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Savvy DIYers have plenty on their to-do lists for this year, from painting to replacing light fixtures to restoring old furniture and more. And of course, there are plenty of new items from the 2021 IKEA catalog just waiting to be hacked.
There are wall units destined to have a built-in bench nestled between them, sets of drawers aching to bring a pop of color into your home office, and a mirrored coffee table you’re going to have to see to believe — plus some painting projects small enough that you can tackle them in a single afternoon.
So whether it’s your first hack or your thousandth, these are the six IKEA products everyone’s going to be trying to hack in 2021.
The LIXHULT metal cabinet has been newly released in an endorphin-boosting sky blue, but you don’t have to sit around waiting for IKEA to dream up future color iterations to match your own space.
Hack it: by giving it some extra pops of rainbow
Take matters into your own hands with the no-paint hack dreamed up by blogger Chelsea of Lovely Indeed. She cuts panels of adhesive to fit her desired surface and then slaps them on for a removable pop of color that doesn’t require a drop cloth or drying time.
The funky shape of the new LINDBYN mirror is eye-catching enough on its own, but you don’t need to limit this decor to walls in your bathroom or bedroom.
Hack it: by turning it into a coffee table
To hack the LINDBYN mirror, try using Gorilla glue to attach four hairpin legs to the bottom for a modern-meets-mid-century look.
Sometimes a product is so intensely hackable that even IKEA wants everyone to note its full potential. Take, for example, the SVENSHULT wall shelf, a stunning geometric unit spun from glittering gold wire.
Hack it: by using it vertically
In most images, the Swedish retailer stages the shelf in a horizontal position, but in one it’s cleverly turned on its side — transforming the new release into a vertical ledge on which to organize the towering stack of books by your bed. Imagine a few of these hung together in a mix of vertical and horizontal positions: it’s like a work of art.
The generous size of the BROR cart — 33 inches wide and 34 inches high — and locking casters make this cart extra functional; a sleek white finish makes it suitable for any room of the house.
Hack it: by giving it a “tie-dye” top
Put some you into your new utility cart with a hack from blogger Kara of A Kailo Chic Life. Taking some tropical inspiration from colorful pastel popsicles, Kara spray-painted a gradient design on her IKEA plant stand, but you can use the same method on the new BROR cart. Apply the sprays and sealant as you’re putting the cart together, and voila: you’ve got yourself a brilliantly-hued cart that will draw the eye wherever you place it.
The FÖRENLIG vases — available in opaque white and clear gray — have a classic shape that easily fits in with any kind of decor, and they start at a cool $2.99 each.
Hack it: by giving it a terracotta paint job
TikTok users who have been dying to try the trend of mimicking terracotta texture by applying a layer of paint mixed with baking soda to glass objects no longer need to brave a thrift store for the perfect piece. The low price of the FOERENLIG vases mean that like Instagrammer Elisabeth from @one.diy.at.a.time, you can try your hand at the TikTok hack without fear of ruining an irreplaceable heirloom.
The striking new HAUGA unit is part curio cabinet and part storage system, and could easily swap in for the classic BILLY bookshelf.
Hack it: by using it to create faux built-ins
You might not have a built-in library in your home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t crib your own with this cabinet. Take inspiration from this built-in library, hacked with BILLY bookcases in this traditional Chicago home. Another idea: place two HAUGAs on either side of a window, then put a bench or low shelf in between. Instant window seat!
