IKEA Built-In Hacks — 12 Inspiring Bespoke DIYs for Stylish Storage on a Budget

Stylish IKEA built-in hacks offer the perfect opportunity to save money while creating custom storage solutions that fit your unique space. From media walls to custom closets right through to seamless cabinets that disguise unsightly appliances, the possibilities are endless when it comes to hacking flatpacks from our favorite Swedish homeware brand.

If you're a keen DIYer, you can embrace an IKEA hack to craft elevated solutions that look ultra-luxe for less. So, instead of enlisting the help of a professional joiner for your next built-in furniture project, take a look at these clever ideas from Instagram interior influencers to inspire your self-build. Trust us when we say you're sure to catch the DIY bug!

IKEA built-in hacks for bespoke storage that won't break the bank

From the IKEA Besta to the IKEA Pax and the best-selling IKEA Billy bookcase, discover our round-up of super-smart IKEA built-in hacks below. You might even find an ingenious solution you didn't even realize you needed. 

1. Make a Built-in closet to fit a pitched ceiling

Plenty of homes now have attic conversions, but pitched roofs can prove tricky when it comes to designing your space. Emily Shaw (@the_scruff_house) knew she needed a clever closet solution to fit her loft bedroom, and the trust IKEA PAX came to the rescue. 

Using two PAX frames which she anchored to the wall using furniture bolts, like these ones, from Amazon, Emily built an MDF frame to give her closet a period feel. She also added her own molding to the doors to give them a traditional paneled look. 

To complete her built-in wardrobe idea she added an LED lighting strip that automatically switches on when she opens the doors, caulked to fill any gaps on the surface, and then drenched the closet in Farrow & Ball's shade 'Sulking Room Pink'. 'After painting the closet the same color as the walls it really blends in and although it's a large size, it doesn’t overpower the room,' she says. 'I also finished it with some beautiful gold handles from Anthropologie.'  

2. Create a storage surround for a clunky freestanding fridge

Freestanding appliances aren't always the prettiest, and they rarely make good use of space. For a more cohesive feel in her small kitchen, home renovator Hannah of the Otto House wanted to house her free-standing fridge to provide more storage and, naturally, an IKEA hack was the answer.

The fridge panel consists of two IKEA METOD units (also sold as the SEKTION) placed on either side, which extend around a foot above the top of the appliance, offering the opportunity to integrate a shelf for recipe books. 'I topped this with some wooden molding to give it a more bespoke look,' says Hannah. The added height helps to utilize the space above the fridge and reduce visual clutter. To complete the look, she then painted with Mylands Wood & Metal paint in the shade Egerton Place to match the existing cabinets. 

3. Build a seamlessly integrated closet in the narrowest of alcoves

The talented Emma @emmacourtneyhome has carried out two super-successful IKEA wardrobe hacks by using the versatile PAX system. 'With the first IKEA Pax hack, my goal was to create a wardrobe that looked seamless with the walls, almost hidden like it wasn’t there,' explains Emma. 'I raised the PAX up on a 2x4 wood base, and drywalled above and on the sides to make the wardrobe look like part of the wall.' 

To make her own mark and add a decorative touch, she then added panel molding to the doors and baseboard to match the rest of the room. 'I managed to match the paint color of the doors and only painted the panel molding, and drywall, retaining the IKEA finish on the doors to avoid potential paint chipping,' she says. 

Paint supplies

4. Create a modern country-style wardrobe

'For my second IKEA Pax hack, I wanted to make it look like a countryside wardrobe with airing holes in it,' explains Emma. 'The first step was raising it up on a 2x4 base. Then I added Shaker-style detail to the doors by having strips of hardboard cut at the hardware store and used glue and nails to secure it to the door.'

Like before, she added baseboard to match the room and wood filler pieces at the top to take the closet to the ceiling for that built-in look. 'I used a good primer and painted the whole wardrobe, finally adding the vent holes and matches to complete the look,' she adds. 

5. Go wall-to-wall with built-in shelving

IKEA Billy bookcase hacks are probably one of the most widely seen thanks to the system's versatile foundations. But it's hard to come across one quite as stylish as this. Kaari (@thesommerhome) and her husband created this stylish look after moving into their new home. 'I got a bid from the cabinet shop and it was way out of our budget so I started Googling DIY options,' she says. 'I came across a few IKEA hack built-ins and decided that may be the perfect solution.' 

The couple added in hardwired lighting and wood trims for the walls and ceiling for the built-in aesthetic. 'We caulked and painted everything except the doors, back of the bookshelves, and the actual shelves,' notes Kaari. 'We painted it with Benjamin Moore Simply White and prepped with a Zinsser primer before painting.'

