Short on counter space, cabinet space or budget? IKEA has quietly solved all three for years, and these 20 clever IKEA hacks for your kitchen prove it. You’ll find Kallax and Expedit cubes rolled into islands, a Tarva dresser turned sideboard, Bekvam spice racks dressed up with paint and wire, cheap Ottava pendants sprayed copper and a wine rack that holds a row of fresh herbs. Plenty of these take an afternoon and a drill, nothing more. A few are pure storage smarts: rails that clear the counter, pot lid racks on cabinet doors and pantry drawers that finally reach the back. Quick tip before you shop: measure the spot twice and check the as-is corner, because the part you need is often sitting there for half price. More builds live on the furniture projects hub.
1. DIY IKEA Kitchen Island From a Shelving Unit
No island in your kitchen? This DIY IKEA kitchen island starts with a plain IKEA shelving unit, which already gives you open storage for mixing bowls, baskets and the stand mixer. The smart change is the top. Instead of the stock surface, add a larger countertop that hangs over one side, so stools can tuck underneath and the island doubles as a breakfast bar or a homework spot. It’s a weekend build with basic tools, and it costs a fraction of a store bought island. Perfect for a small kitchen.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
2. DIY Open Shelving IKEA Hack
Love the look of open shelving but not the price of custom? This DIY open shelving IKEA hack pairs inexpensive IKEA brackets with real knotty wood planks from the hardware store, about 12 inches deep, stained twice and sealed with three coats of clear coat. One lesson worth stealing: lumber sold as 1 inch thick actually measures about 3/4 inch, so check the bracket before you buy the boards or you’ll be left with a gap. Each shelf came in under $20. Perfect for a short run of wall above the dishwasher.
Get the full tutorial at Lemon Thistle.
3. DIY Burned IKEA Cork Trivets
DIY burned IKEA cork trivets are such a fun way to personalize the kitchen. Start with a 3 pack of IKEA’s 7 inch cork trivets, then cut a stencil from contact paper (a cutting machine helps, but scissors and a craft knife work too). Trace the design on with a pen, peel the stencil and go over the lines with a wood burning tool set to its cork setting. Unlike paint, a burned design can’t lift off under a hot casserole dish. Try sayings like “Yum!” or “Let’s Eat!” for a cute housewarming gift set.
Get the full tutorial at Where the Smiles Have Been.
4. Customized Kitchen Pantry
A tall pantry cabinet sounds great until the drawers are so deep you can only see the tops of the cans. This customized kitchen pantry fixes that with a swap: the original Akurum high cabinet keeps its shell, but the deep drawers come out and wide Komplement drawers from the Pax wardrobe line go in, cut down to fit. Now each shallow drawer slides out smoothly and every can and box is visible at a glance. Today’s Komplement drawers are particle board, so don’t overload them with heavy cans.
Get the full tutorial at IKEA Hackers.
5. IKEA Hack Copper Barn Pendant Lights
Fell for a $600 copper pendant? This IKEA hack copper barn pendant light gets the look for about $30 each. Take apart an IKEA Ottava pendant and cover every piece of hardware that isn’t aluminum with painter’s tape, plus the top and bottom 6 inches of the cord. Spray a rustic copper base coat, then a shiny copper on top, letting it dry overnight between coats. A couple of coats of the shiny paint alone would probably do the trick. Reassemble and hang a pair over the island for a warm glow.
Get the full tutorial at Kojo Designs.
6. DIY Rustic Wall Mounted Spice Rack
This DIY rustic wall mounted spice rack is an easy IKEA Bekvam hack with an industrial farmhouse twist. Assemble the little wooden Bekvam shelves, then give them two coats of black spray paint. Cut strips of 1/4 inch metal hardware cloth, fold the edges to fit snugly into the corners and staple the mesh to the front rail so it peeks just above the wood. Finish with wood burned labels for spices and oils that wedge right between the boards. Hang a pair in the pantry for the jars you grab every day.
Get the full tutorial at The Inspired Hive.
7. Glam Up an IKEA Grundtal Rail
Sometimes one can of spray paint changes the whole kitchen. This IKEA Grundtal rail hack takes the plain chrome rails that hold mugs and utensils and turns them gold. Take the rails down, spray them with two coats of a gold chrome spray paint, leave them a full 24 hours and hang them back up. Mounting them right under the upper cabinets instead of on the backsplash gives them a slightly different, built in look. If you’re slowly swapping stainless for brass, this is the cheapest place to start.
Get the full tutorial at Swoon Worthy.
8. Bookshelves Turned Kitchen Island Ikea Hack
Need to hide a support column? This bookshelves turned kitchen island IKEA hack builds a whole island around one. Three Billy bookcases (two wide, one narrow) are screwed together side by side with particle board screws, wrapped around the post and topped with a Numerar butcher block counter from IKEA. Doors were an option for the middle unit, but leaving every shelf open keeps it light and handy for cookbooks and serving pieces. Trim the column to match and it looks like it was always there. A great fix for an opened up floor plan.
Get the full tutorial at Golden Boys and Me.
9. Towel Rail Farmhouse Kitchen Display
A towel rail farmhouse kitchen display is one of those ideas that makes you look twice at the IKEA bathroom aisle. Start with a black, rustic looking towel rail (about $12) and a pack of S hooks for a couple of dollars. Screw the rail to the wall, hang the hooks, then tie on lengths of twine so small decorations sit at different heights. Hang a little sign, a mug, a wreath or a sprig of greenery and change it with the seasons. It’s an easy way to fill a blank wall above a counter.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
10. Ikea Hack Kitchen Rolling Island
Tiny kitchen, big wish list? This IKEA hack kitchen rolling island combines seating, storage and counter space in one piece. Assemble an Expedit (now Kallax) shelf without its top panel, add sturdy rubber castors to the base and fill the cubes with woven Branas baskets. A Lagan countertop cut to overhang the sides by 2.5 inches is fastened with small brackets, since the panels are hollow. A thin MDF back keeps baskets in place, and one basket even holds a trash bin under a 6 inch opening in the top.
