13 Years of IKEA Hacking … where do we go from here?

Jules Yap·
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Today, I poured myself a glass for ginger wine, swirled it and raised a toast.

Besides chugging down alcohol, I lifted my hands and said thank you to Jesus that we’re still around. If you’ve followed this site for some time, you would have known about the close call we had back in 2014. I’m glad that’s all sorted now, with the big blue and yellow.

Cheers, everyone!

I must also thank you, my dear reader, for your support over all these years. You may have just joined us, or have stuck with me since way back then. No matter when you jumped on the wagon, I’m glad you are here and I hope you’ll continue to stick around to help us build an even better platform.

IKEA hacking: 13 going on 30 

And just like that IKEA hackers has grown into a teen. With just as much uncertainty and questions as a real life one.

A new parent once told me, not half-jokingly, “The whole goal of the first few years is to keep the baby alive”. Now that my keeping-the-baby-alive years are firmly behind me, my teen is asking me, “What now?” Where do we go from here?” 

If you’ve missed out on the early days, here’s a brief write-up on how IKEA hackers started.

IKEA hacking the PAX sliding doors into a room divider

My first post was this, a hack that’s still going strong in different ways today. Please forgive the small picture size and all lower caps formatting, which was deemed cool back then. (What was I thinking!)

The story so far …

For the past 13 years, I’ve pretty much kept the regular IKEA hacking programme — sharing hacks I’ve received from all over the world or seen on the Internet.

But the world wide web was very different when I first started. Blogs were the “in” thing. There was no Facebook, no Instagram, certainly no Pinterest.

In 2006, the world has not heard of IKEA hacking. When IKEA hackers launched, it introduced a brand new phenomenon that was edgy, almost sexy. We were a movement that threw away the assembly manuals and defied what the retail giant told us to do. We were at the fringe. 

2019 and beyond

Fast forward to 2019, every self-respecting home decorating site or DIY blogger would have featured an IKEA hack or two. It is almost expected that you’ll buy IKEA and then hack it. Heck, even IKEA hacks IKEA.

Not only that, scores of businesses have emerged from the concept of IKEA hacking — accessorising, customising and adding to what IKEA offers.  

In the light of how IKEA hacking has exploded over the last decade or so … I’m now faced with this challenge: How does IKEA hackers remain fresh, relevant and as inspiring as when it started? 

I’ve always believed more heads are better than one — which it why this site is named IKEA hackers — with a plural. Because it’s never just about me or my projects.

How does IKEA hackers remain fresh, relevant and as inspiring as when it started?

I’m opening up and am hoping to have a conversation with you: What you would like to see on IKEA hackers? How shall we evolve? What new things shall we include? Or old things to bring back? What topics are you hoping we’ll cover? In what way do you think IKEA hacking phenomenon will change?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below or via this form if you prefer to share your thoughts privately. 

To launch our discussion

There are some possible paths, off the top of my head. A few ideas I’ve been toying with …

1. Keep doing what we do best — sharing hacks. (By the way, send yours in if you have yet to.)

2. More themed posts like this “16 ways to use the LACK side table all around the house.”

3. Branch out to include other brand furniture hacks.

4. Broaden the niche to include other hacks in different aspects of life such as travel, money, learning.

But honestly, they seem a little run of the mill. I think I’ve been locked into IKEA hackers for so long that I can’t break out of the flatpack, so to speak.

I need some fresh eyes. Your eyes. Perhaps, there’s an obvious direction that I’m just not seeing. Do point it out to me.

Please join me in hacking IKEA hackers. It will be fun. Promise. 

Always,

Jules Yap
Latest posts by Jules Yap (see all)

35 Responses

  2. I think maybe more cheap furniture hacks (Wal-Mart, maybe?) and more collections of IKEA furniture ideas would be great, on top of continuing to share hacks… but expanding into travel, etc, would be a big turn off for me. To me, this site is the best of making inexpensive /furniture/ custom. I don’t mind as long as it stays around the general home decor sphere–gardening, renovation, that’s all fine. But as soon as we get into travel or money, this blog seems more generic, less focused. Just my thoughts. 🙂

    Reply

  3. Please stay true to Ikea products as the main item of each hack. I don’t mind when other vendors products are included in the hack.

