IKEA Living Room Hacks

ikea billy bookcase hack with shelf niches

When it comes to furnishing your living room, IKEA is a go-to destination for many. With its affordable prices and stylish designs, IKEA furniture is a popular choice for those looking to create a comfortable and functional living space.

But there's the risk of your living room looking like an IKEA showroom if you use mainly IKEA furniture. With a little creativity and a few DIY skills, you can take your IKEA furniture to the next level and perhaps even get a few people saying, "I can't believe it's IKEA!"

From easy IKEA hacks like adding new legs to your sofa to creating custom built-in storage solutions, there are so many fabulous ways to tweak your IKEA pieces into pieces that are uniquely you. 

In this page, you'll find some of the best IKEA living room hacks to inspire your own DIY projects and help you create a space that's both stylish and functional.

Most Popular Posts on Living Rooms

Take ordinary IKEA furniture and transform them into something extraordinary. From custom built-ins to clever hidden work spaces, these living rooms showcase the creativity and ingenuity of IKEA hackers.

Whether you're looking to add some personality to your space or simply want to make the most of your IKEA furniture, these living room hacks are sure to inspire. So why not take a closer look and see how you can create a space that's stylish and functional?

Jump directly to these categories:
Bookshelves Sideboards Room Dividers
built-in living room cabinet

2 IKEA cabinets for this beautiful living room built-in

The initial plan was to have floor to ceiling alcove…

ikea built-in living room shelves hack

Now, 4 things made a big difference in this BILLY hack

BILLY built-in living room shelves get a gorgeous makeover. Claire…

living room update ideas

8 IKEA hacks and ideas for a quick living room update

IKEA hacks and ideas to give your living room a…

Living room home cinema: My stylish projector mount and hidden surround receiver

Living room home cinema: My stylish projector mount and hidden surround receiver

Stylish film projector mount and bookshelf I have been looking…

Living Room Storage

The wonder of IKEA hacking! Take IKEA furniture and modify them to fit your specific needs and space requirements.

You not only create a storage system that's tailored to your living room and the items you need to store, but also seamlessly match your style and taste.
DIY IKEA METOD cabinet hack turned into a modern wood storage console for bedroom, living room or hallway

The IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Hack You’ll Use in Every Room

IKEA METOD cabinets may be designed for the kitchen, but…

curved cabinet IKEA ENHET hack

This IKEA Hack Nails 2025’s Curved Cabinet Trend

Anyone who thinks IKEA can’t look high-end needs to step…

This IKEA Hack Cleared Our Living Room Clutter

This IKEA Hack Cleared Our Living Room Clutter

Ask anyone with kids and they’ll tell you that keeping…

ebba storage console dupe

Recreate a $700 Console for Under $100 With This IKEA Hack

Ever found a piece of furniture that makes you drool,…

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Coffee table and side table hacks

IKEA coffee table hacks are very popular on IKEA hackers. They are smaller DIY projects and a great starting point if you're beginning your DIY journey. But they are no less amazing. Here are some popular IKEA coffee table hacks.
Lift top coffee table ikea kallax hack

How to Hack the KALLAX Into a Stylish Lift-Top Coffee Table

Multifunctional furniture is a lifesaver for small spaces. And with…

Before and after of DIY IKEA LACK side table hack turned into a $60 chic coffee table

Genius IKEA LACK Side Table Hack That Looks 10x More Expensive

The IKEA LACK side table is a true legend, known…

ikea lack side table hacks

36 IKEA LACK Side Table Hacks for Clever, Low-Cost DIYs

The IKEA LACK side table is as “IKEA” as it…

ikea lack side table hack

This Clever LACK Table Flip Turns It into the Perfect C-Shaped Side Table

This hack gives a whole new meaning to the idea…

accent round side table, bowl side table hack

This IKEA Side Table Hack Really Bowls You Over

Side tables come in handy for holding a cup of…

snudda side table

The $20 IKEA Hack That Looks Like a Designer Side Table

Do you like a good two-step? No, I’m not talking…

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How to Define Space in the Living Room

Ideas and hacks on how to define your living room space using IKEA items to create room dividers, partitions, even carve out a room for a home office.

