The IKEA IVAR collection offers oodles of versatility thanks to its variety of cabinets, shelving, storage boxes, drawers, doors, and more. Plus, the untreated pine looks great, but it’s also easy to paint. Therefore, it’s a breeze to create whatever look suits your favorite design scheme.
Maybe these are the reasons the IVAR range has been popping up in homes everywhere, from the pantry to the bedroom, for over 50 years. Of course, it could also be the affordable pricing.
But this product line’s adaptability also makes it a great subject for quite a few hacks. DIYers have turned the IVAR into desks, baby stations, bar cabinets, and much more.
Check out this IKEA IVAR hacks round-up, and see if one of them might be your next project!
12 Creative Ways People Are Hacking IKEA IVAR Cabinets and Shelves
1. Create a Luxe Designer Cabinet
A few boards for elevation, trim to add a little detail, and a knockout paint color turn basic IVAR units into an elegant console cabinet. Kaylee @casakaylee decided to connect three cabinets, mounting them to the wall and placing wood blocks below for a unique effect. The trim along the door edges lines up with the boards, adding to the luxe design.
2. Make the Ultimate Baby Station with Storage
When there’s a new baby in the house, things get busy, busy, busy! Anything you can do to make life go more smoothly is a big win. That’s why Jochen created the ultimate IVAR baby station with smartly configured units and added storage that keeps everything within easy reach.
3. Hide Your TV With This Wall-Mounted IVAR Hack
This hack proves that just because you come up with a great idea, it doesn’t mean you can’t make it even better. Pauline hacked an IVAR cabinet into a TV media center, but after some renovations, she needed to change things up. She decided to turn it into a wall-mounted TV cabinet with extra storage and a pretty paint color.
4. Try Out the Studded IVAR Cabinet Makeover
Some hacks become so popular that you see them all over the place. This is exactly the case with this trending studded IVAR cabinet. Eleesha @eleesha.yvette wanted to give the viral hack a try and ended up pulling it off in spades.
5. Add Arches to the IVAR
Hannah Drakeford put her interior design skills to work, turning simple IVAR shelves into a beautiful arched cabinet. The bright orange paint, swooping arches, and quirky shape details give the units a funky, mod look that is colorful and playful. She also added a fun surprise inside, with black-and-white stripes (a happy accident after running out of orange paint).
6. Create a Secret Office Using IVAR
If you work from home, but don’t have a dedicated office, then you need to check out this hack from Emma.
Emma and her husband needed a place to work, but didn’t want it to be visible 24/7.
Makes sense. When the work day ends, you want to tuck everything out of sight and relax. Enter this clever DIY. The couple built an IVAR with a hidden desk that lets them work when they need to, but keep things nice and tidy when it’s time to call it a day.
7. Transform a Basic IVAR Into a Colorful Console
Give your basic IVAR cabinets a fun facelift with this playful, colorful console hack from Reddit user Justice_for_Pandorra. They wanted some color in their living room, so they decided to paint their IVAR cabinets. Some quirky legs from Etsy lift the cabinets off the floor, giving them a whole new look.
8. Add Flair to an IVAR With a Sunburst Design
You can hardly recognize IKEA’s popular pine units after this luxe hack from Alana Gennara. She created an IVAR cabinet with sunburst detailing, resulting in a high-end, elegant look that seems to come out of a designer catalog. She originally wanted two nightstands, but decided to connect the cabinets and make a stunning dresser.
9. Build a Trendy Bookshelf
Reddit user Extension-Gur-7079 designed a unique bookshelf and bar setup using IVAR shelves and drawers. A few dowels on the side keep everything in place and also add a fun detail that gives the piece a custom look.
10. Spin the IVAR Into Stylish Open and Closed Storage
The simple IVAR units do a great job at adding storage to your space, but they’re not always the most stylish options. If unfinished pine isn’t your thing, a few special details and some paint can work wonders.
That’s how Emma Arton @doitwithemma came up with this custom storage cabinet with shelves. The curved sides completely change the entire feel of the piece.
11. Craft a Place for Cocktails With an IVAR Bar
Steve fashioned this IVAR bar cabinet using panels from Home Depot, a stemware rack from The Container Store, and a rich stain to match his dining table. The cabinet below (also IVAR) holds glasses and spirits, with glass fronts that give the whole setup an elevated appearance.
12. Turn IVAR Pieces Into an Efficient Workstation
This IVAR desk unit came together after Brett Bonner decided his son needed a place to work. There was already an IVAR shelf, a drawer, and a cabinet in the room, primarily for storage.
After a bit of tweaking and the addition of a plywood-and-Formica top for a smooth work surface, the transformation is impressive. The individual storage units become a hardworking, stylish workstation.
How Would You Hack an IVAR?
Need a cool bar cabinet? How about a desk with storage or an efficient baby station? Want to hide your TV or create a gorgeous dresser? The IVAR can do it all, you just need to draw some inspiration from these clever IKEA IVAR hacks (or maybe come up with your own)!
Do you have IKEA IVAR hacks you want to show off? Share it with us for a chance to be featured on the site!