    I see a lot of Ikea products thrown out with the garbage. Usually, when people move they can’t find the tools to disassemble or the instructions. So they break the item (e.g. Malm Bed) apart and toss it. Such a waste!

    I would like to see hacks that show what can be done with some of these tossed items. Like maybe a dumpster diving contest… Also, I really like the Tiny Home movement, VanLife, or living in Airstreams, Busses, Rv’s etc. it would be nice to see some of that here.

    Congrats!!!

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  4. Congrats Jules, I am a big fan of IKEAhackers since the day I found it on the net ( more 11 years now). I have submitted few hacks and proud of them.
    Please keep going!
    Mitch

    Reply

  5. I agree with previous comments about branching out into a few more themes especially outside/gardening.

    But keep doing what you’re doing, it has given me many “Of course that is so obvious!” moments.

    Reply

  6. Hi Jules,

    I remember that fuss in 2014, and I’m glad someone at IKEA saw the light.

    Your poll indicates from its wording that you would probably prefer your first option. I agree. I love IKEA Hackers, and receive your posts via email. Please don’t broaden or branch out. There is so much I love about IKEA Hackers, especially that it concerns only one brand, and that people post their hacks from all over the world.

    Congratulations to IKEA Hackers on turning 13!

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  7. Hello Jules
    I think you have to take your cue for Ikea Hackers for the next 13 years (and more) from what is going to become increasingly important in our world: recycling; the avoidance of wastage (you’ve got that one covered already); battling against plastic and other pollution; and more. Personally, I’d like to see even more emphasis on gardening, maximising outside space using IKEA hacks and what have you. Making water butts, composters, reusing and repurposing materials etc in our increasingly crowded world where space – and particularly green space – is going to come at even more of a premium is where IKEA Hackers can make a difference. Best of luck with it!

    Reply

    1. I think this is an interesting idea. I would use it to expand Ikea Hackers in one direction, maybe a regular contest or section “Ways to use Ikea to make the world greener.”

      Reply

  8. Congratulations! I’ve very much enjoyed this site.
    I would agree with sarah, above – I’d like ideas about how to use IKEA differently, even as the life-cycle of an object breaks down. I realize that might not lead to too many posts, but it is a dilemma. (e.g. one of my kids had a lack side table for years – the top basically disintegrated – what could I do with it now?).
    I also love the ideas – using products without hacking but in unexpected ways.

    Reply

  9. Happy Birthday Ikea Hackers! I would like to see Ikea keep to only Ikea hacks. It is the perfect go-to, specific to one brand. I would keep to #1 and #2 of your suggestions.
    Thanks for all you do and have a blessed day.

    Reply

  10. Hi Jules! First off.. Congratulations!

    Regarding your question…
    Moving to another brands: since you probably have an international readerbase, it will be quite a challenge to find brands that are worldwide known…

    I do like the idea to bring in other hacks, but since there is so much ‘competion’ eg Pinterest, the key here is to keep focus on several themes in and around the house… and keep it mind that’s the hacks will have to be ‘universal’ so the products used will have to be available world wide.. nothing more anoying to see an excellent hack, but the products are not available in the Netherlands…

    But more important, where do you want go? You have given your fans a lot the past years, do please choose the path your heart desires…

    Greetings from the Netherlands!

    Reply

  11. Jules,

    I am a newbie follower of one year.

    I think what is interesting is that you are catering a never ending cycle of Ikea hackers. Because all of us have been in your shoes.

    after renting/buying 1st or 2nd or 3rd house/apartment and looking for inspiration.

    I have fore-sure have benefited from the ideas from Ikea hackers, and made some hacks myself. and modified hacks inspiration. I think the movement can be even bigger, if traffic increases. Nevertheless what IH is doing is exactly that Hacking on a personal level, if this were to grow to a pro level, it wouldn’t have the same vibe. I would say keep doing what you are doing.
    You have a winning formula. You can tinker with it. But stay true to IH.

    Best,

    Ken

    Reply

  12. I’m with Tanya…I make a once-a-year trek to my nearest IKEA (hundreds of miles away), but it would be fun to work other hacks throughout the year 🙂 I DO love the site and the creativity!

    Reply

  13. I’d like to see the hacker community broaden its gaze to look at the whole IKEA experience to challenge the brand in new ways – always from a place of love of course!

    How can we hack deliveries, food, reuse and recycle unwanted items, upcycle broken ones?

