Ikea superfans showed us how they upgraded their favorite furniture for less than $75

Monica HumphriesMar 10, 2021, 22:29 IST

Rebecca Hart used dollar store dowels to create a fluted dresser for her home.@imrebeccaheart/Instagram

Ikea superfans shared their favorite ways to transform affordable Ikea furniture into customized pieces.
Simple changes, like contact paper or new hardware, can give furniture an entirely new look.
The furniture hacks cost less than $75 each in extra materials like trim, cement, and wooden dowels.

Between dollar store dowels and leftover concrete, people are getting creative with how they add an individualized spin to Ikea furniture.

And often, the updates are quick and cheap.

Called hacking, it's when anyone - from everyday DIYers to professional interior decorators - customizes furniture to give it a new, fresh look.

Insider spoke to several Ikea superfans, who love the company and its products, about their favorite Ikea furniture hacks.

Contact paper and spray paint transformed one superfan's simple table into an elegant piece for an extra $12.

Before-and-after images of the transformed Ikea table. ©Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2021./Lisa Herland Designs

For the project, Herland only needed two items: contact paper and spray paint.

Lisa Herland spray painted and added contact paper to the table. Lisa Herland Designs

Herland said the project gave the table a more modern look.

The table started as an all-white piece, but Lisa Herland added contact paper and black spray paint to give it a new look. Lisa Herland Designs

For less than $40 in extra tools and materials, one superfan took a simple, affordable side table and turned it into an expensive-looking concrete nightstand.

Before and after images of Kiva Brent's nightstand Ikea hack. ©Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2021./DIY with KB

Using mortar, Brent created the cement-like appearance on the table.

Kiva Brent adds concrete and sands the side table. DIY with KB

Since she already had the mortar leftover from another project, Brent said the entire project cost her less than $50.

Kiva Brent turned the wood nightstand into a concrete-looking furniture piece. DIY with KB

Herland turned three separate Billy Bookcases into one cohesive, built-in shelving unit with $43 of trim molding and some fiberboard.

The finished product started as three separate bookcases. ©Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2021./Lisa Herland Designs

She created a unified look by adding a wooden trim along the top and bottom.

Progress pictures of the shelving unit Lisa Herland created. Lisa Herland Designs

Herland said the entire hack took four days to complete but that it was "totally worth it."

This piece started as three separate bookcases. Lisa Herland Designs

Another superfan's hack involves turning $15 wicker baskets into hanging lamps for about $15 more.

Kristen McGowan transformed a basket into a wicker hanging lamp. ©Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2021./Kristen McGowan

For the hack, you simply cut a hole into the top of the basket and loop the pendant light through.

McGowan had to cut a hole and paint the basket for this Ikea hack. Kirsten McGowan

The fan loved the hack so much, she tried a similar version using twine and pompoms.

Kristen McGowan made two DIY hanging lamps. Kristen McGowan

One Ikea fan transformed a simple dresser into a customized, fluted centerpiece for her home.

With materials from the dollar store, the fan got to work customizing the dresser.

Rebecca Heart used dowels and wood glue to create the fluted look. Rebecca Heart

The fan said the finished result is even better than she could've imagined.

The finished hack, which involves dollar store wooden dowels. @imrebeccaheart/Instagram

All the fans suggested swapping out Ikea's hardware or making simple changes to give your furniture a unique look.

Buckets full of ceramic knobs. Maica/Getty Images

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