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IKEA has been designing and selling ready-to-assemble furniture for decades. The company operates 460 stores in 62 markets and aims to, as it says, "offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home ... products at prices so low, that as many people as possible will be able to afford them."

And it's succeeding. Every year, IKEA welcomes more than 680 million customers in its stores and around 3.8 billion on its website, amounting to sales of 39.5 billion EUR (or 41.8 billion USD) in the fiscal year 2022. However, with around 10,000 products, some clients are having doubts if they can make the most out of the retailer's supply.

This is where the internet comes in. There's a Facebook group, called 'IKEA tips, hacks and more!' and as the name suggests, it invites people to share their proudest shopping discoveries. Whether you are already planning a complete makeover for your place or are simply looking for some DIY project inspiration, this online community might have exactly what you need.

#1

The Window Seat I Built In My Bedroom, Using The Nordli Drawers

The Window Seat I Built In My Bedroom, Using The Nordli Drawers

Lauren Ramoth Report

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And the like
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is amazing! It lets the light in and you still have the storage! Well done

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    #2

    We Aren’t Fully Done With This Laundry Room Upgrade But It’s Already So Much More Functional!

    We Aren’t Fully Done With This Laundry Room Upgrade But It’s Already So Much More Functional!

    Eryn Yates Report

    IKEA hacks have even become their own cottage industry — other retailers sell products specifically made to work with the company's furniture.

    So how did the brand become so influential? At the heart of its success is value. Similarly to McDonald's, you know what you’re going to get when you shop at IKEA, and it's going to be affordable.

    In fact, price is so important to the company's strategy that it first decides on how much a particular product is going to cost and then reverse engineers the construction.

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    #4

    Thanks To Malm Bed With Drawers, I Neither Need To Accidentally Step On LEGO Nor My Son Get His City Dusty. Ready To Be Played With When He Wishes

    Thanks To Malm Bed With Drawers, I Neither Need To Accidentally Step On LEGO Nor My Son Get His City Dusty. Ready To Be Played With When He Wishes

    Annelie Tedenmark Report

    #5

    Made «the Death Star» From Ps IKEA Lamp

    Made «the Death Star» From Ps IKEA Lamp

    Richard Høvik Report

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    N Miller
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How is this the first time I've seen this done properly?! The first time that shade was advertised everyone I spoke to called it the Death Star Light 😆

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    The company has a "democratic design approach," according to Antonella Pucarelli, the chief commercial officer of Ikea retail U.S., which means that it “deliver[s] form, function and quality products at a low price. Even though our products are affordable, we don't compromise on quality."

    (IKEA has had high-profile recalls of millions of chests and dressers after several tipped over and harmed children. In response, it admitted the chests and dressers could be dangerous and offered free kits to anchor the chests and dressers to the wall, as well as refunds.)

    #6

    I Used Fejka Plant Tiles To Decorate My Veranda Roof

    I Used Fejka Plant Tiles To Decorate My Veranda Roof

    Put them together in rows of 4, then fastened each row to a 5x1m plastic garden fence. Put in a light chain. Everything was then fasten to 8 shower rods. For fastening I used green metal thread. The shower rods had to be a 2-3 cm wider than the space so they could hold up.

    Janecke Heber Report

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    #7

    This Is My Hack To Stay Organized; I Don’t Know Where I Learned This, But It Has Been A Huge Help To IKEA Projects; A Muffin Tin

    This Is My Hack To Stay Organized; I Don’t Know Where I Learned This, But It Has Been A Huge Help To IKEA Projects; A Muffin Tin

    Jill Rockett Report

    #8

    I Needed Storage Space In My Hallway For All My DIY Stuff. This Is My Idasen. I Went To The DIY Store And Got A Cheap Roll Of Wallpaper For The Doors. Now My Stuff Is Hidden Away

    I Needed Storage Space In My Hallway For All My DIY Stuff. This Is My Idasen. I Went To The DIY Store And Got A Cheap Roll Of Wallpaper For The Doors. Now My Stuff Is Hidden Away

    Kiki Gato Report

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    Some of IKEA's products are made from wood, some are made from particleboard (recycled wood chips fused together), keeping production more affordable.

    IKEA furniture is shipped and sold in flat-packs, which makes transporting it cheaper, and customers put it together themselves (or pay for someone to do it for them), further reducing labor costs.