6. Fashion a chic built-in window nook

There's nothing quite as stylish or practical as a good window seat idea. And, with a clever IKEA hack, they don't have to set you back with high labor costs. Jen, of @home.at.highfield, created the cozy nook above to make more storage space while also keeping to a stylish aesthetic.

'I used an IKEA PAX wardrobe unit for the shelving with three of their shelves, and built the storage bench next to it, both of which are on a raised platform that I attached the skirting to,' she explains. 'The whole thing cost very little and looks like a bespoke built-in unit.'

7. Tailor arched shelving for an art-deco feel

Tamara Smith (@mygrandparentschair) knew she wanted elegant arched shelves on a budget so she put her skills to the test with a living room DIY project. With a sheet of hardboard and a lick of paint (and a little bit of DIY prowess), she transformed these BILLY units into monochrome built-ins that make a serious statement. 

To get the perfect arch, she used a length of string which she anchored to the center of the arch shape, drawing the outline with a pencil. For the finishing touches, Tamara added baseboard to the bottom of her bookcase and 1 x 3-inch primed MDF planks along the panels between each unit to add some dimension. She then sealed and caulked the seams around the timber for a seamless finish. 

For the exterior paint she used white BEHR semi-gloss enamel and for the contrasting interior of the shelves she used two coats of Sherwin-Williams paint in the shade Tricorn Black. 'I'd never tried a built-in project before so it was a bit intimidating but I did a lot of research,' says Tamara.

8. Set up a stylish dining room display cabinet

The IKEA Billy bookcase hack comes into its own again in the talented hands of Stephanie (@henrikjunehome), who created a stylish display unit to store and showcase chic ceramics and tableware.

'I used two IKEA Billy bookcases and glass front Oxberg doors for the upper portion of our dining room built-in,' she comments. 'I built the bottom cabinet from scratch, adding some secret trim storage on both sides of the Billy bookcases to store wine and paper towels.' The finished result is such a brilliant use of the space and truly looks like it's lived there all along. 

Finishing touches to buy

9. Choose dark built-ins to add drama to your bedroom

Painting your IKEA built-in hack closets the same color as the wall will elevate the aesthetic as well as make the space feel cozy yet bigger. Ciara of (@number_twentyseven) did just that by crafting the design-led look above. 

'We built a base underneath the wardrobes and then built a frame using batons on the sides by the chimney breast and sheets of MDF,' she says. 'We added pine kitchen coving to the tops then primed everything using Zinsser bin primer. To finish, we painted in normal matt paint and then sealed with a wax.' It might look like a lot of work, but this built-in hack makes a great weekend project for when the weather's rainy. 

10. Craft a stylish built-in media unit with the IKEA BESTA

Take 18 IKEA Besta units and pair with chic new door fronts from Semihandmade and what have you got? A super-stylish IKEA entertainment center hack at a fraction of the usual cost of bespoke built-ins.

Tyler and Kelsey Johnston of @mysimplysimple tackled the DIY project with aplomb and created a floor-to-ceiling media unit for their basement. 'We spent around $3,000 on the project, whereas a custom solution would’ve probably cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more,' they say. 'We were trying to get as much storage as possible at an affordable price point.'

11. Showcase beautiful cabinets in the living room

Make the most of every inch of space with built-in cabinets that won't break the bank, just as designer Heidi Parrish has done with this alcove shelving idea. As seen above, she filled the empty space on either side of a tall stone fireplace with base IKEA BESTA cabinets finished with Semihandmade DIY Shaker fronts in a gorgeous gray-green tone.

The open shelving above allows for the display of treasured vignettes, while the closed units allow for the hidden storage of unsightly essentials. We love how it brings some symmetry to the room and adds depth to the space. 

12. Fit paneled built-in closets for a modern country look

Finding space for all our clothes is a constant mission, but IKEA's PAX system is so adaptable you can create a professional-worthy closet no matter what space you have available. 

'We knew we wanted something simple that could fill the space completely,' says Charlotte of @charlottebradbrook about her IKEA built-in hack. 'The IKEA PAX very luckily fit a small nook in our bedroom (as if it were made for the space!). Buying fitted bespoke wardrobes just wasn’t on the cards as it costs so much, alongside labor, which we ended up doing completely ourselves.'

'IKEA’s great for beginner DIYers and you definitely shouldn’t be scared to give it a go yourselves' she adds. 'You can save thousands, and still have professional-looking closets!'