Expedit slim shift version

Materials: Expedit 2x2 shelving unit

Description: Ever thought that the Expedit series took a bit too much space? My very small hallway had no space for a full version of the Expedit as the front door couldn't open... This is how I did it:

First I marked up the cut plane on the assembled Expedit 2x2, the plane is a bit shifted in this case, as the shoes to the left are bigger than the shoes at the right :)

Then it took it apart and cut the different pieces with a fine hand saw.

I then reused the cut-off-piece as the reinforcement at the front of the shelves as they had the precut holes I needed to reassemble it. I cut a small piece off the reinforcement to make room for the replacing front.

I drilled new holes for the reassembly and put everything back together.

~ Jens Kl�ve, Copenhagen

Prant becomes Alkov

Materials: 3x Prant boxes, 1 Alkov basket, cuphooks

Description: During our first Ikea hack we converted Expedit bookcases into a wall unit with bench seating. But with the Alkov basket being discontinued years ago, we didn't have enough matching storage baskets under the bench seating. Three baskets, just three baskets, I prayed ... many internet searches & shopping trips later and still nothing even close! Then we saw the humble, yet sturdy Prant box.

We first disassembled one of the Alkov baskets. The baskets are held together with metal screws, which made this hack possible. The front piece, back piece and side pieces would be used to complete the illusion that we have 8 matching Alkov baskets under the bench seating.


Using a table saw, we cut off 3/4 of an inch from the top of each Prant box (they are taller than the older Alkov baskets) sanded the cuts and assembled the boxes. Placed the Alkov back piece to the front of the Prant box, and marked the handle location. Drilled holes at the handle locations and screwed in the cuphooks - spray painted black first. I had 3 handles made from a local metal shop and they match close enough. The cuphooks were pushed thru the banana leaves, given another full turn and the new handles hung on the cuphooks.

The cuphooks provide enough resistance to keep the basket attached, however we placed a few Command Adhesive velcro picture frame hanging strips on the backside of the Alkov to prevent any side to side movement.

Repeat the entire procedure three more times, and voila it looks like we have 8 matching Alkov baskets!

~ Marika, Vancouver

Old Shelf, Old Stair, New Look

Materials: Expedit

Description: I don't know how, but a 4 x 4 Expedit shelf seems to fit better in a flat than in a house? So when we recently moved into a new home we were ready to throw out the trusty piece of furniture because we just couldn't find the right place for it. But since then we have been inspired by the hacks here and various ways you can cut and paint the Expedit.

As a result what you see here is, for regular Ikea Hackers, nothing new. But we did want to share our attempts with the community.

The key thing that we did was to cut the shelf to fit in with the original paneling under the stair and become an integrated piece of furniture. We also lifted the shelf and made it sit proud of the paneling to highlight the difference between old and new.

The shelves were design to fit keys and wallets in the top bit, and books,(and taller books) in the other bits.

~ LawrenceToTheMax, London

Expedit sewing/crafting/cutting table

Materials: Expedit 4x2 units, Vika Amon tabletop, Ribba picture ledge

Description: This is a cutting table for craft and sewing projects. The base is two Ikea Expedit units (4x2) that I put on their sides and connected together. To connect them together I used the brackets that come with the Expedits that are meant to connect them to the wall.

Then I attached Besta 4 inch legs (10 of them total - 5 on each Expedit) to the bottom to give the table more height (so it would be closer to counter height). This allows for the right height to cut without hunching over.

The tabletop is the Vika Amon tabletop (the one that is 59 x 29.5). I covered it in a layer of quilt batting and then fabric (the padding makes it better for ironing directly on the table). The tabletop is connected to the Expedits with L brackets from the hardware store.

On the long edge of one side of the table are two Ribba picture ledges that I cut to the right size and connected (they are screwed into the Expedit). I'm using the picture ledges to keep rulers, pencils and other tools organized. The other nice thing about attaching the Ribba is that the two Expedit units connected are wider than the tabletop. The Ribba gives it extra width to that the tabletop overhangs slightly on the other side, which looks more attractive. In addition, the overhang allowed the use of L brackets to attach the tabletop to the Expedit units.

When attaching the Ribba, I aligned them flush with the Expedit in the event I rearrange my sewing room and I want to put the table against a wall (of course, in that case, I lose access to the eight cubes on that side, but it's an option this way).

~ Summer Frace, Austin, TX