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    #10

    IKEA Malm Chest Of Drawers, Bought Used, Removed 4 Drawers So The Dogs Each Got Their Own Sleeping Space In The Living Room

    IKEA Malm Chest Of Drawers, Bought Used, Removed 4 Drawers So The Dogs Each Got Their Own Sleeping Space In The Living Room

    Mayvi Fossheim Report

    #11

    I Made The Kids Moppe A Bit More Fun With Wallpaper

    I Made The Kids Moppe A Bit More Fun With Wallpaper

    Ida van der Tol Report

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    Domi
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I had these wallpapers in my hand, I would say that they don't fit together and I wouldn't use so many patterns, but this result is perfect.

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    #12

    Who Says IKEA Is Only In Favour Of Home? We Have A Different Home. A Home On Wheels. Our Facility Is Made Entirely Of IKEA

    Who Says IKEA Is Only In Favour Of Home? We Have A Different Home. A Home On Wheels. Our Facility Is Made Entirely Of IKEA

    Franzi Dennis Report

    #13

    I’m What Is Known As An Afol (Adult Fan Of LEGO) And I’ve Come Up With An IKEA LEGO Minifigure Hack

    I’m What Is Known As An Afol (Adult Fan Of LEGO) And I’ve Come Up With An IKEA LEGO Minifigure Hack

    I’m what is known as an AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO) and I’ve come up with an IKEA LEGO minifigure hack.
    I used:
    * 2 x IKEA Gnedby DVD/CD units (often cheap on Gumtree as people are getting rid of their DVDs/CDs) screwed together
    * 1 x IKEA Oxberg glass door
    * Moulding (I used 42x11x275 primed wood lengths from Bunnings)
    * I finished it off with 3x20 LEGO plates (trimmed from 32x32 baseplates)
    Now I have dust free LEGO minifigure display/storage! 😊
    Edit:
    I had a third Gnedby that was broken and I could salvage the shelves from, so the number of shelves shown in my pictures is more than you’d get with just 2 units (so with 2 units you'd just space the shelves a little further apart)
    I had to drill the holes for the door to go on as they were not pre-drilled - I used the holes on our Billy bookcase as a guide to where they should be positioned.
    You can get around 25 minifigs on each stand (more if you space them closer), however I did 20 on most shelves as the door obstructs a bit on either side. Where there were themes that had more than 20 minifigs I just put the ones I didn't like as much in the column that would be harder to see.

    Ellie Sibbald Report

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    And the simple style of the furniture is not just because it’s a Scandinavian aesthetic. It's actually easier and cheaper to make affordable versions of such furniture look good.

    "IKEA's aesthetic is pared down and minimal, which is not an accident. Uncomplicated forms with very little applied decoration are easier to manufacture. More can be produced in a shorter amount of time, increasing efficiency and decreasing production costs," Ashlie Broderic, interior designer for Broderic Design, told CNBC Make It. "The Malm bed is an excellent example of simple rectangular shapes combined to create a very chic bed."

    #14

    I Created A Unique Piece Of Design By Putting Together A Mirror And A Coffee Table From The Stockholm Series By IKEA, I Attached Them Together With Bi-Adhesives To Avoid Ruining Them And Being Able To Reuse Them Later

    I Created A Unique Piece Of Design By Putting Together A Mirror And A Coffee Table From The Stockholm Series By IKEA, I Attached Them Together With Bi-Adhesives To Avoid Ruining Them And Being Able To Reuse Them Later

    Katerina Immobile Report

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    Whatshername
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Brilliant! (Hahaha BP just told me: you're posting comments too quickly, slow down)

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    #15

    Pull Out Bed Camouflaged Between 2 IKEA Pax Cupboards

    Pull Out Bed Camouflaged Between 2 IKEA Pax Cupboards

    Pauline Rousselot Report

    #16

    Simple And Easy Tricks Dronjons Magazine File Converted Into Storage For Scarves And Gloves, Umbrellas Or For Something Else

    Simple And Easy Tricks Dronjons Magazine File Converted Into Storage For Scarves And Gloves, Umbrellas Or For Something Else

    Ivana Farago Holjevac Report

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    #17

    Love Love Love My Powder Room Vanity Made From The Möllekulla Oak Worktop!

    Love Love Love My Powder Room Vanity Made From The Möllekulla Oak Worktop!