This See Through Room Divider provides subtle separation

risor room divider

See Through Room Divider that doesn’t block the view. In our 1960s house, the Dining Area and Lounge are one open space that seemed to beg for some separation. I wanted to keep the Lounge’s…

KALLAX tall room divider with integrated desk

room divider desk ikea

We used the IKEA KALLAX modules to build a room divider with a desk. The main structure is a KALLAX 4×4 unit propped up by two 1×2 KALLAX units. Together they work perfectly as a…

Carving out a special room for a home office

billy room home office

BILLY bookcases are awesome as walls for a temporary room. Working from home is becoming a reality for more and more people. But not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated room for a home…

How to hack a renter-friendly room divider

renter friendly room divider

It took me almost a year to figure it out. I sent a help request in 2019 but here is my attempt at a renter-friendly room divider.  You can get this up by only drilling…

Screen with greens: Make an Indoor Plant Room Divider

Screen with greens: Make an Indoor Plant Room Divider

This is our hack of the PINNIG coat rack and shoe bench into an indoor plant room divider. Which we now call “The Pinnig Sprout Screen”. Backstory We have always wanted a room divider to have clear…

Making a Pax Room in the Living Room

Making a Pax Room in the Living Room

Hello Everybody! I am very excited to share with this community and everybody what I have done in my little apartment in hopes to help others who may have the same problem that I had.…

IKEA Bookshelf Hacks

Other than the fact that IKEA bookshelves are made to store a lot of stuff, they are affordable and so hackable. Which makes them a popular choice for built-in bookshelf hacks and so much more. Here are our top IKEA Bookshelf Hacks.
ikea billy bookcase hack with shelf niches

Vertical Dividers May Be the Next Big IKEA BILLY Hack — And This Redditor Nailed It

IKEA’s BILLY bookcase has been a go-to storage solution for…

ikea billy bookcase arched shelving hack

This Arched Bookcase Hack Looks Like $20K Built-Ins!

Now and then, a DIY comes along that makes you…

ikea billy bookcase window display hack

This Bookcase Display Window Hack Keeps Your Collections Dust-Free

Whether you collect action figures, love to show off your…

renter friendly ivar built ins

These Renter-Friendly Shelves Deliver Tons of Storage! (It’s IVAR!)

Think built-in shelves are impossible in a rental? This renter-friendly…

ikea billy library cabinet hack for old listed Georgian townhouse

IKEA in a Georgian Townhouse? This DIYer Pulled It Off Flawlessly

IKEA might not be the first thing that comes to…

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IKEA Hacks for sofas, poufs and stools

Upcycle or customize an IKEA sofa, armchair, stool and pouffe to create a unique piece of furniture that reflects your personal style and meets your specific needs. We go beyond adding new legs to the sofa or reupholstering the cushions to show how much more you can do with your IKEA sofa, armchair or ottoman.
IKEA EKET sofa storage bench

Sleek Behind the Sofa Storage Bench made with Bargain Corner Finds

Tara @taraxhome_ was frustrated with the clutter taking over the…

diy ottoman ikea hack

DIY Ottoman: 3 easy ways to make one

An ottoman is a versatile piece of furniture that can…

chaise FRIHETEN

IKEA FRIHETEN sleeper sectional downsized into a chaise

Our cats had basically destroyed this poor couch (see the…

solsta pallbo footstool with storage

Old IKEA footstool gets makeover and new storage

I’m coming back with what I love the most, giving…

double poang hack

IKEA snuggler – 2 seater POÄNG style

First things first, I wouldn’t have been able to do…

KOARP armchair upgraded in a very, very good way

KOARP armchair upgraded in a very, very good way

Scripto took the KOARP armchair with a metal frame and…

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All our IKEA Living Room Hacks

ikea billy bookcase hack with shelf niches

Vertical Dividers May Be the Next Big IKEA BILLY Hack — And This Redditor Nailed It

IKEA’s BILLY bookcase has been a go-to storage solution for decades, thanks to its affordability and simple design. But let’s be honest, straight horizontal shelves can only take you so far in the style department. Enter the latest BILLY hack that’s turning heads: vertical dividers. Redditor Enfer06 deftly executed what…

ikea billy bookcase arched shelving hack

This Arched Bookcase Hack Looks Like $20K Built-Ins!

