobs, lining them up so the pulls meet in the middle. It reads like a custom buffet, yet every bit of clutter disappears behind those doors. It’s a smart choice for a bedroom wall that needs serious storage.
Get the full tutorial at The Pink Dream.
5. IKEA Rolling Cart Nightstand
Here’s a nightstand idea that actually saves floor space: a three tier metal utility cart from IKEA parked right beside the bed. The top shelf holds a water glass, a lamp or a pretty box, the middle catches books and magazines, and the bottom tier hides the clutter that used to pile up on a tiny side table. Because it rolls, you can scoot it aside to reach under-bed drawers or move it when you clean. A mint finish keeps it cheerful.
Get the full tutorial at The Freelancer's Fashionblog.
6. IKEA Gold Desk Hack
All it takes to fake a pricey white and gold desk is an IKEA Alex desk and two cans of metallic spray paint. Before assembling, separate the metal legs and frame, lay them on the flattened shipping box outside and spray one side. Build the desktop and drawers while that coat dries, then flip the frame and paint the other side. Touch up any thin spots, let it all cure, then attach the legs. The back is finished, so it can float in the room.
Get the full tutorial at Money Can Buy Lipstick.
7. IKEA Pax Hack
A freestanding Pax wardrobe can pass for a true built-in once you close the gaps. Pull it out and cut away the baseboard so it sits tight to the wall. Cut wood filler strips for the space above, set them back slightly, then fix them to the ceiling and wardrobe with construction adhesive and a nail gun. Drywall over the filler, tape and mud until it’s seamless, then prime with a shellac-based primer and paint it the wall color. Long gold pulls finish it beautifully.
Get the full tutorial at The Sweetest Digs.
8. DIY Furniture IKEA Hack
You don’t need new furniture to make a plain bedroom feel luxe, just a can of gold spray paint and a little contact paper. Spray the metal base of a chair, a side table or a lamp outside on a drop cloth, using light coats so it doesn’t drip. Smooth patterned contact paper over a tired tabletop, a drawer front or a shelf back for an instant finish. Keep the palette to two or three colors so it all looks pulled together. It’s a weekend refresh on a tiny budget.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
9. Paint A Laminate IKEA Furniture
Ever painted IKEA furniture and watched the paint bead up? Laminate is slick, so primer matters more than anything. Wipe the piece clean, skip the sanding, and roll on a shellac-based primer like Zinsser B.I.N., since water and oil based primers won’t grip. Once it’s dry, brush or roll on chalk paint or mineral paint in thin coats, letting each one dry fully. Seal high touch surfaces. That one primer swap means your bookcase or dresser won’t chip later.
Get the full tutorial at Kaleidoscope Living.
10. IKEA Hack Mint Bookshelf
The Vittsjo shelf gets softer and more practical when you swap its glass for real wood. Build the frame but leave out the shelves, then have the home store cut plywood to size, 1/2 inch for the top and bottom and 1/4 inch for the middle. Stain the wood light gray and spray paint the metal frame a fresh mint or aqua. Set the wood in exactly where the original shelves went. Baskets and crates on the shelves add tons of storage for books and toys.
Get the full tutorial at A Shade of Teal.
11. Rose Gold Raskog Cart
A Raskog cart already earns its keep, but a rose gold frame makes it feel special. Take the baskets off so only the frame is left, and keep it assembled so you can reach every angle. Spray the whole frame with copper paint, let it dry, then add a second coat. After about an hour, finish with a clear protective top coat and let it dry overnight. Paint the screws, washers and plates too so nothing silver peeks through, then reattach the cream baskets and roll it in.
Get the full tutorial at xoxojackie.
12. IKEA Vittsjo TV Stand Turned Bench
This end of bed bench started life as a Vittsjo TV unit. Swap the glass and the solid shelf, moving the felt pads so the glass sits below, and drill small holes in the top tabs. Spray paint the metal frame gold. Cut 3 inch multipurpose foam with an electric knife, spray adhesive it to the board, wrap it in batting and staple on a graphic fabric like dalmatian spot. Screw the board back on through the tabs. The open shelf below holds magazines or baskets.
Get the full tutorial at Dwellings By DeVore.
13. Simple Nightstand Remix
Dated black-brown Hemnes nightstands can look fresh and current with a two tone finish. Pull the drawers and sand the dark finish off the fronts with a palm sander, then apply a rich walnut stain and a coat of poly. Prime and paint the rest of the frame white, giving it several coats so no black shows through. Add brass bar pulls in place of the old knobs. The white and wood combo looks mid century and costs far less than new nightstands.
Get the full tutorial at IKEA Hackers.
14. DIY IKEA Hack Gold Chair
A plain white swivel chair gets a glam upgrade with nothing more than one can of metallic spray paint. Take the legs and base off the IKEA Skruvsta chair and lay them on cardboard or a drop cloth outside, ideally on a day between 50 and 85 degrees so the paint dries evenly. Spray three coats of gold, turning the base as you go, and check for thin spots after about 25 minutes. Bolt it back together and drape a faux sheepskin over the seat. It makes a sweet desk chair for a bedroom workspace or vanity corner!
