Fauxdenza Bedroom Storage

Materials: Akurum Wall Cabinet, Capita legs, pine slabs, saw, nails, stain, leather

Description: With an unsatisfying lack of storage in our tiny house, we're always looking for ways to maximize our space and keep things organized. We had a gigantic armoire that held a lot of items, but swallowed up our space. This fauxdenza was our solution to adding additional storage, but it also opens up wall space for art and the table top can be used to display items or for standing craft projects.

Step 1: Build the cabinets according to IKEA instructions
Step 2: Measure, cut and mount the pine table top.
Step 3: Stain and coat.
Step 4: Cut strips of leather for pull tab handles and nail into the cabinet doors.
Step 5: Fill your capacious fauxdenza with all your crap.

See more of the Akurum fauxdenza.

~ megan rolerkite, United States

Functional Wall Sculpture with Besta Burs

Materials: 3 Besta Burs high gloss

Description: A long wall in an open space living room. Needed DVD and small media storage, also did not want to block too much the light coming from the window and keep the room less crowded. Loved the Besta Burs look, but one unit was not sufficient storage. Solution was to create a zig-zag out of 3 pieces. The only challenge was to mount the vertical unit. We did a lot of measuring, looking for the 2X4 studs in the wall and marking them.

We started with the vertical unit, moving the holes (drilling new ones) from where the support is originally provided (at the top of the unit) to the middle of the unit and making sure we secure the unit in the vertical stud of the wall. Then, we mounted the other horizontal units. The Besta Burs only comes with 3 holes along the back to support in the wall, but they do not fit exactly on a wall stud (2 holes fit, but not the 3rd), so we moved one in order to provide the best support. Especially for the bottom horizontal unit we were afraid our kids might sit on it. The vertical unit opens a bit harder, but that is all, it works well. We think we managed to get an interesting look to the living room, it looks like a modern sculpture.

~ Anda and Laur, Texas, US

FJELLSE bedframe hack

Materials: fjellse bed frame, wood for headboard, stain, screws

Description: I had been eyeballing a simply designed designer bed that cost over 2 grand. With less than $100 I recreated the design out of a Fjellse bed frame..

Step 1: Buy the Fjellse bed frame for $49.99.
Step 2: Put the bed frame together and then stain it with your favorite stain color. I chose a dark color called Jacobean. It's my go to color and gives it a nice rich feel and easily hides the blah Fjellse frame.
Step 3: Stain two slabs of pine
Step 4: Coat if desired. I coated it with Osmo. It gives it a smooth finish, without the plasticy poly look.
Step 4: Screw the two slabs of pine on to the Fjellse head board.

Ta da!

See more of the Fjellse headboard.

~ Megan Rolerkite, Portland, OR

Ikea Placemat Backsplash

Materials: 4 ikea placemats, glue stick, scissors

Description: I have just used some amazing Ikea placemats to cover my backsplash area behind my sink. They are metallic on one side and green and black polka-dots on the other.

1) I just cut them to fit the area behind my sink. I had to use almost 4 placemats because they are on the small size and I wanted the dots to line up.

2) With a repositional glue stick, glue them up, and press on them for about 30 seconds.

3) Now you have a unique backsplash that you can take down if necessary, or when you want to add a new one.

It looks really cool and keeps the area behind my sink clean. Placemats are inexpensive and often come in really nice patterns. You could use it behind the stove too.

~ jani Hayes, NJ

Way back in 06'

Materials: Abstrakt 18" x 39" door (as is) $12.00; Vika Oleby (as is) 4 for $6.00; Non-Ikea items: Waddel top plate $2.00 x4, Screw, bolt, insert nuts & gorilla glue $12.00

Description: I built this as my laptop desk back in 2006 or 07'. I can't remember exactly when. Now it's my printer station.

In order to safely secure legs to Abstracts 3/4" thickness, I had to use insert nuts & gorilla glue. Because I purchased the Vika Oleby legs (as is), there was not any extra hardware. I had to purchase extra 4-top plates, a bunch of screws, furniture bolts, washers & insert nuts. The hardware ended up costing more than Ikea materials. $20.00 vs. $18.00. Project total of $38.00.

~ Wycliffe, Toronto, ONT

With a spoon full of creativity

Materials: Cutlery (BONUS) just the spoons, screws

Description: As I have already said before: the cheap and cheap-looking cutlery BONUS attracted me to define it again. With two sets of cutlery (24 pieces for 2.99 euro ) I made several hacks.

The second hack only affects a supplement. I found the handles of the drawers of a yawner (and I admit that the drawers are no IKEA products, please forgive me), so the best husband of all, and I have selected the tablespoons, bend a bit and deal with holes provided. Since the material of the cutlery is quite thin, there was no problem with the drill. To attach the handles I've used the original screws and then mounted the original attacks inside. Because they do not interfere and I did not need to look for fixtures. Now the furniture has unusual handles that fit well in a dining room. In keeping with the theme.

Wie ich schon gesagt habe: Das billige und billig aussehende Besteck BONUS reizte mich, es neu zu definieren. Ich habe aus zwei Bestecksets (� 24 St�ck f�r 2,99 Euro) mehrere Hacks gemacht.

> Der zweite Hack betrifft nur eine Erg�nzung. Ich fand die Griffe der Kommoden zum G�hnen langweilig (und ich gebe zu, die Kommoden sind keine IKEA-Produkte, man m�ge mir verzeihen!), also haben der beste Ehemann von allen und ich die Essl�ffel ausgew�hlt, ein bisschen zurecht gebogen und mit L�chern versehen. Da das Material des Bestecks recht d�nn ist, war das mit der Bohrmaschine kein Problem. Um die Griffe zu befestigen habe ich dann die Originalschrauben benutzt und die Originalgriffe innen befestigt. Da st�ren sie nicht und ich mu�te nicht nach Befestigungen suchen. Jetzt haben die M�bel originelle Griffe die auch gut in ein Esszimmer passen. Passend zum Thema.

~ Beate, Lauchheim

Fork or not a fork, that's the question

Materials: Cutlery (BONUS), peace of wood, screws

Description: The cheap and cheap-looking cutlery BONUS attracted me to define it again. With two sets of cutlery (24 pieces for 2.99 euro each set) I made several hacks. Here comes the first: Carefully bend forks with pliers. Drill hole and screw to a piece of wood. Tadaaa! A unique piece for the kitchen or as a coat hook.

Das billige und billig aussehende Besteck BONUS reizte mich, es neu zu definieren. Ich habe aus zwei Bestecksets (� 24 St�ck f�r je 2,99 Euro) mehrere Hacks gemacht. Hier kommt das erste: Gabeln vorsichtig mit einer Zange biegen. Loch rein bohren und an ein Holzbrettchen schrauben. Fertig. Ein Unikat f�r K�che oder als Kleiderhaken.

~ Beate, Lauchheim