Snowwhite playkitchen from Hungary

Materials: Grundtal rail, Grundtal S hook, Lansa handle, Panna black coaster, Svep knob

Description: Our two year old daughter was crazy about cooking and acting like a real cook lately. She was a great fan of the Ikea playkitchen, and although we thought it was very cool, it was a bit expensive for us. So we decided to make one for her just by ourselves. We never expected it would be so much fun to design it, collect all the accessories and for my husband Tamas to put it all together.

We used mostly Ikea stuff (brought back and faulty furniture pieces) and some other Ikea accessories.
Grundtal rail - Ikea
Grundtal S hook - Ikea
Lansa handle - Ikea
Panna black coaster - Ikea
Svep knob - Ikea
Chalkboard (Veneer paint with chalkboard paint)
Puck light - Lidl (works with batteries. When you push the middle it's on)
The tap is an old used tap.
The sink is also an old metal bowl from my kitchen.
The mini kitchen's equipment are also from Ikea's Duktig series. We absolutely love them.

So this is our white Hungarian Ikea playkitchen. Hope you like it. Our little girl loves it, and we are very glad to see her beeing as happy as she is now with it.

See more of the Snowwhite play kitchen.

~ Emese Varga and Tamas Szakacs, Hungary, Budapest

Monitor and Speaker Desk Platform

Materials: 46-inch Ekby Jarpen and 4-inch Capita

Description: Not too difficult to understand here but I wanted to get my monitor above my laptop and lift the monitor speakers off the desk level as well for better acoustics. Originally I had planned on buying the smaller desktop and ripping it in half with a table saw but spotted the Ekby Jarpen shelf displayed in the kitchen area displays and decided to use that instead. 11" is the perfect depth for the Rokit 5 monitors and allows for the plug and cables to drop without hitting the wall. The Capita's come in 4, 6, and 8 inch, and chose the 4 as the 6's were out of stock, but in turn it was a better choice as it's not too high to be awkward looking but elevates everything perfectly leaving some space underneath for small trays for storage.

Assembly is easy. I used the package as the width guide to place the leg plates from the edges and eyeballed the distance from the front and rear of the shelf to about 1/2". In retrospect I would probably move the front ones back to about 1.5" overhang as if I get my eyes down lower I can start the see the screw heads in the plate, but it's hardly noticeable.

Cost: $27.31 after uncle sam

See more of the Monitor and Speaker Desk platform.

~ Chuck Reynolds, Chandler, Az

The best of 'Lack'

Materials: Lack square table (55 x 55cms), Decoupage paper, 4/5 sheets of printed paper of your own choice. (I used printed flowers with a 'blow away' theme). Decoupage varnish/glue.

Description:
Cover the legs with the decoupage paper using the glue. Cut 4 equal squares of printed paper to cover the surface of the table and stick with glue. You could add something in the middle for effect (see photo above).

To finish add 2 coats of varnish/glue.
Easy isn't it?

~ Valerie Vincent, Poleymieux au mont d'or

From kitchen to patio

Materials: Ikea bistro set, tiles

Description: I bought an old Ikea bistro set from ebay, put it asunder, gave two coats of varnish to the chairs and the tabletop to make them waterproof. Bought glass tiles and tiled the table. Made matching seat covers (Cilla chair pad) and back pillows (from Irma cushions and leftover Sarita curtains) - and voila! I have a dining set for the patio for less then 200 dollars.

~ Veronika, Budapest, Hungary

Bookshelf = entry way furniture (Road trip)

Materials: IKEA bookshelf, jeans, acrylic paints, nails, decoupage cards, old rack, yarn, glue, finish

Description: This is most favorite piece of furniture in my apartment. I spent over two months to transform ordinary used IKEA bookshelf to a funny entry furniture. I named it "Road trip".

I started from drawing canvases for licences plates on the back wall. Then using acrylic paints I colored them.
All license plates have real size, real font, and are the copy of old plates from different states (over 40).

Next step - putting in the mirror. I have broken two ones before this was done. Using decoupage, red, white and blue yarn, glue and a lot of patience I reworked an old rack.

