IKEA hacks are all over the place.

Have you heard that phrase before?

IKEA hack.

If you’re a DIYer, I’ll bet “YES!”

If you’re not a DIYer, you might be curious.

IKEA is a Swedish-founded Dutch-based multinational group, that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories. It has been the world’s largest furniture retailer since at least 2008, according to Wikipedia.

The store is set up like a maze. If you don’t like shopping, you’ll want to only look online.

If you are up for an adventure, by all means go with a plan to spend some time there.

It’s not a quick in and out kind of place.

People love IKEA for their affordable furniture and accessories. And since so many people shop there, you’ll start noticing how many other people have what you might have purchased, especially if you follow any social media. I bought two pillow cases a couple years back and now see them everywhere…on IG.

Side note.

If you do shop IKEA, make sure to check out their paper napkins! They are thick and durable, plus the colors and patterns are always seasonal and fun.

 

What the hack!

 

IKEA hacks are when people take an item and add their own custom touches to it to make it a bit more unique.

Here’s one that I worked on recently for my son’s room.

I started with a utensil holder that costs $2.49 at IKEA

I bought this to use for pencils and pens. The problem with it is the holes. Every time you lift it up, the pencils and pens slip out through the bottom.

It drove me nuts.

 

 

 

To prevent the pencils from falling through, I lined the bottom with a piece of cardboard. I traced the bottom of the utensil holder and cut inside the circle approximately 1/8″ from the line to allow the circle to fit into the holder.

I found leather scraps at a local fabric store which they sell by the pound. The pieces I purchased, as seen below, are actually leather samples from a furniture store.

Here’s a look at the supplies I used.

• Cardboard
• Leather
• Glue gun
• Ruler or straight edge
• Scissors
• Utensil holder

 

Once I undid the seam, I wrapped the leather around the holder to gauge the width and length of the leather. I marked the backside of the leather where I wanted to cut and drew a straight line with a sharpie. I cut along the line with scissors.

 

 

 

Once cut, I simply hot glued it to the holder and dropped the cardboard circle into the bottom.

 

 

No more pencils falling through…

 

 

 

I’ll share in another post how to make leather tassels.

 

DOUBLE DUTY

 

The leather holder also made a nice container for our little Christmas tree.

 

 

 

 

PENCIL TIME AGAIN

 

With all Christmas securely packed away till next season, it’s back to being used as intended…with pencils in it.

 

 

 

You could use any type of fabric to wrap these holders. I chose leather because we’re going with a rustic / modern / industrial look in my son’s room. I have a lot more to accomplish before we share that makeover, but for now…

The pencil holder is DIY’d and done.

 

Your turn…

 

Have you completed an IKEA hack?

If so, what did you makeover?

As always, please comment below, share with friends and or PIN away. We appreciate all you say and share.

Cheers to you and your home!