New year, new you, new IKEA hack obsession? We thought so.
Whether you’re a seasoned BILLY bookcase hacker or someone who just discovered that IKEA furniture doesn’t have to look like IKEA furniture, 2026 is your year to get creative.
But here’s the thing. Not every hack needs to involve power tools, month-long commitments, or questioning your life choices at 2 AM.
This year, we’re celebrating the beauty of the easy win. These are hacks you can tackle on a lazy Sunday afternoon, most requiring nothing more than basic tools and a vision.
We’ve organized these 20 easy IKEA hacks by room and function, so you can jump straight to the space that needs the most love. Grab your Allen key (and maybe a cup of coffee) and let’s dive in.
Living Room & Entertainment Hacks
1. Behind-the-Couch Console Table with Built-In Power Outlets
This genius hack transforms simple IKEA pieces into a practical ledge that sits perfectly behind your couch – complete with integrated power outlets for charging phones, tablets, and laptops. Mount a power strip underneath, add some decorative touches on top, and suddenly that dead zone is the most useful spot in your living room. Check out the full behind-the-couch charging ledge tutorial.
2. Hidden TV That Actually Looks Good
We love our TVs, but do we love looking at a black rectangle when it’s not in use? Not so much. This clever hidden TV hack covers your television with a pretty picture. When it’s movie night, lift it off. When you’re trying to convince guests you’re a person of culture and taste, hang up the frame and display your art instead. It’s the best of both worlds without the guilt of being a screen-obsessed household.
3. Modern Sofa Table Hack for Small Spaces
Speaking of behind-the-sofa situations, this hack creates a proper sofa table that adds surface space without eating up precious square footage. Perfect for drinks, books, a table lamp, and some plants, real or faux (no judgment.) It’s narrow enough to tuck behind your couch but sturdy enough to be actually useful – not just decorative. Small space dwellers, this one’s for you. See how it’s done here.
4. DIY Large Area Rug on a Budget
Create your own large, custom-sized statement piece by combining IKEA rugs creatively. This hack is perfect for oddly-shaped spaces or when you need a massive rug but don’t have a massive budget. The IKEA VÄNDPLATS rug is particularly suited for this hack, with grids that hide the seams. Get the details for a DIY large rug hack.
5. Wall Accent Lighting That Looks Custom-Designed
Ambient lighting is the difference between “room with furniture” and “actual designed space.” This hack creates gorgeous wall accent lighting using an unexpected IKEA component. Mount them strategically to create ambiance, or just make your workspace feel cozy and less “office-y”. Tutorial here.
6. DIY Modern Retro Table Lamps with Personality
If you’re tired of every lamp looking exactly the same, this hack is your jam. Transform basic IKEA vases and bowls into mid-century modern-inspired pieces with personality and charm. A little paint, and suddenly you have lighting that looks like a vintage score. They’re perfect for side tables, nightstands, or anywhere you need a little bit of pop. See the DIY modern retro lamp hacks.
7. A Striking Focal Point With LACK Shelves
Create a bold focal point in your living room with this clever framing hack that turns humble LACK shelves into high-impact wall art. On its own, a single LACK shelf is pretty basic. But arrange five of them together to form a large square frame, and you’ve got yourself a statement piece. The negative space in the center becomes its own design element – perfect for showcasing a piece of art, a mirror, or even just a painted accent wall. Get the tutorial.
Storage & Organization Hacks
8. Hidden Charging Station to Eliminate Counter Clutter
Phone chargers, tablet cables, smart watch docks – the visual chaos of our device-dependent lives is real. This hack creates a concealed charging station that keeps all your devices powered up without the mess of cords ruining your aesthetic.
9. RÅSKOG Cart Hack for Cleaning Supplies
The RÅSKOG cart is basically the Swiss Army knife of IKEA furniture – versatile, mobile, and ready for anything. I’ve seen it used as a coffee station, bathroom organizer, craft supply holder, bar cart, office supply center, or plant stand. But my personal fave is this cleaning cart. The wheels mean you can roll your organized cart wherever you need it, with all your cleaning supplies in tow. Perfect! Explore RÅSKOG cart hacks.
10. EKET Cabinets for Custom Storage Solutions
EKET cabinets are like building blocks for grown-ups with good taste. This EKET hack is ridiculously simple. It’s a matter of combining the cubes to face upwards or on their sides. This simple twist elevates these modular cubes into storage that looks intentional and expensive. Want a long media console or bedside storage? It’s possible with this EKET hack.
11. BILLY Bookcase Credenza with Flip-Down Doors
Transform the trusty BILLY bookcase into a legitimate credenza with flip-down doors that hide clutter while providing easy access. This hack is ideal for home offices, dining rooms, or anywhere you need storage that looks polished and intentional. It’s BILLY, but make it sophisticated. See the transformation.
12. Wall-Mounted Magazine Rack DIY
This wall-mounted magazine rack keeps periodicals organized and accessible while freeing up surface space. It’s perfect in a home office or reading nook, beside your comfy chair. Plus, it turns your magazine collection into visual décor.