    Reply

  14. I remember that first post and the hack is still one of my favourites. I too like what you have been doing. Please don’t expand outside IKEA. I think 1 & 2 are perfect and find your work all over the place – Pinterest is full of it.

    If I had to suggest a change it would be a tiny one. Move the links for Hacks of the Year to the top menu.

    Thank you for all your hard work and best of luck keeping the teenager under control!

    Alison

    Reply

  15. I love the regular hack newsletters and have been inspired over the years. In particular I love the themed posts. So things like Billy hacks or besta mods etc..

    Reply

  16. Most of the incoming blog emails I get are sent to “junk” immediately. NOT IkeaHackers!

    I look forward to it every weekend and if I can’t read it right away, I save it for later.

    I’m a born DIY’er and have gotten so many great ideas from your site. & I will add a comment to those I find unique and beautiful — never a negative comment, though, it’s not my place to dictate my taste to someone else 🙁

    Keep up the great work! And, yes, evolve but don’t change too much (keep it to Ikea as much as possible). We love you just the way you are!

    Reply

  18. I too have been super inspired by you and this site as I’ve done up a house on a budget over a few years. Thanks for bringing it to us.

    It’s a great time for you to ask this question. As a business strategiser (I made that last word up) it’s rare that leaders and creators take a moment to step back and look at things, before they slip into total obsolescence.

    The fact is, when you started this site, hacks were rarer – and though I still don’t think they are that common, those of us who might be up for it have mostly found you. So you could carry on as in, in a niche market but with more competition from… well even Ikea. There’s a much bigger move towards making do with what we have and changing things we already own, so as not to buy new, and using things in different ways. Perhaps your greatest challenge is Ikea’s Lagom initiative, where they are challenging repurposing of their own products. That’s going to be hard to beat.

    So I think you have four options: beat them, join them, change, or let go.
    – Beat them: If you can develop bigger and better and brighter then you could still own this market. You would have to put in a lot of work, but it is possible, if you got it right. This is risky, but it’s an option.
    – Join them: You’ve taken them on before, so they know who you are. There may be a real opportunity to partner with them as part of their Lagom initiative. Big businesses often don’t have time to explore, maybe you can bring a creative arm to their business. Would take work, but also possibly worth exploring if you truly love Ikea.
    – Change. You have focussed on Ikea and that has been your brand for a long time; it doesn’t have to be going forward. You have a reasonably good readership base and a lot of historical material to bring into a change of direction. If you look at the popularity of designers like Ana White, you’ll see the market for building and changing things are still there. Do you have to be Ikea focussed? I think you still need to find your niche, as there are loads of epicycle sites, but there might be a wider market for you. In this perhaps you could also explore careful partnering; your readers won’t like ads but careful partnering can work if you can decide your new niche. And remember, you can change strategies as you move forward if you want, but you’re going to have to start moving.
    – Let it go. Don’t read this as “give up”. You’ve delivered a super service on a successful site and everything has a season. This season is over, and if you don’t fancy re-inventing yourself, do you really need to? Are there other things you want to do? This is the perfect time to go do them if there are.

    The long and the short of it, as you are already super clear on, is that you can’t rest on your laurels and not expect the interest and associated revenues to dry up. You cannot expect the work to be done by readers submitting their work any more, and if you need the income you are going to have to change gears again. But, you know that, so pick your option and go make it happen.

    This might be too serious a response for you, but you asked!

    Reply

  19. Jules congrats on 13 years, I agree with Gaja. Keep with the ikea hacks but also give us themes. Looking forward to lots more years.

    Reply

  20. I am going to follow the “stay away from click bait” crowd. This site is uqinue in that every post, every hack, is genuine. someone put thought in how to use the product to better serve them and managed to succeed. it would be cool to feature the lesser known lines or offer challenges with different materials…

    In celebration, I want to share with you how I got my job at IKEA! Your site was new, but I’d found it. I was already in love with the store, but the idea of making my own world of things and looking at what the store had to offer as raw materials was amazing to me. But I’d applied on a whim – they were hiring seasonal and I had not found enough working 3 other jobs… I went in with the biggest smile on my face and there was no way I could hide how excited i was to be sitting in that tiny little room. and they asked the question, “why IKEA?” I said, have you seen the Blog, IKEA HAckers? its this giant world wide community of beautiful, resourceful, creative people. I don’t know that they would come together like they do for a store like Rooms To Go. This place is special and i want to to be a part of that.

    you are magic.

    here’s to 13 more years!

