Researching for this article, I’ve been amazed at what you can do with Ikea Kallax hacks. The Kallax is such a simple piece of furniture but with a little creativity and effort it can be transformed into something quite beautiful.
We’ve gathered together what we believe are the best looking, most creative and incredibly useful Ikea Kallax hacks in one place for you.
Here you will find Kallax hacks that you might not actually believe start out as Kallax units. Hopefully there will be at least something that will inspire you to have a go at your own Kallax project.
Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more Ikea hacks inspiration and to see our latest articles come out. We are obsessed with Ikea hacks and are constantly finding new and exciting ideas, as well as coming up with our own.
You can find many more Ikea hack ideas and inspiration on our Ikea Hacks Categories page.
Now, on with the show!:
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Pink Pop Storage With Mood Lighting
This bright pink Kallax unit instantly livens up the room with a cheerful, unexpected burst of color. The soft hue contrasts beautifully with the wooden floor and calm wall art, creating a fresh, playful vibe.
A built-in lamp adds inviting mood lighting to one of the open cubes, highlighting an eclectic mix of ceramics and books. Stack cozy folded textiles beneath for a practical yet pretty display that inspires layering and texture.
Check out how @terrazzo.konfetti balances functionality and flair with this charming, color-forward ikea kallax hacks & ideas style.
Curved Edges Bring Soft Warmth
This storage makeover twists the usual Kallax vibe with dreamy, softly rounded arches. @homefluffyhome smooths out the sharp edges, turning plain boxes into cozy, sculptural nooks perfect for woven baskets and folded linens.
The creamy plaster finish adds an earthen touch that feels both modern and timeless in a laundry nook or bathroom corner. It’s a subtle, tactile update that invites you to slow down and appreciate the little things.
Try mixing natural textures with sleek black accents for a fresh but serene storage solution.
Wood-Topped Kallax Adds Warmth And Character
This pair of Ikea Kallax units shows how a bit of wood can totally change the vibe. The smooth, rustic wooden tops add an inviting textural contrast to the neutral base, making them look more like bespoke furniture.
The customization doesn’t stop there: matching wooden planks at the bottom create a cohesive feel, elevating these storage cubes into practical style statements. It’s a smart way to blend function with a cozy, lived-in touch.
Thanks to the creative mind behind this piece, @do.it.yourself.mum, the natural wood twist turns simple into standout.
Cozy Modern Storage With Style
This Kallax makeover from @lifeatlangdale nails the balance between cozy and modern. The addition of textured cabinet doors adds a fresh twist to the usual open shelving vibe.
The woven baskets bring warmth and a natural touch, complementing the clean white frame perfectly. Black legs and handles create contrast, making the piece pop in any room.
You can swap baskets and add similar detailing to give your space a chic, inviting upgrade.
Elegant Arched Cabinet Doors Make A Statement
This green cabinet with arched top doors instantly catches the eye, adding a fresh twist to the typical Kallax look. It’s more than storage, it’s a statement piece that transforms a simple shelving system.
The soft olive green finish gives it a mature, calming vibe, while the tall brass pulls add a sleek, modern contrast. The mix of frosted glass on the top doors and solid panels below balances openness and privacy beautifully.
This smart modification from @parkplaceabode invites you to rethink the usual with ikea kallax hacks & ideas that scream style and function.
Chic Retro Vibes With Rattan Baskets
This Ikea Kallax unit gets a fresh twist with the addition of rattan basket inserts for each cube, instantly upgrading the look with a touch of natural charm. The pockets define a warm contrast to the muted teal frame, blending retro and modern effortlessly.
Raised on sleek wooden legs, the shelf states its style confidently while freeing up floor space. The compact scale is perfect for a cozy nook, accessorized with vibrant pops like a sunny yellow planter. This piece by @shiftabrick shows how weaving texture into Ikea Kallax hacks & ideas turns functional storage into an inviting visual statement.
Try mixing different basket styles or painting the frame for a customized vibe that suits your space perfectly.
Moody Blue Arches Bring Bookshelf Drama
This deep moody blue Kallax shelf is anything but ordinary. Those bold arched cutouts give the piece an instant architectural vibe that turns simple storage into an artful display.
Adding texture with woven baskets and finishing touches like trailing plants make it feel warm and lived-in. The play of light and shadow here brings extra charm and highlights how versatile Ikea Kallax hacks & ideas can be.
Find this inspiring setup by @handmadehome_durham and try blending structure with softness in your own space.
Tall White Storage With Rustic Burlap
Who thought burlap and white paint could get along this well? This tall storage unit from @myhyggehouse pops in any corner with its crisp white frame softened by rustic burlap.
The burlap is stretched neatly in an arch cut-out, giving the piece a breathable depth and texture that feels warm and natural. The mix of smooth paint and rough fabric creates a cool contrast that’s easy to replicate or tweak.
This design adds earthy charm without overwhelming the room.
Bold 3D Doors Transform Kallax Storage
This Kallax piece gets a serious glow-up with bold, geometric 3D doors painted in a deep, dusky blue. The added depth and texture turn a basic storage unit into a sleek statement that immediately catches the eye.
The long, brass handles add a touch of modern elegance, contrasting perfectly with the strong, sculptural facade. Styling it with simple black decor and green foliage creates a balanced, chic vignette that doesn’t overshadow the main piece.
