IKEA kitchen hacks you'll definitely want to try

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In terms of making the most of a room in your home, you'll probably agree that it's the kitchen that needs to step up to the plate and become as practical, stylish and usable as possible, right? There's just one problem with this; it can cost a phenomenal amount of money to add elegant extra storage or furniture to your kitchen. We have a solution, however!

It's a well known fact that IKEA is something of a mecca for anyone that wants good quality furniture, without blowing all of the budget on one single item, but you can get even more bang for your buck, if you decide to embrace a few hack techniques. Hacks are basically just sneaky ways to use something in a surprising and more efficient way, so in terms of kitchen hacks, you can expect a cacophony of tips and tricks that will significantly increase surface and storage space.  We've already looked at how you can use IKEA hacks in other rooms, here, but today, let's focus just on the kitchen. We think you're going to be exceptionally inspired in a few minute's time!

1. Use an IKEA kitchen table as an extra prep surface or an IKEA kitchen island alternative.

Not everybody has space for a kitchen island as well as a dining table, but in a kitchen, both come in very handy, which is why you need to get more creative! A great idea is to buy a basic IKEA kitchen table, such as a TÄRENDÖ, which costs just £29 and add things that will help it to double up as a kitchen island. Castors are a good plan, so you can wheel your extra surface to wherever you actually need it, but drawers would be simple to add too! We like the idea of adding hooks that can stow folding stools out of the way too.

2. Make the IKEA kitchen cabinets look more pricey.

Given that IKEA kitchen cabinet doors start from as little as £6, you might be worried that if you opt for a bargain range that it will end up looking a little cheap and uninspiring. You can avoid this by choosing to not simply install standard door handles in favour of either making your own or adding designer styles. If you have a set of handles that look as though they cost a significant amount of money, or were handcrafted by an artisan, nobody will ever think that your cabinets are the cheapest style that IKEA offers.

3. IKEA hacks always involve a Kallax!

IKEA storage boxes and Kallax units seem to be a staple in the homes of most 30-somethings these days, because they are so fantastically practical, simply styled and timeless. Add in the fact that they are available in a huge range of colours and start from just £25 and it's clear to see why we all give in and buy them!

A kallax unit could be a cheap yet brilliant addition to any kitchen, especially if you have a semi or totally open-plan interior design scheme in place! What could be a better non-permanent room divide than an open shelving system, which can easily become a gorgeous larder? This is something we could imagine interior designers really being supportive of.

4. Bring patio furniture indoors, if you have very little space.

This pretty little bistro dining table is an IKEA TÄRNÖ and it's just £15! We know that it;s meant to be used outside, but when you think about how small some kitchens are, particularly in terrace homes, it makes sense to think a little outside the box (and house), in order to find something more proportional that will actually work and this fold up dining set ticks all the right boxes.

If you were keen to hide your brilliant hack, you could simply throw a table cloth over the surface and add padded seat cushions to the chairs. Nobody will ever guess that you've bought outdoor IKEA furniture!

5. Use a chest of drawers instead of an island.

IKEA storage is world-renowned. Admit it; if you know that you need some new storage furniture, you pop onto the IKEA website and have a look, don't you? Well there you go! What's really interesting is the way that certain people are using more traditional bedroom chests of drawers as contemporary kitchen island alternatives. 

We actually love this idea as you get access to a huge number of handy drawers and you'll save a fortune! We all know that kitchen islands can be very expensive. but something like this HEMNES unit, which is just £200, won't break the bank! This is a dream IKEA kitchen hack.

6. Use a worktop to build your own breakfast bar.

IKEA worktops start at just £40 for a 2.8m length and when you think about how easy it would be to chop a section off to mount as a breakfast bar, it make such good sense. Simple legs or a post will hold everything up and you'll have saved a fortune! There's even more to this hack though! 

With the leftover worktop, you can make wall shelves that will absolutely bed your new breakfast bar into the wider kitchen theme effortlessly and really create a seamless and cohesive aesthetic that looks as though a top of the range kitchen designer has curated it.

7. Use Billy bookcases on the walls.

IKEA cupboards are cost-effective, easy to build and a doddle to mount on the wall, but what if you don;t want cabinets that look the same as everyone else's? That's when a terrific IKEA kitchen hack could come into play. 

Billy bookcases are an absolutely classic offering from IKEA. In fact, they are almost iconic and starting at just £25, they are perfect for playing with in terms of fun hacks. Why not turn a Billy on it's side and mount it on your kitchen walls for a minimalist and exotic take on top cabinets? We don't think you'd ever see anyone with the same idea!

8. Lack shelves are perfect for the kitchen.

Speaking of shelving, how about using one of the most budget items of all? LACK shelves start at just £5 and come in a wide range of colours, but given that they are so chic and simple, you'll be able to create a far more modern storage look. Taking advantage of blank kitchen walls is vital if you want to have enough storage, but top cabinets can swallow up far too much room and diffuse too much light too, so something delicate, like LACK shelves, would be great for dark or small spaces, such as galley kitchens. We can certainly picture stacking our favourite tipples on these shelves, out on display, instead of hiding them away in IKEA wine racks!

9. Hide organisation pots behind doors.

IKEA Market Hall is an amazing arena that offers a huge amount of cool little storage and organisation pots, but these will quickly drain away all the usable space on your worktops, if you're not careful. Instead of simply placing them out on display, why not affix a few to the backs of your IKEA kitchen cabinet doors, so that you can keep everything where you need it, but hidden away. Simple metal pots are easy to mount to doors, as all you need are a few screws, but be sure not to choose any that will show through on the 'good' side of your door. Measure twice, screw once!

10. Make unusual wall rails.

Finally, we think you're going to REALLY enjoy this creative IKEA kitchen hack. IKEA beds always come with slatted bases, but you can use them for something a whole lot more funky and unusual. A LURÖY slatted base will only cost you £24 and you can hang each side independently, on a wall, to create a gorgeous and natural utensil rails! We know it sounds strange, but it works really well. If you want to get some visual inspiration, we recommend that you Google 'IKEA bed slat wall hanging'. Trust us when we say that you're definitely going to want to create your own, for your kitchen.

If you're more concerned about hiding your IKEA bargains, take a look at this handy guide: Ways to disguise IKEA furniture.

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