The IKEA Ivar shelving system has been a staple of customizable storage for decades, and its versatility knows no bounds. With its modular design, you can transform it into countless configurations that adapt perfectly to your space and personal style. Whether you’re looking to add new shelves, cabinets, doors, or desks to any room in the house, IVAR is an ideal solution that won’t break the bank.
Its individual components can be tailored to fit your unique aesthetic, making it a hack of choice for budget-friendly home decor.
Doll Up Your Entryway
As you step into the house, one of the first tasks is to offload any belongings you’re carrying. This requires an entryway with sufficient storage capacity. To achieve this, consider installing the Ikea IVAR cabinet by removing one door and suspending it on your wall as a floating entryway cabinet, you can create a seamless corner setup featuring a wall-hung coat rack, a mirror, and some baskets placed beneath the shelf for storing shoes.
If you’re impressed by this hack, you might also appreciate these bookshelf hacks.
A Minimal Take on Storage
When it comes to maximizing storage in your home, don’t overlook the often-underutilized liminal spaces like hallways, corridors, and corners. These areas can be easily transformed into functional storage zones by giving new life to an IKEA IVAR system. Begin by disassembling the pieces and applying a soft, calming coat of paint – white is a popular choice for its versatility. Once reassembled, style your newly updated storage solution with a few well-placed decorative touches.
To make this DIY project even more efficient, consider investing in an electric screwdriver, which can significantly reduce the time and effort required to complete the job.
Ribbed Cabinets for a Sustainable Remodel
Give new life to an old IVAR unit by adding a fluted profile, perfect for upcycling spare lumber lying around the house. This distressed look is intentionally worn, so don’t worry about making it perfect. To achieve this effect, simply cut the lumber into smaller pieces and attach them to your IVAR’s doors, removing any existing doors in the process. Secure the strips with Gorilla Glue and G-clamps once the glue has dried.
Once the glue has dried, give the entire piece a solid coat of paint – white is a popular choice. And just like that, you’ve transformed an old unit into a unique and sustainable DIY furniture piece.
Turn-of-the-Century IVAR Facelift
Revamping an IVAR shelving unit doesn’t have to mean breaking new ground. Sometimes, a fresh take on a classic design can be just what’s needed to give it a modern twist. This DIY project takes inspiration from the turn-of-the-century and adds a touch of art deco flair. To achieve this look, you’ll need some extra MDF board, white paint, and Gorilla Wood Glue. The key is to create a radial pattern using wood planks in progressively smaller sizes, which are then glued onto the doors.
This unique design not only adds visual interest but also provides a functional storage solution that’s both stylish and understated.
Get Healthier with a DIY Standing Desk
For many modern workers, sitting for extended periods has become a norm. However, those who work from home have a distinct advantage – the flexibility to create an environment that promotes movement and comfort. One innovative solution is to craft a standing desk using IVAR cabinets. Simply stack multiple units together and place a sturdy plank on top, creating a unique workspace that doubles as a kitchen island installation.
Add a tall stool for added convenience, allowing you to seamlessly transition between sitting and standing throughout the day.
Custom Blanche-Inspired IVAR Cabinet
In a nod to Blanche’s impeccable style from Golden Girls, we’re embracing a timeless color combination that predates our modern obsession with millennial pink and rose gold. This dusky pink and gold cabinet customization is a chic tribute to the past. To achieve a sleek, minimalist look, pair the gold cabinet pulls with retro pink enamel paint. You can opt for a floor-standing design or elevate the piece on golden legs, adding extra space beneath for storage baskets like these.
Perfect for stashing shoes or keeping other items tidy, this hack is a great way to bring a touch of nostalgia into your home.
Clean Grey Minimalist Shelving
For a streamlined approach to the third hack, consider opting for minimalist rustic ribbed shelving. If you’re feeling adventurous and possess a keen DIY sense, you can take on the task of milling IVAR’s doors yourself. Alternatively, you can seek the expertise of a professional.
By choosing to mill the doors rather than leaving the wood in its rough-hewn state, you’ll achieve a sleek appearance that embodies the Scandinavian design aesthetic Ikea is famous for, bringing a touch of Swedish styling into your home.
DIY Drinks Cabinet
The art deco style is undeniably captivating, and this drinks cabinet embodies it flawlessly. The harmonious blend of soft teal and striking gold accents creates a visual feast that complements the rounded shapes on the doors perfectly. To transport yourself back to the glamourous era of the Roaring Twenties, simply install a wine glass rack on the inside of the tallest shelf, add a touch of sophistication with a golden cocktail shaker, and play some lively tunes in the background.
You’ll be transported to a bygone era, where the art of mixology was as much an art form as it was a pleasure.
A Modern Industrial Facelift
To imbue your IVAR with a sleek, contemporary ambiance, simply apply semi-matte carpentry paint and complement it with warm, rich leather pulls. The harmonious fusion exudes a strong, masculine charm that seamlessly integrates with a wide range of settings. Alternatively, consider using a black glaze to highlight the natural wood grain’s beauty. For a dramatic shift in tone, swap out the leather pulls for chrome finishes, evoking a sophisticated ‘Mr Grey will see you now.’
Spice Up Your Child’s Room
Transform your IVAR storage units in no time with this straightforward DIY project. The end result is well worth the minimal effort required – just a few hours on a lazy afternoon. All you’ll need are some painter’s tape and enamel paint in your desired color (grey is a popular choice for IVAR). To create a unique focal point, use painter’s tape to block out a design across multiple cabinets, ensuring they align seamlessly to form a single, cohesive piece.