    Reply

  21. I love the inspiration on your site and don’t look up any others. I’m a big fan of using Ikea products differently than originally intended, because that has solved many a space or storage issue for me in the past. For example, I use their rectangular wicker laundry basket to cover the ugly plastic trash bin for packaging recycling in my kitchen. Keeps the kitchen looking pretty! I also have two dogs with physical therapy needs so I took the top and bottom boards of an Ikea side table to feed them on (front paws on the boards to train hind leg muscles). The boards are the perfect height and nice and light and have rounded edges… works a charm! I’m not as talented at DIY as others, so different uses for products is extra helpful to me. I have also used some of the furniture hacks, so please keep up the good work!

    Reply

  22. I too have been with you since the beginning. I even sent an email of support to corporate when they were unsure of your intent.
    Anyway I like number 2 and 3 above. A “Hack when you don’t have an IKEA store” would be great. Maybe once a month or week feature.
    Anyway, keep it up, I will keep reading.
    Tanya

    Reply

  23. Congrats! I’ve not been with you since day one but not far off from it. I love following this site for how it was back then & how it still is now ‘IKEA hacks’. I supported when IKEA threatened it & thankfully saw sense in the end.

    Of course after 13yrs you are right in thinking ‘does this need changes’ but sometimes it’s better to leave it as it is. If it ain’t broken, don’t try fixing it! How about updating some blogs, show how it went years later. I know my BESTA hack to an entertainment system has evolved over the years due to changes in lifestyle & tech. Would be interesting to see how others have faired, did they work long term, any changes to improve the hacks over the years? But other than that, I am here following the site coz of those who submit their IKEA hacks. And thanks to you Jules, its my go to site for inspiration for future hacks.

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  24. I’m still very new here but loving it. Ikea is affordable and (except for Hawaii) pretty much everywhere 😉 So please don’t go to other brands.
    Personally I’d love just 1 en 2.
    Anyway, whatever you do, keep it up! This is my goto place when I’m stuck on an interior question but also on sunday mornings in bed just scrolling and getting ideas and making plans.

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  25. I’ve been with you for most of the 13 years. So long that I don’t remember how I even found you. I was rooting for you during the trials and saying prayers that it would work out. Thankful it did and we are all blessed by that.
    If I think of any ideas I will let you know.
    Just want to tell you that “You have been doing a fantastic job.”
    Sticking with you,
    Mrs. Nora M.

    Reply

  26. Dear Jules – Happy Birthday! Just want to say how much I enjoy your web-site – I check it almost every day. And the crazy thing is, We don’t have an Ikea store in Hawaii! But I see so many clever ideas, lovely furnishings and wonderful decor (usually on a budget!) that I can certainly relate and aspire to. If you have any pull with the powers that be at Ikea, please beg for a store for us!

    Reply

    1. Thank you checking in, even though you don’t have an IKEA store near you. But Hawaii! Wow. I’ll be ok living there without an IKEA store.

      Reply

  27. Please don’t broaden the niche to include ‘hacks’ from other aspects of life. They’re always clickbait garbage or nonsense that doesn’t fly in the real world.

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  28. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep up the good work and do not change it too much. As a expat and very active in expat communities we rely on Ikea to furnish one home after another across the globe and with your site we can make our temporary homes our own with a bit of unique flavour at ikea costs.

    I have sent many a people to your site to see how they can add their flare to a everyday ikea item.

    I think that since Ikea have many ranges coming out all the time we can always come up with new ways to hack new items.

    Pimp my raskog of FB just shows how one simple trolley becomes a more than that…

    Reply

    1. Zoe, thank you so much for sending people my way. And it is true, IKEA and IKEA hacking is a unifying factor across the globe. I love how I can speak the same “IKEA language” to any IKEA fan across the globe.

      Reply

  29. dear Jules, you are as wonderful now as before (I started reading your blog 6 or 7 years ago), an inspiration and a reference point! so I would suggest to remain the same and go with idea number 1, however idea number 2 is an evolution I’d appreciate a lot.
    If you can, please don’t change the blog format because I like it so much 🙂
    congratulations and hack longer!

    Gaja

    Reply

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