What comes to mind when the colors yellow and blue flash before your eyes? IKEA of course. The chain's colors match the Swedish flag, but the trendy items sold within have devotees flocking to this international epicenter of cosmopolitan style.
The d©cor is enticing. The furniture? Practical and trendy. Even the meatballs and gravlax served at the retail locations are reason enough to stop in if there's an IKEA in your neighborhood.
Shoppers find items they won't see elsewhere yet there's no more affordable way to show off one's personal style.
You don't even have to live near this Scandinavian wonderland courtesy of the World Wide Web: The Internet can take you there before you say thanks or make that Tack! But don't leave us yet.
We've got ideas you'll adore because they're practical, stylish and did we mention affordable?
Be the boss of everyone and everything
from a seat at the family's new control hub, the cool, sleek Linnmon Lerberg desk table available in gray/white or black-brown/gray. It suits existing d©cor and whether you stash it in your kitchen or elsewhere, control your universe from this vast expanse of surface measuring 59-inches by 29.5-inches.Clear it off and you've got extra seating for family parties. Pre-drilled leg holes and easy-to-follow directions get you up and running in minutes. As control centers go, this one is the bomb.
Let there be l¤tt
A toy truck here. The dog's bowl there. Your kitchen floor is awash in benign landmines, which is why a stylish pendant light or two in steely aluminum deserve a place on your ceiling. IKEA's sophisticated Ottava pendant light is no ordinary fixture: each light features a unique blown-glass shade so you have the limited-edition piece of art illuminating your room in addition to more light.You don't have to raid the kid's college funds to buy a pair, either. Install a ceiling hook. Hang your treasure(s). See everything in a new l¤tt!End chaos for 50 bucks
There's a reason the 80-inch-tall Billy bookcase has been around since 1979 in white and wood veneers. It's the perennial fav that fits everywhere. Place this slim bookcase in your kitchen to hold the cookbooks you've amassed, and if you own collectibles that add a personal touch to your decorating scheme, display them here, too.Keep the cookie jar on the top shelf so little hands can't get to the stash, but otherwise, fill those shelves with splashes of color. The Billy isn't recommended for kids' rooms unless it's fastened to a wall so it won't tip over.
This shelf unit with drawers will hang around if you like
Finding creative ways to maximize floor space is an ongoing challenge, but IKEA comes to the rescue courtesy of the Besta shelf unit with doors that can be floated on the wall if you're stingy about what lives on your floor.Alternatively, set this cabinet on that floor if your goal is adding a TV stand to your home furnishing collection. If the white color doesn't work for you, place a Sommar 2017 table runner (add this classic Scandinavian touch) over the top to add color and protect the unit from spills. Inside the unit, hide CDs, DVDs and anything else your heart desires.
Just for your tush
Sitting down? You'll want to do just that when you check out IKEA's fashion-forward Dalfred stools. A couple of them would just love to move into your home to serve at your pleasure--at your kitchen counter, island or bar.They're painted a dashing black, adjust to whatever height you and your guests happen to favor and feature the industrial look that's made for today's pulled-from-a-warehouse d©cor trend. Surprisingly comfy, two Dalfred stools will set you back very little, so if you want to push your budget into the stratosphere, invite three into your life!Need to get something off your chest?
It's back to basics for the three-drawer IKEA Rast pine chest that's been outfitted with hardware so you can attach it to the wall as a safety measure. Oh, the possibilities that await! Stain or lacquer it so the natural knots stand out or paint the chest to match room colors or add contrast.Decoupage your dresser in clever ways: Tear pages out of an old book and cover your furniture with words of wisdom. Add strips of fabric or self-adhesive papers to make this a one-of-a-kind piece. You can afford two at this price and have enough cash left to buy your decoupage glue and other craft materials.
Take a stand (by day or night)
Behold this inexpensive IKEA Nesna nightstand that begs to be given more respect. Sure, it's happy to hold your alarm and your smartphone, but why limit its use to hanging around in the dark or being alone and abandoned by day when you can re-purpose one or more of these handy stands? Use several to set up indoor garden platforms or turn them into crafting bins stocked with yarn, jars of beads or sewing supplies. Fabricated of sustainable bamboo, even those born without a "handy" gene can put these together in a flash.The antidote to teen angst
One day you live with a toddler eager to be in your company. Next day, an alien teen inhabits one of your bedrooms and acts like a member of the CIA because everything's a secret. You respect that--which is why your sullen teen may reward you with a big grin when he finds an IKEA PS Cabinet in his room so his life can be lived under lock and key!This long-legged piece of furniture features an under-cabinet cord portal so the electronic devices he can't live without can be stowed inside for recharging. He may even thank you.