    Kim Hughes Report

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    And "most of IKEA's furniture is available in black, white, or unfinished wood. By producing more items in fewer finishes, IKEA takes advantage of economy of scale,” Broderic said.

    All this makes the “aesthetic per dollar” ratio very high, added neuromarketer and author of The Buying Brain Dr. A. K. Pradeep.

    He explained that IKEA's affordable style is its "category-busting-metric," or what makes it stand out from all the other brands in that space.

    #18

    Just Glue A Vinyl Record Onto A Marius Stool For A Neat Table

    Just Glue A Vinyl Record Onto A Marius Stool For A Neat Table

    Suzanne Victoria Report

    #19

    We Built Our Own Laundry-Dry Drawer From The Maximera Drawer Pulls

    We Built Our Own Laundry-Dry Drawer From The Maximera Drawer Pulls

    Katha Ina Bank Report

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    #20

    My Weekend Job

    My Weekend Job

    Previously a dumping ground…
    SMÅSTAD / PLATSA wardrobe, KALLAX cubes and BERGSHULT shelf with GRANHULT brackets, all white but painted with dark blue After Midnight  Frenchic paint.
    KARTOTEK hooks screwed onto pallet wood. 
    All baskets and fake foliage from IKEA. 
    TV bench from different brand, covered with pallet wood, stained and waxed for maximum protection. 
    Made a massive difference to the entrance and we love it 

    Carla Mariano Report

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    Laugh or not
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have some very ugly, dark bricks in my home. This give me hope.

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    IKEA's stores also appeal to the subconscious mind, which is the primary decision-maker. “Furniture is set up in its natural environment,” Pradeep said, which your subconscious brain appreciates. “Every single thing there is contextually in position. The brain perceives it, understands its inherent value, and therefore desires it.”

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    #23

    We Bulit A Play Kitchen With Cooking Island And Seating From Two Duktig Kitchens Ready For Bulky Waste. A Few Little Things Are Still Missing, But My Daughter Already Loves Her Kitchen

    We Bulit A Play Kitchen With Cooking Island And Seating From Two Duktig Kitchens Ready For Bulky Waste. A Few Little Things Are Still Missing, But My Daughter Already Loves Her Kitchen

    Jenny Lorenz Report

    #24

    We Used IKEA Countertops As Our Mud Room Bench Top. Love How This Came Out

    We Used IKEA Countertops As Our Mud Room Bench Top. Love How This Came Out

    Seth Goldstein Report

    #25

    No More Rambling To Get A Hanger

    No More Rambling To Get A Hanger

    Min Thijs Report

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    Whatshername
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I keep mine in the racks, why would you have so many unused hangers?

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    But at the same time, there are always new and unexpected items to discover along the way. Both of these things are positive triggers in the brain.

    "A great store will give you the sense of comfort and familiarity and will also give you the pleasure of discovery. That is when retail becomes retail therapy," Pradeep highlighted.

    #26

    Made From The IKEA Method Upper Kitchen Cabinets. A Floating Dresser 3 M Wide TV Cabinet 4.10 M Wide And 2.60 M High

    Made From The IKEA Method Upper Kitchen Cabinets. A Floating Dresser 3 M Wide TV Cabinet 4.10 M Wide And 2.60 M High

    Eveline Speetjens Report

    #27

    I Had A Small Space Between The Wall And The Closet, I Assembled Three Cabinets Each 15 Cm Deep. Just Have To Mount The Wheels And Make The Hutch That Will Take The Furniture Back, And Add One On Top To Wire

    I Had A Small Space Between The Wall And The Closet, I Assembled Three Cabinets Each 15 Cm Deep. Just Have To Mount The Wheels And Make The Hutch That Will Take The Furniture Back, And Add One On Top To Wire

    Lucia Onair Schillaci Report

    #28

    For Parents With Lots Of LEGO Mini Figures: Sannahed Frame Used (Took The Front Cover Off- Used Velcro Command Strips To Hang Them)

    For Parents With Lots Of LEGO Mini Figures: Sannahed Frame Used (Took The Front Cover Off- Used Velcro Command Strips To Hang Them)

    Amy Emarine Report

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    ThatOtherPanda
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or… just for people… like meee… I’m mean I’m not a PaReNt but…

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    #29

    Finally Got Some Storage For Spices And Stuff In My Tiny, Tiny Kitchen

    Finally Got Some Storage For Spices And Stuff In My Tiny, Tiny Kitchen

    Sara Malmqvist Report

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    Lieke van Henten
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very smart, and because it's not directly beside the stove it won't get greasy quickly. Love it!

