A-Z HOME DECOR TREND 2014: IKEA HACKS
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Welcome Back to week 5 of the A-Z Home Decor Trend Guide 2014.Over a period of 13 weeks, I'm revealing the hottest home decor trends currently heating up the market, design blogs, and the internet. Today's home decor trend starts with the letter I for...IKEA Hacks! Love it or hate it, you can't deny that IKEA has its appeal. It'd be hard to find anyone around the world who isn't an IKEA customer at some level. I remember when I first learned about IKEA. I saw the catalog at a friend's house nearly 25 years ago and before we had retail stores locally, we would drive down to Southern California to make our purchases and bring it back in a U-Haul moving van. The prices and universal appeal are unbeatable. What's really fun about IKEA furnishings is that you don't have to keep it at face value. Creative DIYers around the world have been tszujing/joojing IKEA products and turning them into fabulous upgraded masterpieces. Take a look at some of these for inspiration...
Geometric printed area rugs can get pricey, but what about creating one by painting or stenciling over an inexpensive IKEA option? Instructions on how to do the IKEA hack are available under each photo linked in the via caption.
Here's one that I've actually done...hacking the IKEA Rast nightstand. It's a $35 piece that is in unfinished solid pine wood, so the sky's the limit in terms of creativity. It can be painted or stained any color you want and the wood knobs can be replaced with an upgraded knob or pull of your choice.
Here are two campaign style hacks in pink...
and blue...
I love this one...upholstered with a linen fabric and trimmed with nail heads...very chic though I would have carried the nail heads all the way down the front...not sure why they stopped short!
This example is like the nightstands I created for my master bedroom. Stained frame and white painted drawer fronts. My knobs are faux crystal, but I actually like the ring pulls on the one below better. This is a very inexpensive piece to hack and totally worth it, but let's be honest...you get what you pay for. It's not a quality piece of furniture by any stretch of the imagination but it sure looks nice hacked doesn't it?
Here's an example of the Svalbo console table painted then gold dipped, a trend discussed in the Gold Home Decor Trend post. This unit is no longer available but the Liatorp collection is a very similar substitute.
The Vittsjo collection has been a popular line to upgrade with gold and silver finishes, even color if it suits your fancy. The nesting coffee table below is only $60!
The faux marble topped coffee table is pretty fabulous...especially since the Vittsjo round coffee table is only $50!
Doesn't the lack side table look a lot more expensive than the $10-$13 they sell for brand new?
and this Besta cabinet looks amazing...love the nail head detail. The Besta cabinets would run you about $200!
And who doesn't loves a window bench? This one is made from IKEA kitchen cabinets.
and this version is made from the IKEA Expedit shelves. Expedit shelves have been phased out but there's always someone selling theirs on Craigslist...go check now!!!
The stig stool that was hacked in the next example is no longer available, but the same concept can be applied to any chair you may already own or find another option that is currently available. The TEJN faux sheepskin rug is only $13 which is a great price, but you can use any faux fur or skin from your local fabric store. I have one of the faux sheepskin rugs from IKEA and it looks a lot nicer than the one in the photo. Could just be a different version.
If you love tufted furniture, you're going to love this hack of the Karlstad sofa which runs about $400, with a loveseat for a little less and sectional styles for a little more.
Probably the biggest bang for your buck of all IKEA hacks are the built-ins that can be created using IKEA shelving - whether it's the Billy bookcases or the Besta collection or a combination of the two... The key is adding trim and crown to finish off the look.
Here's one that I created for a client last year...this is the $600 version created out of Billy bookcases, trim and crown v. a custom built unit that would have cost $6000!!
Once you get used to putting together IKEA furniture despite the oh so helpful cartoon instructions and the inevitably missing pieces...you'll most likely be a customer for life. I remember my friends and I telling each other in our 20s that we can't wait until we're older when we'll be able to afford furniture we don't have to assemble. Ha, what a joke! Most mainstream furniture today require some level of assembly unless you are willing and able to to pay top dollar for very high end pieces. I'm ok with the assembly...it's totally worth the savings! Have you hacked any IKEA furniture in your home? I'd love to see pics...please share with me by posting pics to my Facebook Page or Tag me on Twitter @alicetchan & Instagram @alicetamchan and use hashtag #2014homedecortrend.You're also invited to follow my A-Z Home Decor Trends 2014 Pinterest Board where you can see even more inspiration photos of all the trends I'll being sharing throughout the 13 weeks...see you online!
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