Our 8 Favorite IKEA Hacks

If you don’t feel like spending hundred of dollars on a fancy marble coffee table, but love the expensive look, here’s your solution: Get the $8.99 Linnmon table top, some tapered mid century legs at Lowe’s and cover the top with marble contact paper. You’ll have a totally amazing coffee table for under $30.

Customize this grey shade with two strips of on-trend pink quartz-colored grosgrain ribbon. Simply measure a strip around the rim of the shade and glue to the shade with a hot glue gun. Pair with a gray gourd lamp base for a classic silhouette.

Who needs a bookcase when you can make your own? These solid wooden boxes can be configured any which way to create a shelving unit entirely customized to your height and width needs. Stick with the simple wood or paint different colors a la Architect Julien De Smedt, then simply attach to each other with large binder clips for a unique and forever flexible shelving system.

The modern art vibe of these placemats is perfect for framing. Hang in a grid of four on your wall, or buy multiple sets and arrange 16 in a grid style for a dramatic look. Just because they’re placemats doesn’t mean they need to be in the kitchen either – these will look good anywhere from the hallway to the bedroom.

This wardrobe is just crying out to be pimped out Mondrian-style. It couldn’t be easier. Simply cover three of the doors in red, yellow and blue Con-Tact paper for an abstract, geometric piece of fabulousness.

Should you decide you’d like your TV to go on a regular, non media-unit piece of furniture such a small chest or table, this is the easiest possible solution to the “But where does the cable box go?” question. The platter acts as a riser so your TV can sit on the riser and the cable box slots in beneath. Just make sure your TV base fits on the plate, of course.

Using fabric to cover your walls couldn’t be easier, and using Ikea fabric makes it super affordable, too. Simply apply liquid starch directly to the wall, place your fabric over it, and apply another layer of starch on top. Any bubbles are easy to smooth out, and stubborn bubbles disappear with the application of a little more starch. The fabric even comes right off without any damage to the wall. Make sure to choose a pattern that’s easy to match should you need to do more than one strip.