The 16 best IKEA furniture hacks you’ll want to DIY immediately

Cheap IKEA pieces make a good base, but a few updates make them look like they’re from an expensive boutique.

A small, unfinished IKEA dresser transforms into a chic, girly nightstand you’ll be proud to stash your bedtime reading in. Brass details elevate the sweet ballet slipper pink, proving you don’t need to keep pastels to kids’ rooms. Head over to Vintage Revivals for step-by-step directions.

A geometric pattern paired with a fresh, bright yellow turns this dresser worthy of a mid-century modern living room. Plus, the wooden peg legs take it up a notch—literally. Find out how to recreate your own from Bliss at Home.

Who knew an unfinished dresser could look this chic? Stain lets you match the wood to your décor, and a coat of paint gives a contemporary spin. Visit IKEA Hackers for the instructions.

Plain white can be ho-hum, but this simple update takes an IKEA headboard to the next level. Bright green adds a much-needed pop of colour, and a brass-coloured overlay gives it a modern touch. Check out the full instructions from Redfin.

Contact paper and spray paint are all you need to take this modern side table up a notch. This fun update pairs a marble pattern with a sleek copper finish, but Kristi Murphy also shows three more versions. Check out her blog post to learn more.

Ambitious DIYers can transform a simple dresser into an adorable desk. Decked out with a faux card catalogue, polka dot lining, and easy-to-roll wheels, this workspace is trés chic. Visit In My Own Style for the step-by-step instructions.

Faux fur takes a plastic chair from boring and cold to cosy and inviting. Use this blogger’s hack to update your office chair, or tuck it in a reading nook to hunker down with a new book. Check out The Key Item to learn more.

Turn a bookshelf on its side and you get a seat-high platform just begging to be transformed into a window bench. Best of all, the adorable cushion on top doesn’t even require sewing. Learn how to recreate the look from Mommy Vignettes.

New legs give this IKEA coffee table new life. The white and wood combo gives a modern update, and the blog suggests adding a mirror on top to punch it up even more. Learn more from Triple Maxtons.