Cabinet replaces one now in witness protection program
When asked to describe their all-time favorite furnishing, loyal IKEA shoppers don't hesitate to say the Expedit. This popular shelving unit has, for unknown reasons, gone into the witness protection program.In its place, Kallax came along in 2014 as a new iteration of this all-time favorite and shoppers love it even more. There's a chameleon quality to this treasure: Set it upright to act as a shelving unit holding books, art, and souvenirs, or turn it on its side, install 4 legs, and you've got yourself a credenza. Expect compliments no matter which way you use it.
Are you waiting for a prince to awaken you?
A nostalgic new full-size iron bed? You must be dreaming. But remember that you're in IKEAland where affordability is spoken in both English and Swedish. This Leirvic bed frame is manufactured of poly-coated steel and features a galvanized steel support beam.While it's one of the most romantic beds imaginable on its own, lavish the headboard with garlands of silk flowers and twinkling Italian lights and turn it into a princess bed minus that pesky pea. The mattress, additional bed slats and Prince are all sold separately.
Buy on Amazon: Ikea Leirvik Bed Frame
Open your own home post office
Some say snail mail has gone the way of the Dodo bird until you find college acceptance letters, news from family and greeting cards with handwritten messages inside your mailbox. That's when you realize that e-mail isn't the only game in town.To establish a central communications hub, pair a 43-inch Lack shelf that sells for about $15 with 2-for-$10 IKEA Knuff magazine files to craft the family's communication center for around $30. Even if your family is the size of the Duggars, you can expand this unit so nobody's left out.
Buy on Amazon: IKEA Knuff magazine files
The art of the cart
IKEA catalog stylists assigned the Raskog utility cart to kitchen duty, but we suggest a Cinderella-style remake by morphing this $24 find into a grooming hub. Use a stencil and paint to decorate the three bins (e.g., Face, Nails, Hair) or add a fun sentiment that personalizes it (This Dude Rocks!).The owner of this utilitarian rolling cart can fill bins with makeup, polishes, hair products, hair accessories, men's toiletries, grooming aids or anything they fancy and because it's fabricated of epoxy-powder covered steel, it cleans up in a New York minute.
Buy on Amazon: RASKOG Home Kitchen Bedroom Storage Utility Cart
The little coffee table that could
You entertain. Your guests relax and sprawl about, and the kids? Well, they're kids and you spend more time than you prefer trying to deal with crayon, Kool-Aid and other mysterious deposits that wind up on tables.You deserve a coffee table that welcomes abuse, so how about turning it into a chalkboard?Get a basic, easy-to-build Lack coffee table for $25 bucks. Cover the surface with at least three coats of black chalkboard paint and invite the kids to decorate the surface. They will probably be stunned when you ask them to draw on your coffee table (but don't be surprised if you find yourself following suit).
Buy on Amazon: Modern Lack Coffee Table
If the (scarf, bag, shoe) fits, hang it
Re-purposing reaches new heights courtesy of an ingenious idea that turns an IKEA bed slats unit into a huge displayer that's ready to showcase any number of garments, accessories -even shoes--from large S-hooks clinging to the slats. The Luroy slatted bed base runs only $40 and the 16 birch slats hold so much stuff, you may be able to see your floor after a long hiatus. Sturdy?When serving its original purpose this gigantic helper supports a human body, which is why it comes with a 25-year warranty.
Buy on Amazon: Ikea Sultan Luroy Full Slatted Bed Base
Your cat really, really wants a custom-made hammock
Did we save the best for last? We did if you're one of the 86.4 million U.S. cat lovers (dogs, says the Humane Society of the United States, only number 78.2 million) so cats rule and dogs drool. Your feline deserves a domain that doesn't cost bazillions, so make one for her.Pair an IKEA Vittsjo nesting table (just the long section minus the glass: at $60 with a $5 Marit table runner and follow these directions here. Use the small table for any purpose you like if the cat agrees.
Buy on Amazon: Ikea Nesting tables
Save Money on Your Next Visit to IKEA
IKEA is a wonderland for creative minds and these 15 ideas only scratch the surface. If your mind is racing and your blood pressure has been elevated by imagining one or more of these pieces in your home, slow down.Remember that you can add any or all of them down the line, so start with the one that excites you most. While you're mulling your options, we recommend watching the How Cats Build IKEA Furniture video. You'll forward it to friends, even those who don't shop IKEA, right?
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