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    It often feels that even though IKEA products are minimalist and beautifully designed, there are 10 billion parts that you, the buyer, have to put together. But that might also be a win for the company. We feel more connected to our purchase if we have to put work into it ourselves.

    Daniel Mochon, a researcher and associate professor of marketing at Tulane University’s business school, calls this the IKEA effect. "We come to overvalue the things that we have created ourselves,” Mochon told Shankar Vedantam, the host of NPR's podcast Hidden Brain.

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    #31

    A Little Spring Nice In The Little Hall

    A Little Spring Nice In The Little Hall

    Linnea Martinsson Report

    #32

    Try To Make A Side Table With This Chair

    Try To Make A Side Table With This Chair

    George Tien Report

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    “Imagine that you built a table. Maybe it came out a little bit crooked. Probably your wife or your neighbor would see it for what it is, you know, probably a shoddy piece of workmanship. But to you, that table might seem really great because you’re the one who created it," Mochon said. "It is the fruit of your labor, and that is really the idea behind the IKEA effect."

    And it's a big part of the reason why communities like 'IKEA tips, hacks and more!' exist in the first place. You get hooked.

    #34

    A Slightly Different Greenhouse Made Of Picture Frames

    A Slightly Different Greenhouse Made Of Picture Frames

    Regina Romaker Report

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    Domi
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm just finishing up the gazebo, I think this would be perfect for us.

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    #35

    This Has Become Our Pantry! All Billy's With Two Separate Billy's Converted As Wine Rack

    This Has Become Our Pantry! All Billy's With Two Separate Billy's Converted As Wine Rack

    Petra van Adrichem-Spithoven Report

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    #36

    Upcycled An IKEA Toy Box, Aka Småstad, Into A Deluxe Litterbox

    Upcycled An IKEA Toy Box, Aka Småstad, Into A Deluxe Litterbox

    Sa Bina Report

    #37

    The Old Classic; The IKEA Rast Drawers! I ‘Upcycled’ The Plain Pine Drawers Into A Taller Drawer Unit, After Not Being Able To Fond Quite What I Was Looking For Online. Hope You Like This Little Project

    The Old Classic; The IKEA Rast Drawers! I ‘Upcycled’ The Plain Pine Drawers Into A Taller Drawer Unit, After Not Being Able To Fond Quite What I Was Looking For Online. Hope You Like This Little Project

    Lauren Ramoth Report

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    #38

    Showroom Display Unit. Billy Bookcase With Mosslanda Picture Shelves To Hold Plates. Angled Shelves And Trim Work

    Showroom Display Unit. Billy Bookcase With Mosslanda Picture Shelves To Hold Plates. Angled Shelves And Trim Work

    Christina Filice Report

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    #39

    I Used The IKEA Mackapar On My Closed In Veranda For My Climbing Pots Plants. I Think It's Come Up Really Nice

    I Used The IKEA Mackapar On My Closed In Veranda For My Climbing Pots Plants. I Think It's Come Up Really Nice

    Amy Flower Report

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    Karin L
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A lot of IKEA furniture are named with actual words. 'Mackapär' is a childish word for gadget.

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    #40

    This Is My IKEA "Hack". It's A Restaurant And Toilet For My Cat

    This Is My IKEA "Hack". It's A Restaurant And Toilet For My Cat

    PS Spijkertje Report

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    Daisy Duck
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This might look nice to humans but it is absolutely not nice for the cat. The space is much too small and the smell build-up must be disgusting. Also they prefer to eat and drink in different places, and they definitely prefer not being cornered into a small box while doing it. Same thing for the litter box. I mean they might comply with that at first, but I would absolutely not be surprised if the cat starts to do things outside the litter box.

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    Note: this post originally had 126 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

    Exploring the community that shares creative DIY projects, you may find inspiration in transforming IKEA furniture into unique pieces. Just like the stunning transformation of a lamp into a famous cinematic icon demonstrates how to make the most out of IKEA products, you can breathe new life into your own space through imaginative designs.

    Discover a creative furniture makeover that perfectly showcases this possibility.