Now and then, a DIY comes along that makes you do a double-take. Don’t get me wrong. We’ve seen some absolutely amazing IKEA hacks. But my first thought when I saw these stunning built-ins from Becky Johnson (@DIYWithBecky) was, “No way!” But sure enough, this talented hacker created a wonderfully…

ikea billy bookcase window display hack

This Bookcase Display Window Hack Keeps Your Collections Dust-Free

Whether you collect action figures, love to show off your LEGO creations (that’s me!), or just hate dusting (also me), you’ll want to pay attention to this hack. It’s also perfect for keeping curious kitties from knocking over your displays, which was the catalyst for this particular bookcase modification. Davidtsh…

renter friendly ivar built ins

These Renter-Friendly Shelves Deliver Tons of Storage! (It’s IVAR!)

Think built-in shelves are impossible in a rental? This renter-friendly IKEA hack proves otherwise and it costs a fraction of custom carpentry. If you’re a renter, adding built-ins to the living room might seem about as achievable as catching smoke with your bare hands. But these IKEA hackers found a…

TARVA 6-drawer dresser

This Boring Dresser Is Unrecognizable After This Vintage-Inspired Hack

Now, here’s a hack that really makes you do a double-take. I didn’t even recognize the after-pic. Jenna Townsend (@touch.of.townsend) wanted a “lived-in apothecary look” without the high price tag that typically comes with it. She transformed IKEA’s basic TARVA 6-drawer dresser into an antique-style showstopper that looks like a…

Lift top coffee table ikea kallax hack

How to Hack the KALLAX Into a Stylish Lift-Top Coffee Table

Multifunctional furniture is a lifesaver for small spaces. And with a little IKEA hacking, even the simplest shelf can become the hardest-working piece in your living room. Eli and Santi @my magical refuge upgraded a basic IKEA KALLAX unit into a sophisticated and stylish coffee table, complete with hidden storage…

fridge in living room problem solved DIY slat wall solution

Is Your Fridge Putting a Damper on Your Design? (Try This!)

A refrigerator is great at keeping things cool, but it’s not exactly cool to look at, especially when its side ends up front and center in your living room. Awkward, right? That’s the design dilemma one clever DIYer faced. Instead of living with the eyesore, Andrew49378 (reddit) crafted a slatted…

studio apartment living room with a DIY room divider screen separating the TV area from the bedroom

How A Room Divider Transformed This DIYer’s Tiny Apartment Overnight

Living in a small house with my husband and son has taught me the art of carving out privacy wherever I can. At least we have a couple of rooms to retreat to—but I often wonder, how do people in a studio apartment manage? Imagine trying to nap while someone…

DIY IKEA METOD cabinet hack turned into a modern wood storage console for bedroom, living room or hallway

The IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Hack You’ll Use in Every Room

IKEA METOD cabinets may be designed for the kitchen, but this hack proves you can cook up a great idea anywhere. In this IKEA METOD cabinet hack, Chris (@_casa_seven) transformed standard kitchen wall cabinets (SEKTION, if you’re shopping at IKEA US) into a custom storage cabinet. The stylish DIY storage…

Before and after of DIY IKEA LACK side table hack turned into a $60 chic coffee table

