Time passes, things change. What worked once doesn’t anymore. This isn’t breaking news — it’s life, and even the most functional hacks can become less so over time.
When Pauline Mantoua renovated her home, her previous IKEA IVAR hack was no longer working its magic, but that didn’t mean it lacked potential.
Initially, the goal was to hide the TV and add some storage. Pauline still wanted to hide her TV, but she reimagined her previous approach to better suit her needs, resulting in a stylish, custom piece.
The new look integrates more seamlessly with the home’s updated design, and the size works better in the cabinet’s new location. This project shows that just because your needs and style change, you don’t have to leave old hacks behind.
What You’ll Need
- 2 IKEA IVAR cabinets (31” x 12” x 33”) (only need the doors from one)
- Drawer slides
- 18mm plywood
- 12mm plywood
- Plywood for drawer front (or use an extra IVAR door)
- Trim pieces
- Wood for the countertop
- Wall anchors
- 170-degree opening hinges
- Primer
- Paint
- Pocket hole jig
- Screws
- Track saw, or circular saw
- 35mm Forstner drill bit
- Level
- Drill/screwgun
- Plunge router
- Painting supplies
How to Make This IVAR TV Cabinet
1. Prep the IVAR Cabinet
Assemble the IVAR cabinet according to IKEA’s instructions. Cut a piece of plywood for each side of the cabinet to create extenders that will serve as the sides of the drawer. Attach to each side of the cabinet, screwing from the inside.
2. Add the Top
Pauline reused the top of an old table; you can use an existing piece you have, cut it to size, or make a top from plywood. Pauline used a plunge router to add the decorative edge. Screw the top into the side extenders.
2. Install the Drawer
Mount the drawer slides to the inside of the height extenders. Build a basic drawer from plywood, or purchase an IVAR drawer. (If building, Pauline used 18mm plywood for the sides and 12mm plywood for the bottom.)
Pauline used one of the extra IVAR doors to create her drawer front so it would match. Also, she opted to extend the drawer front slightly so it would cover up the seam between the existing cabinet and added side pieces.
3. Trim Time
Attach the trim pieces from inside the height extenders with regular screws to cover the transition between the cabinet walls and side pieces and the holes on top. Pauline also used an extra IVAR door to add wide trim pieces to the sides, creating a crown molding effect.
4. Install the Doors
The crown molding intentionally covers the top edge of the cabinet. Therefore, plan to shave about 1 cm off the tops of the doors.
Pauline wanted the doors to open wider because the cabinet hides the TV. The door wasn’t quite long enough to make a 90-degree angle with the sides, so she added a small 45-degree corner between the drawer front and sides. To fit the pieces, she had to trim the height extenders slightly.
5. Prime and Paint
After building the unit, prime and paint it, then hang it on the wall using the appropriate anchors and hardware.
A Few Extra Points to Consider
Pauline created this piece the way she did because she already had four IVAR cabinets from a previous hack. If you’re starting from scratch, you might decide on a different IVAR hack or approach this one from a different perspective.
For example, purchasing one IVAR cabinet and an IVAR drawer, then fitting it with trim and new hinges for a wider opening angle. Pauline recommends checking out her original hack for more insight into how she did the hinges.
You could also scale this hack up by starting with the deeper IVAR unit. Or, if you have the space, hang three next to each other: the middle for the TV and the outer two for storage.
When it comes to hacks, one size doesn’t fit all, so you can tweak, create, and adjust to suit your needs. Who knows, five years from now, you might decide to reimagine it again, as Pauline did here.
What do you think? Would this hack solve a problem you’re facing in your home, or do you have a DIY you’ve already dreamed up? If so, share your hack so we can feature it on the site and keep the inspiration flowing!