You can opt for a mountain range design, geometric shapes, or even an art-deco pattern – the possibilities are endless. By blending your storage units together, you’ll create a stylish and functional space that will elevate your home’s aesthetic.
Decoupaged IVAR Sideboard
Today’s decoupage designs have evolved significantly from their predecessors. This striking sideboard is a prime example of modernized design excellence for those who appreciate eclectic style; it’s sure to impress. Each cabinet boasts a unique color, gradually transitioning from light to dark in a captivating gradient effect. The decoupage then flows across the cabinets’ fronts in a beautiful, chalk-painted design reminiscent of its predecessors.
This stunning creation is sure to garner attention and spark conversations with your guests, who will undoubtedly ask, ‘Where did you get this?’
Elevate Your IVAR Cabinets
Transforming a mundane cabinet into a sleek, floating design is as easy as giving it a vertical makeover. Mount it on your wall using brackets, creating an illusion of floating shelves. For a seamless blend, paint the cabinet the same hue as your walls, effectively camouflaging it to resemble built-in storage. The best part: IVAR cabinets come prepped for painting, eliminating the need for primer applications.
This hack shines particularly well with darker colors, making it an ideal solution for updating solid-colored feature walls.
The Hack Library Cabinet
Imagine having a cozy library room without breaking the bank While we may not be able to replicate those iconic rolling ladders or sweeping shelves just yet, we can get creative with our IVAR cabinets to achieve a similar look Start by giving your IVAR units a vintage twist by painting them a deep grey or rich brown hue and adding gold accents through the legs and cabinet pulls.
To mimic the tall library shelves you’ve always wanted, stack two IVAR cabinets vertically, ensuring that only the bottom one has legs for stability A leaning ladder on the side adds a charming design element But don’t forget to secure your cabinets to the wall with brackets – not only is it a safety precaution, but it also doesn’t add much time to the overall DIY process.
Beach-Themed Wicker Cabinet
This charming wicker-front cabinet is a perfect fit for a beachfront cottage or a dream project in the making. What appears to be a labor-intensive task can be completed in just an afternoon with the aid of a trusty staple gun. The key to this DIY endeavor lies in creating negative spaces on the front of the cabinet doors and then covering them up again with wicker matting. Start by sketching and cutting out these spaces from the doors themselves.
Next, give the doors a fresh coat of white chalk paint before attaching the wicker to the back of each door using your staple gun. Once you’ve completed this process for all four doors, assemble the cabinet, and voila! Your project is complete.
Standalone Cabinet
It’s a breath of fresh air to see standalone cabinets that can elevate hallways and entryways beyond the usual IVAR hacks. One particularly striking example combines natural textures, gold fixtures, and white cabinets for a modern take on art deco flair. To create this unique design, you’ll need three-inch wooden craft circles, three-quarter-inch doorstops, and wood glue to shape the front of the cabinet once in place, simply paint over the shapes to achieve a professional-looking bevel effect.
This hack is perfect for adding a touch of sunshine to kids’ rooms or brightening up any space during the warmer months.
Wall-to-Ceiling Storage Block
For those who crave ample storage, this innovative solution is a game-changer. By dedicating a section of your craft room or kitchen to a stacked IVAR cabinet installation, you can create a sturdy and functional storage wall that meets your every need.
Create a Blocked Closet
If you’re in need of additional storage space in your child’s room or simply require an extra closet in your own bedroom, this DIY project is sure to impress. With a mere afternoon’s worth of effort, you’ll be left with a beautifully crafted and professional-looking storage solution. To get started, you’ll only require two cabinets, some paint, and wall anchors. Begin by giving one or both cabinets a solid block color makeover using your preferred shade.
Next, stack the newly painted cabinets atop each other and secure them to the wall using the provided anchors. With this simple yet effective hack, you’ll be enjoying the benefits of increased storage in no time.
Hanging Study Alcove
Imagine transforming an ordinary space into an extraordinary retreat by carving out a cozy nook within it. This innovative hack involves repurposing six IVAR cabinets, each painted in a unique hue, and suspending them on the wall to create a room-within-a-room concept. The result is a haven for focused learning or relaxation.
To take it to the next level, consider incorporating a plush day bed, a stylish clock, a warm lamp, and a convenient charging station, all of which can be easily integrated into this bespoke study corner. Whether you’re a student, working professional, or simply someone who values a quiet moment of introspection, this hack is sure to inspire creativity and productivity in your flat, dorm, or apartment.
Modern Art Deco Cabinet
For those who’ve adopted the kid’s closet makeover concept earlier, take it up a notch by applying the same principles to your own space. The key is to elevate the aesthetic with a more refined color palette. Transforming IVARs into a sophisticated piece of furniture is surprisingly easy. A few clever tweaks, such as installing gold legs and cabinet pulls, can work wonders when you pair these additions with a rich charcoal black finish; the result is nothing short of stunning.
To balance out the industrial look, surround the cabinet with lush greenery. This subtle contrast will add depth and visual interest to the space, effectively creating a harmonious blend of styles.
The Ultimate Retro Sideboard
To complete our DIY project, we’re taking a trip back in time with an English retro-inspired makeover. By incorporating red chalk paint, doorstop trims, and golden fixtures, we’ll be channeling the groovy vibes of the 1960s. The process is surprisingly straightforward: simply trim each cabinet panel with the doorstop trim, give it a fresh coat of paint, assemble the pieces, and add some stylish handles.
And just like that, you’ll have created a sideboard that’s sure to turn heads among vintage enthusiasts – all without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the innovative techniques that have made a significant impact, which of the Ivar hacks stands out to you as particularly impressive? Share your thoughts and let’s spark a conversation about what makes them so effective.