13. Metal Cube Side Table
This industrial-chic metal cube table is all the rage, yet it’s surprisingly easy to DIY. Use it beside your sofa for remote control storage, as a nightstand for books and glasses, or anywhere you need a surface. This easy IKEA hack may be the coolest thing in the room.
Kids’ Rooms & Play Spaces
14. Modern LEGO Table That Adults Don’t Hate Looking At
This modern LEGO table hack creates a sleek play station that keeps LEGO building accessible while looking like actual furniture you’d choose. Storage bins underneath keep pieces sorted (or at least contained), with a wide surface for building. Win!
15. Toddler Bookshelf with Craft Storage Bins
Forward-facing book displays encourage kids to actually read (or at least look at pictures), and when you combine that with craft supply storage, you’ve got an organizational powerhouse for children’s spaces. Get details of the toddler bookshelf and craft storage bin.
16. DIY Water and Sand Sensory Table for Outdoor Play
This IKEA hack creates a water and sand table that’s great for backyard play, sensory exploration, and keeping kids entertained for hours. The separate bins mean less mixing of wet sand, and the whole thing can be easily modified as kids’ interests change. Come winter, it converts back into a step stool. Make your own easy DIY water and sand table.
Utility & Laundry Room Hacks
17. Laundry Room Sorting Bins That Actually Work
This year is the year to get your laundry system sorted. This laundry bin hack creates a custom laundry sorting system with multiple bins that make it actually easy to separate lights, darks, delicates, and whatever other laundry categories you follow. The bins are accessible, clearly labeled, and attractive enough that you don’t mind them being visible.
18. Robot Vacuum Garage and Laundry Station Combo
This genius hack creates a designated garage for your robotic helper while also incorporating laundry sorting or storage. It’s the kind of multi-functional furniture that makes small spaces work harder. Plus, hiding the vacuum when it’s charging means one less thing cluttering up your visual space. It’s organizational efficiency meets smart home integration.
Decorative & Display Hacks
19. Picture Frame Jewelry Display That’s Actually Art
Why hide your beautiful jewelry in a drawer when it could be displayed like the art it is? This classic hack transforms a simple IKEA picture frame into a beautiful jewelry organizer that mounts on your wall or sits on your dresser. It makes getting ready easier (you can actually find your favorite pieces) and turns your accessories into bedroom décor.
20. Self-Watering Planter for Low-Maintenance Greenery
Want the joy of indoor plants without the constant anxiety about whether you’ve watered them? This self-watering planter hack uses IKEA components to create a system that keeps your plants consistently hydrated. It’s perfect for plant parents who travel, forget things regularly, or just want their greenery to be slightly less high-maintenance.
Your 2026 IKEA Hacking Game Plan
The beauty of these hacks isn’t just that they’re achievable on a Sunday afternoon – it’s that they solve real problems while making your space look intentional and curated. You don’t need to be a woodworking wizard or have a garage full of power tools. You just need to see the potential in what IKEA sells and be willing to add your own twist.
Your Easy IKEA Hack Action Plan
Here’s how to actually make 2026 your IKEA hacking year:
1. Start with your biggest pain point. What makes you crazy every single day? Charging cable chaos? Laundry everywhere? Kids’ toys underfoot? Pick the hack that solves your most annoying problem first. The motivation will be real.
2. Read the full tutorial. Click through to IKEAhackers.net and really read the post. Look at the photos. Read the comments – often there are helpful tips or modifications from other hackers who’ve done the project.
3. Gather everything first. IKEA items, additional materials, tools. Having to stop mid-project to run to the hardware store kills momentum. Get it all ready, then commit to an afternoon.
4. Document your process. Take before and after photos or videos. You’ll want them when it turns out amazing (it will). Plus, you might inspire someone else in the IKEA hacking community.
5. Don’t aim for perfection. Your first hack might have some wobbly moments. That’s fine. It’ll still be more functional than what you had before, and you’ll learn for the next one.
6. Share your success. When it works (and it will), share it. Tag @IKEAhackersofficial on social media. Join the community. Your version might inspire someone else’s breakthrough.
The One Thing to Remember
Every single person who’s become an IKEA hacking pro started with something simple. Maybe it was adding different knobs to a RAST dresser. Maybe it was painting a LACK table. Maybe it was just arranging KALLAX cubes in a cool configuration.
The point is: they started.
You don’t need to tackle the most complex hack on this list to call yourself a hacker. You just need to look at a piece of IKEA furniture and think, “but what if I made it better for my specific needs?”
That’s it. That’s the whole thing.
So here’s to 2026: the year you stop scrolling, start hacking, and create a space that works exactly the way you need it to. The year that “Wait, you made that from IKEA?” becomes the compliment you hear most often.
Your Allen key is ready. Your space is waiting. And these 20 easy hacks are your starting line.
Start small if you need to. Dream big always. And remember – the best IKEA hack is the one that makes your daily life just a little bit easier, a little bit prettier, and a lot more “you.”
Happy hacking!
P.S. Already planning which hack to tackle first? Drop a comment and let us know. We love seeing what everyone’s working on.