Get the full tutorial at IKEA Hackers.
11. Indoor Herb Garden IKEA Hack
Fresh basil within arm’s reach, no counter space required. This indoor herb garden IKEA hack mounts a Vurm wine rack on the wall and slips a pint glass into each round opening. Dip the glass bottoms in latex paint and add chalkboard coating if you’d like labels. Fill each glass about a third full of pebbles for drainage, since there are no holes, then plant basil, cilantro, parsley or thyme in potting mix. Anchor the rack into a stud, because wet soil gets heavy. It costs under $30.
Get the full tutorial at Curbly.
12. IKEA TARVA Transformed Into a Kitchen Sideboard
Need storage behind the sofa? This IKEA Tarva kitchen sideboard is a 6 drawer bedroom chest that’s long (61 inches) and only 15 inches deep, so it fits an eat in kitchen without crowding the table. The legs get shortened to the right height, the old handle holes are filled and new ones drilled. The base gets two coats of antique white milk paint and a satin top coat, while the top gets pre stain conditioner and two coats of espresso stain. The result looks like a custom buffet, not a dresser.
Get the full tutorial at All Things G&D.
13. Ikea Hack – Dining Room Table
This IKEA hack dining room table is proof that a few screws and some stain can make a basic table feel one of a kind. Start with a Jokkmokk table, remove its legs and trim, then sand the top and give it two coats of a darker wood stain. Screw a set of hairpin legs to each corner, about an inch in from the edge. That’s it! Not counting drying time, the whole makeover takes under an hour. Any tabletop works, so an IKEA top from the as is section is fair game.
Get the full tutorial at Acute Designs.
14. Expedit Kitchen Storage
Open storage looks great until every mismatched mug is on display. This Expedit kitchen storage hack keeps the open cube shelf but closes some of the squares with doors on simple hinges. Doors cut from black MDF and pine plywood add contrast and hide the less pretty stuff, while the open cubes still show off plates and glasses. One important detail: fix the hinges to the strong inner dividers, not the thin outer frame, which can’t carry the weight. It’s a calm, ordered compromise for a small kitchen.
Get the full tutorial at IKEA Hackers.
15. IKEA Hack DIY Rolling Kitchen Island or Bar
No room for a dining table? This IKEA hack DIY rolling kitchen island or bar works as both. Start with a Kallax 4 square unit, assemble just the top and sides (the thinner panel makes the best top) and leave out the middle cubbies so it reads as a simple table. Flip it over, screw a caster to each corner 1 to 2 inches from the edges and add brackets under the top for support. It takes about an hour, rolls over barstools when you’re not using it and doubles as extra counter space.
Get the full tutorial at Club Crafted.
16. Ikea Kallax Kitchen Island Hack
This IKEA Kallax kitchen island hack checks every box for a small kitchen: movable, waist height and under about £80. Assemble a Kallax unit and screw castors to the base (you’ll need 16 screws to fit a 4mm hole, sold separately). Add two Kungsfors rails along the sides for towels and utensils, fit door inserts in two squares and leave two open for display. Top it with two wooden chopping boards treated with Skydd oil. Push it aside to vacuum, pull it out for prep.
Get the full tutorial at Jen Lou Meredith.
17. Ikea Hack Indoor Gardening
No balcony, no problem. This IKEA hack indoor gardening setup uses the Fintorp kitchen rail, hooks and little caddies on a small wall beside a sunny window. The pots are small but have a built in drainage system, so water stays put instead of running down the wall. Start with hearty herbs like chives, oregano, thyme, lavender, mint and lemon thyme, then try basil once you’re in a watering routine. Give the thirstier plants a little water at the base each day. Fresh herbs at your fingertips, all year.
Get the full tutorial at Things Bright and Beautiful.
18. IKEA Kitchen Storage Solutions
Four inexpensive IKEA pieces can fix the most annoying cupboards in the kitchen. A Bygel rail screwed to the inside of the pots and pans door holds every lid upright. Variera shelf inserts double the capacity of a deep cupboard. Little Bekvam spice racks mounted inside the food cupboard doors keep jars in plain sight, and Knuff magazine files screwed inside a cabinet hold cutting boards and cleaning bottles on end. Each piece costs only a few pounds, so you can do the whole kitchen for very little.
Get the full tutorial at Apartment Apothecary.
19. DIY Faux Marble Table Top
A stained, scuffed kitchen table doesn’t have to go to the curb. This DIY faux marble table top covers an IKEA Docksta tulip table with faux marble contact paper. Lay the paper design side down, trace the round top onto it with a pencil and cut it out, since flipping a heavy table to trace isn’t happening. Smooth it on slowly and pop any stubborn bubbles with a pin. It’s a temporary fix, so plan to add a glass top or simply lay fresh paper when it wears. Instant marble for a few dollars.
Get the full tutorial at Poppytalk.
20. IKEA Fintorp Rail Hack for Kitchen Counters
If your counter is a magnet for clutter, this IKEA Fintorp rail hack sets a simple boundary. Four black Fintorp rails lock end to end into one long organizer, about 7.5 feet here, with wire baskets and caddies hooked on. Each basket holds one job: cooking oils by the stove, sugar and coffee next door, utensils in the caddies. The house rule is clever, too: if it doesn’t fit in a basket, it doesn’t live on the counter. Find the studs first and screw the hardware in securely before hanging anything.
Get the full tutorial at No. 29 Design.