Get the full tutorial at Alicia Tenise.
15. IKEA No Sew Window Bench
A window seat with built-in toy storage, and you won’t have to sew a single stitch. Screw two or three sets of Capita legs (the 4 inch size) into the bottom of a cube shelf on its side, one at each end and one in the middle. Have the hardware store cut MDF to the shelf’s footprint, then cut foam to fit, buying it at a hardware store, since craft stores charge much more. Wrap the board, foam and batting in fabric, staple it underneath and drop in the bins.
Get the full tutorial at Mommy Vignettes.
16. IKEA Rast Dresser Hack
Turn a three drawer Rast into a bedside table with an open shelf where the top drawer used to be. Assemble it but leave the back off, then screw in a 12 inch wide spruce board cut to fit the opening, checking that it’s level with the drawers. Drill new, centered holes for the hardware before you paint. A paint and primer in one, in satin, keeps the job simple. Finish with cup or ring pulls and a fabric panel on the back for a pop of pattern.
Get the full tutorial at Cleverly Simple.
17. IKEA Hack DIY Desk Under $60
A roomy desk with built-in storage can come together in an afternoon. Lay an IKEA desktop face down on the floor, set two cube storage shelves on it and center them, measuring both pieces so they line up evenly. Mark four spots inside each shelf, drill pilot holes and screw the shelves into the desktop. Flip it over carefully. For a fancier finish, cover the top in marble contact paper. Prices shift, but this desk can still land around $60 to $100.
Get the full tutorial at Pretty Providence.
18. Textured Panel Dresser Makeover
Fabric panels give a plain pine IKEA dresser a soft, tailored texture. Assemble it, add a 1.5 by .75 inch strip to beef up the side legs, then tape off the drawer sides and runners. Roll on a stain blocking primer and a gloss white enamel in thin coats. Cut pine screen moulding with a miter box to frame each drawer front, attach it with brad nails and paint it to match. Spray adhesive holds blue burlap inside each frame. Ring pulls finish the look.
Get the full tutorial at Centsational Style.
19. Kitty Fado IKEA Hack
A round Fado globe lamp turns into the sweetest kitty night light with a little clay and a paint pen. Shape two pointed ears from soft polymer clay, bake them, paint them soft pink and glue them on top with a strong glue. Draw sleepy eyes, a nose and whiskers with a black paint pen, then add pink cheeks. A dusting of glitter is optional. If a line goes wrong, a bit of glass cleaner on a cloth wipes the pen right off, so you can redraw.
Get the full tutorial at Sirlig.
20. IKEA Rast Dresser Mid-Century Makeover
Can a $40 RAST dresser look like a designer piece? You bet! Build up the inset kick plate with a 1×3 so it sits flush, then nail flexible trim in arches right across all three drawer fronts. Cut the trim at each drawer gap with a multi-tool, caulk, fill the nail holes and sand. Sister 2×4 blocks into the sides so you can add acrylic furniture feet for height. A high gloss paint gives it a modern finish, so sand well first because gloss shows every flaw!
Get the full tutorial at At Charlotte's House.
21. IKEA PAX Closet System
Is your bedroom closet stuck with a couple of sad wire shelves? The PAX system can turn it into storage galore without custom closet prices. Measure the walls more than once and note lights, outlets and doors, then plan it in IKEA’s free PAX planner. Frames come in different widths and two depths, so shallow frames fit a narrow walk-in. Pull the baseboards behind the frames, build them, anchor them to the wall and add shelves, drawers and a pull-out pants rack. It frees up floor space in the bedroom too!
Get the full tutorial at The Turquoise Home.
22. Green IKEA Hemnes Nightstand Makeover
Green furniture is everywhere right now, and you don’t have to buy a new nightstand to get the look. This IKEA Hemnes nightstand gets a light sanding and a careful wipe down, then a coat of Zinsser BIN shellac primer so the paint actually sticks (laminate is sneaky like that). Two coats of matte cabinet paint go on with a foam roller, here Valspar’s Flora, followed by a General Finishes topcoat. Test the topcoat somewhere hidden first so your green stays green. Swap in brass knobs and it looks like a boutique find. Perfect for a moody bedroom refresh on a budget!
Get the full tutorial at Alice and Lois.
23. TARVA Dresser Overlay Hack
Want a dresser with real wow factor for a shared bedroom? Start with the TARVA 6-drawer dresser. Fill the knots with wood filler so they won’t bleed, then prime, paint and seal it. Cut the legs down flush, attach mid-century style legs with mounting plates and trim the middle support leg to match. Glue geometric overlays onto the drawer fronts with construction adhesive, holding them with painter’s tape while they dry. Long brass finger pulls finish the modern look. There’s even a video version on the page!
Get the full tutorial at Erin Spain.
