22 Easy IKEA Desk Hacks That’ll Boost Your Productivity
It’s hard to do your best work in a boring, uninspiring space. But it’s a myth that a beautiful workspace takes a wad of cash. In fact, a simple trip to IKEA can equip you with everything you need to create an incredible home office that’s both comfortable and practical.
Here, you’ll find gorgeous work spaces — some in home offices, others in work spaces tucked into corners of a living room — that display some seriously clever IKEA furniture flips. Whether you’re hacking the ALEX, updating a KALLAX, zhuzhing up an EKET, or combining IKEA pieces to create something to suit your needs, a customized office space is just an IKEA trip away.
1. Create an L-shaped desk with EKET storage.
This L-shaped setup that hugs the wall in Luke Lusk’s (@twolinedesign) home office “looks like custom built-ins, but really is just IKEA cabinets with a plywood countertop,” Luke previously told Apartment Therapy. He used IKEA EKETS for the storage pieces and painted the plywood in Behr’s Iced Copper.
2. Keep it natural with plain plywood.
After pivoting to a WFH lifestyle, DIYers Sarah Wissinger and Nick Malburg squeezed a workstation into their guest bedroom using a plain IKEA IVAR cabinet and a matching plywood top that’s attached to the wall on the left side of the chair.
3. Paint BESTAS blue to add a pop of color.
Rachel Mae Smith, DIYer and author of The Crafted Life and Colorful Living, created this colorful work space with two IKEA BESTAs (a double unit and a single unit) and a slab of wood (painted white) for the desktop. She painted the textured BJÖRKÖVIKEN doors bright blue (Behr’s Deep River), and each NANNARP leg beneath the desk adds a pop of color, too.
4. Create a triple-decker desk with IKEA pieces.
A freestanding IKEA desk fits snugly under this etegere IKEA HEJNE and IVAR shelf creation by Amara of @thepajaamahubhome. Amara writes on Instagram that this setup is the perfect way to utilize vertical space in an office, and that the IVAR collection “is so versatile and can be combined in a number of ways to create bespoke pieces.”
5. Decoupage a blank white or wood desk.
This vintage IKEA desk was decoupaged with a 1989 atlas, which Clare Spooner scored from her parents’ attic. You could get a similar look by using wallpaper samples.
6. Match the desk and the cabinetry.
This sun-filled home office by @my.millennium.maison features both an IKEA desk and cabinet, in a monochromatic hue and with matching drawer pulls. It comes together to create an upscale, cohesive look we love.
7. Go with serene green.
IKEA BESTA cabinets are the foundation for this cool, mid-mod IKEA desk hack by @prettylittleterrace. She’s put a desktop on two BESTA cabinets and covered the front with rattan and used the same paint color for the desk and the wall. Both elements, along with the pink chair, give the office a touch of mid-century flair.
8. Create one long desk for a wall-to-wall office space.
A sage green accent wall and a large connected workspace made out of ALEX filing cabinets make for a much-improved office space for a family of three.
9. Use ALEXes to create a homework haven.
Whether it’s a home office for several employees, or a homework area for a bunch of little ones, this IKEA desk hack by @jamie.levenhagen allows plenty of space for everyone. And of course, having multiple IKEA ALEX drawers keeps the desk area clutter-free by providing storage for everyday items.
10. Pair a live-edge top with an ALEX (or any IKEA) base.
An elegant slab of stained live-edge wood adorns the IKEA ALEX filing cabinet in this small but elegant home office by @hartnettcj.
11. Use two IKEA EKETS for a mid-century modern setup.
A long piece of birch plywood rests atop two separate IKEA EKET cabinets in this beautiful home office by @1930s_semi_charmed_life. The peaceful green hue of the cabinets combines with natural wood tones throughout, for a mid-century modern aesthetic.
12. Make a smart schoolwork zone with a pair of MICKEs and KALLAX cubes.
@Seasonsincolour placed two MICKE desks together to create a fantastic homeschool spot for her kids. Eagle-eyed viewers may even spot IKEA KALLAX cubes affixed to the wall above the desks for extra storage.
13. Make a workstation blend in with matching chairs.
A white IKEA ALEX filing system works perfectly as an IKEA desk hack in this chic dining room office by @back.to.brick.14. Blue velvet chairs mirror the ones at the dining room table for a cohesive look.
14. Combine storage and sleek legs in your IKEA hack.
Add a touch of asymmetry to your IKEA desk by copying this cool look from IKEA Hackers. They’ve chosen to use an IKEA ALEX cabinet on one side for convenient storage, while donning a set of slim desk legs on the other side for a look that’s a break from the norm.
15. Creates three surfaces for working with a smart IKEA setup.
When two desks overreach their space limit, it is time to add a third surface into the mix, like this workstation by @woodlandstylehouse, which could work well for two teenagers or roommates. The extra tabletop on this IKEA desk hack provides an additional area to spread out when needed, along with serving as a divider between the work zones.
16. Add a small additional surface if you’ve got limited square footage.
This IKEA desk hack by @letsmakeitsparkle is ideal for those who need a little extra space, but want to keep a minimalist feel. Simply pull it out when extra work needs to be done, and tuck it back under the desk when you’re finished.
17. Combine IKEA drawers and an IKEA tabletop.
To create a sleek workspace for two, Holly and Brad Lauritzen strategically spaced three gray ALEX drawer units and topped them with a beech GERTON tabletop. Organizational pieces (like white file folder drawers) and decor elements (like chalkboards) up the practicality factor of this desk.
18. Keep it petite with an IKEA EKBY ALEX.
To squeeze a desk into a small space — like a studio or an already-crowded family room —follow this tutorial by Lauren Koster. She simply wrapped the shelf (which conveniently comes with two drawers built in!) in stained oak, then added hairpin legs.
19. Use vinyl for a zero-paint pop of color.
To create this clever IKEA desk hack, Chelsea Foy, the blogger behind Lovely Indeed, attached HILVER table legs to a LINNMON tabletop, then added a set of Micke drawers for storage space. But the next step is what really sets this DIY apart: Once the desk was fully assembled, Foy added colorful adhesive vinyl to each drawer to add cheer.
20. Add major overhead storage with KALLAX bookcases.
This giant desk makes for an impressive statement piece in any home office, but the real draw is all of the storage space. To preserve floor space in a small room, Jennifer Flores used an IKEA desk hack to take advantage of the vertical space by securing EXPEDIT (now discontinued, but similar to KALLAX) bookcases to the wall above the desk.
21. Don’t underestimate IKEA dressers for your desk hack.
Emily Lex used three IKEA HEMNES dressers, a wooden countertop, and some pretty brass pulls to craft a desk for two people in a garage apartment. The result is a sleek and inviting workspace that looks custom-built.
22. Go for statement desk hardware.
Similarly, this beautiful desk that sits in a lovely home office by @emilylexstudio rests atop two sets of IKEA HEMNES dressers. This clever IKEA desk hack is a favorite, as the drawers function as a great way to reduce desktop clutter and store important items. The light wood desktop works perfectly with the white dressers to create an elegant yet functional workspace.
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