Of course - no road trip can be without denim. My old jeans, my boyfriend jeans and jeans of my best friend now cover sides of this piece of furniture.

Final step outside side panels - one of them has map, and other has a road and traffic light. Real working traffic light but smaller than real one :-)

Now it is standing in my entry way and inspire me to new road trips.

See more of Iryna's road trip.

~ Iryna, NJ

Golden objects

Materials: Havtorn / Molger

Description: I wanted to colour my bathroom and I decided to paint the box Molger and the flower vase Havtorn.

I used a dark red and golden standard paint, and the result was spectacular!

~ Oscar, Barcelona

Bookshelf flips to storage cubby

Materials: Ikea Bookshelf

Description: I bought an Ikea bookshelf and it didn't really match the decor of my home. I wondered what I could use it for and came up with this...

I turned the bookshelf on its side and reinforced the shelves with screws. I bought a 1x10x8 board and cut it into different size pieces and screwed them into the shelves sideways. I primed, painted and hung the "bookshelf" on the wall in my kid's playroom for books, bins and toys! It turned out adorable and was a very cheap flip!

~ Kristi Boes, Rockford, MI

Alternate Lack TV stand

Materials: Lack TV stand, Ekby Shelves

Description: Well when I saw your Lack TV stand on Lifehacker I jumped up and shouted "hey that's my idea !!!"..and when I clicked the link I was introduced to the incredible world called "Ikea Hacks"...I never knew about it but I think you guys are awesome!

Anyway, I humbly submit my alternate Lack TV stand design. I think this design results in a more architectural piece to compete with the technology above and within.

The hack is quite simple:

(2) Lack TV Stands
(4) Ekby Shelves (the short ones)
(1) Roll of Double stick tape

Simple build the 2 stands sans feet, then use double stick tape on the shelves as shown in the sketch to eliminate slippage. The shelves create a reveal to a) hide any misalignments between the two units, b) create a relief between the 2 thick bands and c) provide a possible wireway if desired.

Hope you like my simple Ikea Hack !

I am working on a swinging arm lamp iPhone mount for bed viewing....post that soon !

~ Anthony Mekel, Brooklyn, New York

The pink Malm, prettified.

Materials: Pink Malm, Spray paint primer, Interior Latex Olympic Paint in White Mood, Spray Paint in Seaside Green, Brushes, Stencil, Tape

Description: My daughter has had this dresser for a few years, and as she got older and her favorite color went from pink to green, I thought it was only fitting that the Malm followed suit.

I sprayed the whole thing with primer, twice. Rolled on three coats of the Olympic paint to the main part of the dresser. Taped off the side edges of the drawers so that I could spray paint the Seaside Green to the tops of them. Once they were dry, I lined the drawers up and started stenciling using a foam roller brush and the same Olympic color that I used on the dresser. Viola.

See more of Angela's Malm dresser.

~ Angela

Old Krister desk made into a compact TV stand solution

Materials: Krister Desk, Hack saw, Allen wrench, drill bit (or something to puncture the metal), Nuts and washers to fit the screws

Description: I needed a much smaller TV stand for my new room which is only 9'X 9' and after finding this site, I was incredibly motivated to tear apart the REALLY old Krister desk (pix, right) that had been sitting in the corner of my parents garage for years. It's a fairly simple adjustment, and I still have a few left over parts which I may incorporate by way of shelves if I have the time.

1. remove both top and side pieces of metal from the desk, which includes the angled back, meant for the old CRT monitors, the mouse pad, the keyboard panel, the PC holster and it's side support, and the monitor support beam.

2. use the hack saw to cut 12" off of the bars hanging out off of the frame.

3. Remove the caps from the end of the cut bars and place them on the cut ends to avoid cutting up anything or anyone.

4. Grab the angled panel and line it up with the holes about 4" down from the frame on each side.

5. Mark the sides of the angled panel that don't line up with threaded holes.

6. Remove the panel and drill the holes to fit the screw.

7. Place the panel and screw the front end into place, set the screws in the back end and place the washers and nuts on the backside of the angled panel.

