When our baby arrived, our flat suddenly felt half the size. We knew we had to get creative, fast.
Most commercial changing tables are frustrating in the same ways: they waste the vertical space above them, offer little side protection, and give you nowhere to store all the stuff that multiplies by the minute after baby enters your life.
So instead of settling, I built what I now call our Baby Station. And it solved all of those problems at once.
What You’ll Need
IKEA:
- DIMMA dimmer switch
- IVAR side units, shelves, chest of 3 drawers (discontinued), and cabinet
- BEKVÄM spice rack
- BYGEL rail
- KVART wall/clamp spotlight
From your local DIY store:
- Thin boards (for side and back panels)
- 19mm board (for the changing table surface)
- 50cm drawer runner
- Screws and double-sided tape
How to Build a DIY IKEA Changing Table Station With Storage
The whole station is built around the IVAR system as its backbone. For the changing table itself, I cut a sturdy 19mm board to size and mounted side boards along the edges — this creates a natural barrier that keeps baby safely in place during nappy changes. Thin boards fill in the flanks and back, turning the open IVAR frame into a proper, enclosed station.
The BEKVÄM spice racks mounted on the sides were a brainchild. They hold all our creams, wipes, and cotton pads at arm’s reach without taking up any table space.
The IKEA Parts That Make This Baby Station Work
The drawer
I built a custom drawer from boards fitted with a 50cm drawer runner, which slides out smoothly right next to the changing surface. It’s become the most-used part of the whole setup, making all essentials accessible while changing. (Editor note: IKEA has introduced drawers to the IVAR system, saving us this step)
The lighting
I installed a KVART spotlight with a DIMMA dimmer switch (fixed to the unit with double-sided tape) to create soft, indirect lighting. Very helpful for night nappy changes.
The clothes rail
Mounted on the top drawer, the BYGEL rail is the perfect spot to hang, well… stinky clothing. You know the ones.
And that’s it! The result is a compact, fully functional baby station that uses as much vertical space as possible without taking up the rest of the room.
This changing table and storage unit really works for us.
Building this IVAR hack was our way to have a bit of fun, even as sleep-deprived parents! Hope you have fun too.
~ Jochen, Mistelbach an der Zaya, Austria