Rast Nightstand Mobile Kitchen Storage

Materials: Two Rast Nightstands, 4 wheels, 4 metal plates, lots of screws

Description: We needed some extra storage in the kitchen and we needed to keep it in space under the table that would be otherwise out of reach.

I didn't find anything that would suit our needs. The carts were either too tall to go under the table or to narrow to fully utilize the extra space. Also I didn't want anything made out of plastic.

Here is our solution. I bought two RAST nightstands (very cheap and made out of nice wood). I joined them together with metal plates. Then I have attached four wheels to top of the nightstands and I turned everything upside down.

It wasn't my initial plan, but I had to remove one shelf. The unit would be too deep otherwise and it would be hard to reach items in the back.

Now we have a mobile storage that nicely fits under Bjorkudden table, matches its nice wood pattern and has two level shelves for items of different height.

~ Maciej Witkowiak, Poznan, Poland

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

Turn broken Ribba frame to mail/key holder

Materials: 2 Ribba picture frames, glue gun, hooks, contact glue

Description: I've had a Ribba frame that had been knocked down and broken, I've glued it back together couple of times and the last time it happened I just put it in my closet and forgot about it.

I wanted a keychain/mail holder so I put a good RIBBA frame of the same size (believe it's 6x7) using hot glue gun together (with the broken frame in the back).

I didn't include all 4 sides, leaving the top frame piece off to make sure I can put in my mail.

I used that piece and glued with contact glue at the bottom of the frame to use that piece to hold the hooks.

I drilled 3 small pilot holes to add 3 small hooks, cup hooks were too small so I used size 12.

I used small L BRACKETS to secure it to the wall and I was done!

I did the work thru the weekend since I wanted to make sure the hot glue gun and contact glue had dried and bonded.

My first DIY & Ikea hack, never realized how many different adhesives there are until now. I could've stuck with the glue gun but I also had some contact glue so I used them both. My hooks are a bit crooked but I will leave it, and the back was set crooked but since you can't see it it doesn't bother me much.

~ Jazmin, Queens, NY

Benno book shelves around the corner

Materials: Benno CD/DVD shelf

Description: I have a lot of pocket books spreading around the house. The normal bookshelf is too deep for this small size book and I have no more space.

Most of my pocket book size is about the same size as a DVD case. Aha! I put three Benno shelves around the pillar at the corner and joined them together with "U" shape locking pin (given with the pack, strengthen with double side adhesive tape. This unit can contains more than 200 pocket books and I can now easily access my favorite books.

My house is also cleaner by utilizing the useless area with budget of $100.

~ Oldbot, Thailand