~ Martin Pittis, Washington

The ultimate scarf organizer

Materials: GRUNDTAL Towel rail, and S hooks, BINDER CLIPS

Description: I needed a way to store Scarves. If you have a basket or some sort of closet thing, you will know that it SUCKS. Because scarves need to be seen, and not folded. They also need to be organized in a way that does not leave them in a massive pile on the floor every morning. NO SUCH INVENTION EXISTS. Until now.

Install the GRUNDTAL two pole towel rack into the wall at about 6 feet from the ground. Hang the S hooks from it and then attach about 2 Binder clips per hook. You can not just hang the scarves on the S hooks directly - you will get tears and bumps and they will fall off constantly. Now clip all of your scarves to the binder clips. You may peruse through your scarves with a simple click click click.

See more of the scarf organizer.

~ Mae Callen, Ottawa, Ontario

Effektively hiding a cat box

Materials: Effektiv: base with legs, add-on unit (high), door; Metrik door handles

Description: Cat box hacks are becoming so common on Ikeahacker that this hardly counts as a hack. I thought I'd send it anyway, since I haven't seen the Effektiv used this way before.

It's the classic story (unsightly litterbox, small apartment) with a twist: my cat is messier than average, so she uses a CleverCat top-entry litterbox... which is great, but bulky.

It turns out the Effektiv office cabinet is the perfect size for this behemoth cat box, with enough space left over for storing spare litter, and even an electric air cleaner on a shelf! It was also relatively simple to make, just needing two holes, one of the shelves cut in two, and some angle brackets to keep the shelf steady. I can even add another unit on top if I need more enclosed storage later.

I have new respect for your apartment hackers and their hacks. I had to call in favours from three separate friends to borrow the tools and workspace to make this happen.

~ David Perry, Ottawa, Ontario

Alicia's store-it-all desk

Materials: Faktum (Akurum) 5 drawer base cabinet, Faktum pull-out larder cabinet, Applad drawer fronts, Numerar white/aluminium effect worktop, Grip handles

Description: I work from home on my invitation design business Akimbo. Since the office is small we had to make all of the space work hard, which meant a traditional desk didn't fit the bill. Instead, we hit up the Ikea kitchen department for the perfect combo.

The cabinets are designed to be put on feet, making it too high for a desk. However you can't just plonk them straight on the floor (as we were initially intending to do) because the drawers won't open properly. We glued on some timber blocks in each corner of the cabinets to elevate them off the carpet.

Using a benchtop that could be cut to length maximised desk space and ensured a perfect fit. Plus, when we move somewhere larger we only need to replace the top. To prevent the desktop sliding around (but without permanently attaching it) we screwed on a couple of tiny L-shaped brackets.

The drawers on the right contain stationery and my vast array of art supplies. To free up desk space, the pull-out cabinet on the left houses my monster A3 printer, scanner and paper. We attached a magnet so that the drawer can attach to it, otherwise the drawer would just slide in and out when the printer was doing its thing! We drilled holes in the back for cords (making sure they were long enough when the drawer was pulled all the way out), plus holes for ventilation.

I love it and can happily work here all day.

See more of Alicia's desk.

~ Alicia Murphy, Adelaide, Australia

Classy built in bedroom

Materials: Effektiv, Hopen, Micke, Vika

Description: Once I figured out what I wanted to do this hack was pretty simple, knowing is half the battle. I used the Hopen 5 drawer units for the base Then I set the Micke drawers on top. On top of Micke I put an Effektiv cabinet with frosted glass doors. I mounted the Effektiv unit to the wall and screwed in two Vika legs under for extra support. Considering that I am going to be sleeping right next to this Ikea tower.

To add my classy details I used 2 rolls of damask printed wrapping paper from Target. On the glass drawers and doors I simply taped it on the inside. On the Micke drawers and on my wall I used Mod Podge (one of my favorite mediums) it can be found at any craft store.

~ Liz, CA