Cat Fancy
Cats have a reputation for wanting to be the center of attention. Use the Bekvam Kitchen Cart to create a lofty cat bed that puts your cat right where all the action is. All you need is two scraps of sturdy fabric (also sold at IKEA) cut to fit the space above the slatted shelf. Then, using a fabric stapler, secure the material in place at a suitable height.
Related: 10 Over-the-Top Ways to Pamper Your Pet
Bed Basics
There’s an art to maximizing the storage space in your home. Keep the area beneath your bed extra organized with help from the drawers in your old Tyssedal dresser. Simply measure the height between the floor and your bed frame, then select the drawers that best fit the space. Now, for the genius part: Use a hot-glue gun to attach felt to the bottom of each drawer, creating the perfect no-scratch solution for your floors.
Related: Underbed Storage—8 Helpers to Buy or DIY
Window Unit
More toys, more problems. To avoid losing space in your child’s bedroom to bulky storage units, try this furniture combination. You'll need two Alex drawer units and a Bestå cabinet to create a window storage bench that keeps toys out of sight. Keep the cabinets from sliding around by attaching them together with screws. Then, re-cover a couple of old couch cushions, and you’ve got a clutter-busting spot that’s also a comfy place to sit.
Related: 15 DIY Storage Ideas to Help Corral Your Kids' Clutter
Sitting Pretty
A pouf is great if you're looking for a stylish place to rest your feet. If you can’t find one that perfectly fits your decor, you can use a rug from IKEA (like the Stockholm, shown here) to make your own. Simply fold the rug in half lengthwise, and then cut out two squares (for the top and bottom) and four rectangles (for the sides) to suit your desired dimensions. Sew the pieces together, then stuff with foam filler. Done!
Related: 10 Doable Designs for a DIY Rug
Cocktail Hour
Entertaining is much easier if guests have a place to set their drinks. Rather than spending hundreds on a cocktail ottoman, repurpose a set of Vittsjö nesting tables by spray-painting them the color of your choice and adding an upholstered seat. Bonus: The fabric color is completely up to you.
Related: 16 Designs for a Low-Cost DIY Coffee Table
No-Mess Mudroom
Your foyer is a catchall for all the activities of daily life, which is why you need to take extra care to keep yours well organized. This setup—built using a couple of Stuva storage benches—will accommodate the basics: Shoes, coats, hats, and more. Cover the top of the bench with grooved pine planks (available at your local hardware store), and hang a few hooks for jackets, purses, and backpacks.
Related: 7 Ways To Transform Your Mudroom in 48 Hours
Table Talk
If you love the look of marble but can’t afford the price tag, this quick and easy hack will let you create the end table of your dreams. All you need is the Grundtal laundry bin, a wooden shelf, and a roll of peel-and-stick marble-patterned contact paper. Cover the wooden shelf with the paper to create a faux-marble tabletop, and no one will know the difference!
Hang Loose
Do you think you don't have room for a bedside table? This smart solution may prove you wrong: Pick up a chopping board from IKEA (whatever size or shape you prefer), then hang it from the ceiling using nothing more than steel wires and a hook. Very chic!
Gorgeous Garden
Set up your own indoor herb garden using the Råskog kitchen cart in mint. Next, decorate with washi tape for added style, then fill the cart with your favorite herbs. The best part of this project is its portability: Roll it into the kitchen when you’re cooking, or over to a sunny window if you notice that your plants are starting to droop.
Related: Your Easiest-Ever Garden—7 Planters That Do All the Work
Fancy Faucet
Build a better bathroom using the Rast three-drawer dresser, the Blanda blank serving bowl, and a few Lansa handles. To add the side shelves, simply extend the chest using wood from your local hardware store, then drill holes in the bowl and dresser where the plumbing will need to go. When you’re finished, give the whole structure a fresh (and pretty) coat of waterproof paint.
Related: Make Your Own Vanity—12 Inventive Bathroom Rehabs
Desk Detail
We spend countless hours seated at the computer, yet studies show that we should stand frequently throughout the day for better health. Use IKEA’s Sektion system to design a desk to suit your space, then install a linear actuator and rocker switch to lift and lower the desk during your workday (find the full technical instructions here).
Related: 10 Space-Smart Ways to Squeeze In a Home Office
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!