24. IKEA Rast Nightstand With Lattice Trim
Want matching nightstands without the furniture store price? This RAST hack builds them up with lattice! Add a 1×4 at the base so the molding has something to grip, then trim out the drawer fronts and sides with thin lattice strips. A new top made from a 1×6 is stained a rich brown and edged in more lattice. Fill the nail holes, sand, paint the body and finish with a clear coat and new knobs. It was the blogger’s very first woodworking project, so it’s great for beginners!
Get the full tutorial at The Turquoise Home.
25. IKEA Rast Printer's Cabinet Nightstand
Love the look of an antique printer’s cabinet? You can fake it with a RAST dresser for under $50! Set a circular saw to cut just 1/8 inch deep and run two lines across each drawer front so every drawer looks like three skinny map drawers. It’s easiest before you assemble the dresser. Take off the toe kick if you want it lower. Then use pre-stain conditioner, a warm stain and a mix of clear and white wax for an aged finish. Library pulls finish it off. So charming by the bed!
Get the full tutorial at Maison de Pax.
26. Gold Honeycomb IKEA Tarva Dresser
Ready for a dresser with serious wow factor? This TARVA hack is all about trim! Glue and nail 3/8 inch square molding around each drawer front, then add 3 inch squares and smaller overlapping squares. Diagonal pieces join them into an octagon honeycomb pattern. Fill, sand and wipe it down, then spray on a base coat and a metallic gold paint. Clear faceted knobs give it an art deco sparkle. It looks like a high end catalog piece for the price of a basic pine dresser!
Get the full tutorial at Simply Designing.
27. IKEA Kallax Closet Cubby Storage
Is your bedroom closet all wire shelves and messy stacks? This KALLAX hack gives you a built-in wall of cubbies! Pull out the wire shelving, fill the holes and trim the baseboards so the units sit tight to the wall. Add peel and stick wallpaper behind for a pop of color. Stack two 9-cube KALLAX shelves and anchor them with the included brackets. Smooth fabric bins work better than wicker, which snags clothes. Each cube is 13 inches square, so measure your bins. Sweaters finally have a home!
Get the full tutorial at Thrifty Decor Chick.
28. Hemnes Dresser Overlay Hack
Love the look of a fancy Regency style dresser but not the price tag? This HEMNES hack gets you there with paintable overlay panels. Pick an overlay kit made to fit the HEMNES 8-drawer dresser, sand any rough edges and paint the panels to match. Glue them onto the drawer fronts with construction adhesive and swap in brass knobs. It’s an easy, beginner friendly way to make a basic dresser look custom. Perfect for a little girl’s room or a soft, feminine bedroom!
Get the full tutorial at Making Joy and Pretty Things.
29. Wallpapered Hemnes Dresser
Here’s a fun one for wallpaper lovers! A secondhand HEMNES 3-drawer chest gets a bold makeover with navy chalk paint and tropical wallpaper on the drawer fronts. Paint the frame and the wooden knobs, no sanding needed, then wax and buff. Brush a key coat of wallpaper paste on the drawers and let it dry. Paste again, center a strip of paper, match the side pieces and wrap the edges to the back. You only need about a quarter of a roll, so part rolls work great!
Get the full tutorial at Pillar Box Blue.
30. Burl Wood IKEA Dresser Hack
Want a vintage burl wood dresser for a fraction of the cost? This one uses contact paper and takes about an hour! Lay each drawer front face down, cut the paper with 1 to 2 inches extra all around, then peel and stick a few inches at a time. Smooth out the bubbles with an old gift card, snip the corners and fold the flaps around the sides like wrapping a present. Add gold and glass knobs to finish. It works on any dresser with flat drawer fronts!
Get the full tutorial at Bless'er House.
31. IKEA PAX Built-In Walk-In Closet
Dreaming of a vintage built-in closet? This walk-in is really IKEA PAX wardrobes in disguise. Trim on the fronts and sides hides the seams, cut PAX shelves become drawer fronts and crown moulding plus baseboards close the gaps to ceiling and floor. Caulk, bonding primer and paint finish the built-in look. Peg hole stoppers from the kitchen department cover the hundreds of shelf holes, and brass bars and pulls replace the white hardware. Nobody will guess!
Get the full tutorial at Aww Sam.
32. IKEA RAST Hack With Leather Pulls
Got a plain IKEA RAST chest and a scrap of leather? This hack turns the three drawer RAST into something boutique worthy with one tool, a router. Route a slot between the predrilled handle holes on each drawer front, sand with 220 grit and spray paint it white. Wrap soft leather around a 3/4 inch dowel, push it through the slot, split the ends and staple them inside the drawer. Use it as a dresser or a nightstand!
Get the full tutorial at Vintage Revivals.
33. IKEA LACK Floating Nightstand
Short on floor space next to the bed? An IKEA LACK side table becomes a floating nightstand for a few dollars in hardware. The square tabletop gets cut a little past the middle with a jigsaw, then L brackets (also sold as corner braces) go on the cut edge and screw into the wall. It’s sturdy enough for a book and a decor piece and frees up room for a basket underneath. Add the legs back later if you like!
Get the full tutorial at Bigger Than the Three of Us.