Genius IKEA LACK Side Table Hack That Looks 10x More Expensive

The IKEA LACK side table is a true legend, known for its affordability, simple design, and countless hacks. Some would say it’s a little too simple, but I say that’s part of the appeal. It’s like getting a blank canvas where you get to create any masterpiece you want. Joining…

curved cabinet IKEA ENHET hack

This IKEA Hack Nails 2025’s Curved Cabinet Trend

Anyone who thinks IKEA can’t look high-end needs to step back. This hack proves that you can find finesse in a flat-pack, as long as you know how to use it. The EHNET series shows up a lot in the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean it needs to stay there.…

DIY IKEA IVAR side units for the cabinet to extend height of the cabinet and open shelving

This DIYer Said ‘No Thanks’ to IVAR’s Clunky Side Units: Here’s the Sleek Upgrade You’ll Want to Copy

Ever loved the IKEA IVAR range but not the entire family? You’re not alone. While the IVAR cabinet is a hacker’s favorite, those chunky side posts don’t exactly scream “stylish”, except perhaps as a room divider. DIYer Emma Arton (@doitwithemma) may have found the solution for us as she reimagined…

ikea lack side table hacks

36 IKEA LACK Side Table Hacks for Clever, Low-Cost DIYs

The IKEA LACK side table is as “IKEA” as it gets. Minimal. Particleboard exterior. “Honeycomb” interior. Easy to assemble. Now available in two sizes: the classic 21 5/8″ square for $14.99 and a smaller 13 3/4″ version for just $9.99. The LACK duo can even be nested together to save…

This IKEA Hack Cleared Our Living Room Clutter

This IKEA Hack Cleared Our Living Room Clutter

Ask anyone with kids and they’ll tell you that keeping the house tidy can be a bit, let’s just say, challenging. But when you have amazing storage, putting things away becomes a lot easier (and, dare we say, fun). Sophie Blackwell @sophieandthebees needed more room for toys, board games, and…

ikea billy library cabinet hack for old listed Georgian townhouse

IKEA in a Georgian Townhouse? This DIYer Pulled It Off Flawlessly

IKEA might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think “Georgian townhouse,” but Sophie Murphy (@thelistedtownhouse) is here to prove that flat-pack can live beautifully alongside period features. In her elegant dining room, Sophie transformed 3 BILLY bookcases into built-ins that look like they’ve always belonged.…

ebba storage console dupe

Recreate a $700 Console for Under $100 With This IKEA Hack

Ever found a piece of furniture that makes you drool, only to lose your appetite as soon as you see the price? Or what if you fall in love with a piece, only to find it’s not available in your country? That’s what happened with Till & Romy @twice.crafted. They…

DIY murphy door ikea BILLY secret door hack

Looks Like a Shelf, Opens Like a Secret Passage — Genius!

Secret passages, hidden rooms, moving bookcases — it sounds like something out of a Sherlock Holmes novel or an Agatha Christie mystery. But it’s also an IKEA hack that, I have to admit, makes me a little green with envy. I mean, who wouldn’t want a secret door in their…

IKEA BILLY Bookcase Hacks featuring arched bookcases, flip down doors and hidden BILLY storage

37 Next-Level IKEA BILLY Bookcase Hacks to Try Now

The best hacks for the world’s most beloved bookcase. For over 40 years, the iconic IKEA BILLY has been a staple in homes around the world—simple, affordable, and endlessly useful. But what happens when everyday IKEA fans push this humble bookcase way beyond its original purpose? You get these 37…

ikea lack side table hack

This Clever LACK Table Flip Turns It into the Perfect C-Shaped Side Table

This hack gives a whole new meaning to the idea of looking at something from a different perspective. When Jerry R.’s bedside LACK table wasn’t quite tall enough, she flipped it on its side to create a C-shaped side table on wheels. The idea is pretty ingenious, and the C-shape…

room divider crochet curtain doilies IKEA KOMPLEMENT multi hanger hack

This IKEA Room Divider Hack Might Be the Prettiest Privacy Screen Yet

When room dividers cost hundreds and still don’t quite fit the space, what’s a budget-conscious design lover to do? Paloma had a high-ceilinged entryway that needed a bit of privacy, but every store-bought solution was either too short, too generic, or way too expensive. Instead of settling, she got creative.…

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