5 awesome Ikea hacks you will love
Wow! Where did you get that? Everyone will be clamouring to find out who your decorator is. And that would be you – no DIY or craft skills required, just a few basic IKEA items!
1. Glam up a cheap chair
All you need is a chair with chrome legs, a can of metallic gold spray paint and a cosy machine-washable sheepskin rug. Spray paint the chair legs gold and use Velcro (or hook and look tape) to attach the rug. When deciding on a spray paint, use a rust-preventative spray paint that is a paint and primer in one cutting down your prep time.
2. Turn a curtain rod into a plant rail
Indoor plants and macramé hangers are all the rage but where do you hang them from? Easy – just hang them from an inexpensive curtain rod fixed to your wall. Make sure the rod holder can be adjusted so it can be hung a little further out from the wall, enabling the pots hang free.
3. Go from shelves to console table
Simply stack and secure a duo of shelf units (with drawers) to each other. Flip the shelving unit upside down and attach a set of four tall black metal hairpin legs, one in each corner. Stand this leggy beauty upright and voila – customised table with space-efficient storage in one piece!
4. Transform a basket into a designer-look light shade
Remove any handles from a rattan basket. Then, wearing protective gear and working in a well-ventilated area (preferably outside), spray paint the basket black. Once it’s dry, add a bulb and cord (you can buy a suspension kit from hardware stores) and have your electrician install your new designer light for you.
N.B. When spray-painting baskets, protect your work area from overspray by using drop sheets or use a large cardboard box as a spray booth. You may also find it easier to use a lazy Susan so you can get better coverage as you spray. Spray from side-to-side until the surface area is covered but remember several light coats are better than one heavy coat as drips may occur. Once you’ve sprayed the basket the right way up, turn it upside down, and repeat the process. This helps ensure the paint gets into all the nooks and crevices.
5. Step up from stools to a media unit
Fix a wardrobe door to the top of a pair of birch step stools, allowing for an even overhang at each end of the ‘media unit’. Make sure it’s securely attached so it’s sturdy and can take a fair amount of weight. Pre-paint a sheet of MDF (cut-to-length) through the middle and you’re done!
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