I'm trying to figure out a cabinet project for my 1300 square foot home because my wife insists we need more storage. She's been wanting to do an IKEA hack with the living room for ages, but I've been hesitant. Has anyone here tried an IKEA hack, and if I decide to build the cabinets with shelves on top, can anyone recommend easy-to-follow plans? Is this project too daunting for an amateur like me? Just to clarify, I have all the necessary tools and a basic understanding of cabinet making, though I've never completed a project like this before.
4 Answers
IKEA hacks are a great way to add custom flair to your space without breaking the bank! If you're going the cabinet route, I recommend checking out some DIY blogs; there are tons of tutorials for projects like the Billy bookcase hack. You could create a base, assemble the bookcases, and trim it out to make it look polished. Just a heads up, though, with IKEA stuff, some combinations work better than others, so check out the r/ikeahacks subreddit for ideas!
As someone who once made cabinets myself, I’d say it can be more complicated than it looks. If you’re unsure, consider ready-to-assemble cabinets; they’re pretty convenient and still offer you some flexibility. You might get a better end result without too much hassle, especially since you’re just starting out. Good luck with everything!
I appreciate that suggestion! I hadn’t thought about ready-to-assemble options. Thanks for the tip!
Building cabinets isn’t as hard as it seems. Lots of folks, including me, started by hacking IKEA items—it's accessible for beginners! If you want deeper storage, combining Besta units with Billy shelves is super effective. There are great sites like Woodshop Diaries where you can find beginner-friendly plans. Plus, trust me when I say, working together with your wife could make the project even more fun!
Totally agree about working together! Even if she’s not into woodworking, having her involved in the process can really help with ideas and decisions.
To be honest, cabinets are one of the simplest things you can build if you have the right plans. Watch some tutorials on YouTube about Billy bookcase hacks—they're everywhere! Just remember to put a face frame around them and think about using a crown mold or adding structure to the ceiling. Don’t stress too much about it; you’ve got this!
That sounds like a fun project! I’ve seen some cool variations on IKEA hacks, especially with bookcases. Definitely look for videos on YouTube for inspiration!