21 DIYs That Start With a Trip to Ikea

For this sofa makeover, there's no cutting, painting, or gluing involved! All you need to do is replace the original legs on an Ikea couch with new ones (found here) for a more expensive, midcentury look.

Photo: Lisette Mejia

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If you love the look of modern dressers, this DIY is for you. In three easy steps, you can transform Ikea's Tarva dresser into what looks like a $1,600 piece!

Photo: Lauren Turner

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Comfortable, modern, and affordable, an Ikea chair can be the perfect addition to any home office. For a custom look, try spray-painting the base gold before assembling. All you have to do is follow this simple spray-paint tutorial!

Source: Hither and Thither

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It's hard to believe that this dresser is from Ikea. Following this leather pull tutorial, strips of leather can become a stylish upgrade for only $10!

Source: Sugar and Cloth

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Trays have endless uses, making them a no-fail gift for both the entertainer and the design-lover. Sure, you could buy a tray, but this paper-strip DIY is easy and customizable.

Photo by Fellow Fellow via Say Yes to Hoboken

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Gold makes everything better, especially in a DIY. With some spray paint, this Ikea desk got a metallic overhaul, providing the office with a cohesive look.

Source: Dream Green DIY

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This coffee table is the perfect example of how versatile Ikea furniture is. With spray paint and painter's tape, a blank canvas can be turned into a pretty, gold-painted coffee table.

Source: Kristi Murphy

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Bar carts can cost you big bucks, unless you hack it. Using an Ikea laptop table and an acrylic sheet, this bar cart tutorial made a very standard piece perfect for entertaining.

Source: Style Me Pretty

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Trendy and versatile, poufs can be a great addition to almost any space, but they're expensive. Using fabric and an Ikea cube, this ottoman DIY cost $40, not $300!

Source: Kristi Murphy

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For an easy garden update, try this stacked planter DIY. Putting two Ikea planters together (each about $2!), you can give your patio a midcentury-modern look for less.

Source: Brady Bunch Remodel

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Turn the art of decoupage into decor with this simple DIY for Ikea chairs. Instead of using paint, give chairs a fresh, perfect-for-Spring look with paper decoupage.

Source: Chelsea's Garage

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To create a customized entertainment center on the cheap, blogger Sarah Sherman Samuel used a bunch of Ikea kitchen cabinets as the base for her DIY built-in storage system.

Source: Sarah Sherman Samuel

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AC wall units are one of those eyesores that many just accept, but this Design Evolving blogger came up with a better idea. She used an Ikea shelf and cabinets to camouflage her AC wall unit. When it's in use, she just opens the cabinet doors. So smart!

Source: Design Evolving

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If you're a sucker for the dining room bench trend, you'll fall even harder for dining banquettes. This Cape 27 blogger was able to tack on extra storage to her dining room seating by creating this cozy banquette made from Ikea cabinets.

Source: Cape 27

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If it's storage you're craving, try this Avery Street Design blogger's tutorial for creating perfectly polished built-ins from Ikea bookcases and cabinets.

Source: Avery Street Design

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This Brittany Makes blogger managed to transform inexpensive Ikea cabinets into a swanky bar with retro appeal. Wait until you see the inside of the bar cabinet!

Source: Brittany Makes

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With tasteful crown molding and a sliding library ladder, this

sleek built-in by The Makerista has all the tell-tale signs of a big-budget project, except for the steep price tag. It's made up of three Ikea Billy bookcases, some add-on trim, and the handiwork of a carpenter! How mind-blowingly resourceful is that?

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As if Ikea's play kitchen ($100) wasn't cute enough, blogger Jenny Collier took the child's toy to the next level with a few ingenious designer-grade hacks. The resulting play kitchen is every child's — and parent's — dream. Visit Jenny Collier's blog for the full tutorial and more images.

Source: Jenny Collier

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If you've been pining for a pair of accordion sconces, you'll want to head to the bathroom department of Ikea. Turns out, Ikea's Frack mirror ($5) makes the perfect base for a DIY sconce! Check out Daniel Kanter's tutorial to get the down low on this easy project!

Source: Angela Elias

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Thanks to the Swedish superstore savior, you can DIY your own media center with the Besta unit. The floating element and slick white-gloss finish help it sink into the wall, giving the impression of more space. Check out how to make this media console yours for only $230 here!

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Leave it to Thrifty & Chic blogger Alicia to transform Ikea's Rast chest
into a vintage-inspired apothecary cabinet. If you're looking for a way to add more storage to your bedroom, replace your small nightstands with Ikea's three-drawer Rast cabinets, but not without a little makeover first!

Source: Thrifty & Chic

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