It’s a smart way to upgrade Ikea kallax hacks & ideas beyond typical cubby style, inspired by @apartmenttherapy.
Bold Kitchen Island From Ikea Kallax
This striking kitchen island uses black Ikea Kallax units as its base, cleverly flipped to open shelves facing outward. Adding a crisp white tiled countertop creates a modern contrast that feels sleek yet warm.
Functional and stylish, the shelves hold wine bottles and baskets, showcasing practical storage with a twist. The tall black stools match perfectly, balancing the island’s bold look without overwhelming the room. @kerstinredning nails this smart mix of everyday utility and eye-catching design.
This setup invites you to rethink how Ikea Kallax units fit into shared kitchen spaces.
Elegant Storage With Cozy Natural Touches
This Ikea Kallax setup proves that simplicity paired with warm details can transform a space. White drawers contrast with woven baskets adding both texture and function for everyday needs.
The wooden knobs and tapered black legs give this piece a subtle mid-century flair that feels fresh yet timeless. Soft candlelight and a minimalist plant on top complement the natural ladder leaning nearby, making the room feel inviting and calm. This clever styling by @hej_zuhause featured on @ikeahackersofficial shows how smart storage can also double as charming decor.
It’s a perfect look for those craving order without sacrificing personality.
Rustic Metal Doors Elevate Kallax Storage
Here’s a creative twist on the classic Ikea Kallax: metal mesh doors paired with a raw plywood top turn this simple shelf into a striking statement piece. The contrast between black steel and natural wood brings a rugged charm that feels both industrial and cozy.
Notice the subtle patina on the metal and the smooth, unfinished look of the wood, inviting you to add your own weathered or painted finish. The top doubles as a perfect perch for dried florals, vintage books, and cultural accents that tell a story from @oda_joana.
This setup proves that a little ingenuity transforms a standard shelf into a piece worth showing off.
Classic Kallax Meets Rustic Wood Charm
This Kallax TV stand gets a stunning makeover with warm wood herringbone panels that bring a cozy, artisanal vibe to the living room. The original white frame contrasts perfectly with the natural wooden doors, creating a balanced and inviting focal point.
Adding hairpin legs elevates the entire piece, literally, and gives it a light, mid-century feel that’s both vintage and fresh. This tweak is a standout idea from @do.it.yourself.mum, blending sleek minimalism with handcrafted flair.
This versatile piece proves how layering textures can instantly transform simple storage into a stylish conversation starter.
Subtle Textured Doors With Leather Pulls
This refined Ikea Kallax makeover swaps out the classic open cube look for a sleek, more polished vibe with ribbed door panels. The combination of the crisp white finish and warm leather handles adds an effortless charm that balances modern and cozy perfectly.
On gold tapered legs, the whole piece feels light and airy while gaining a fresh touch of sophistication. Inside, open shelves let you showcase decor while hiding clutter behind textured fronts, making organization look cool and intentional.
Check out @elocin_home featured on @ikeahackersofficial for this understated but eye-catching Ikea kallax hack.
Ikea Kallax Art Deco Console Hack
I’m starting with this wonderful Ikea Kallax hack due to the sheer unbelievable transformation that has occurred. The Kallax has had mirrored styled panels added to doors on the front and some long tapered legs to create an elegant credenza.
Lux Hax make a huge variety of panels to enhance Ikea furniture and should be the first stop for any budding Ikea hacker.
This is a marker for what is possible in the world of Ikea hacking!
Ikea Kallax Cactus Shelving Hack
A more simple, but none-the-less beautiful Ikea Kallax hack, with the application of cactus adhesive vinyl sheets to the fronts of the unit.
The short tapered legs give it the feel of a proper piece of furniture as well as a touch of style.
Sometimes you only need to make little changes for a big effect like this.
Ikea Kallax Clothes Rail Hack
This is a really effective way to create an open wardrobe with plenty of storage. I love the copper pipe rail fixed to the top of the Kallax unit, it’s a simple but stylish solution.
With the castors on the bottom, this Ikea Kallax hack could be useful in a bedroom, on a set, in a shop and it wouldn’t look out of place in any of those scenarios.
Ikea Kallax Vinyl Record Doors Hack
We love Ikea hacks that are a little bit different at Hacksaholic and this fits the bill nicely. This Ikea Kallax hack has had some MDF doors fixed to the front of each section with hinges and then 12″ vinyl record covers have been inserted in to record sleeves and stuck to the front of the doors.
A genius way to really liven up the look of the Kallax unit.
Of course you could use almost anything in place of the record covers that you fancy!
Ikea Kallax Ornate Dresser Hack
Coming back to something a little more elegant. This Ikea Kallax hack has a Greek feel to it with the overlay panels stuck to the fronts of the unit.
Style panels like these, and those seen in the first Ikea Kallax hack, are such a great, easy way to upgrade your Kallax furniture.
The addition of some brass knobs and great styling with accessories complete the look perfectly!
Ikea Kallax Stylish Bar Hack
This Ikea Kallax hack is pretty much all about the drinks accessories, but it just goes to show what a huge difference you can make with some short legs and a few nice items.
The cubby hole nature of the Kallax makes it a perfect base for a wide variety of applications and in this instance it is ideal for the different glasses, bottles and ice bucket.
Ikea Kallax Entryway Dresser Hack
A lot of these Ikea Kallax hacks raise the unit off the ground in a variety of ways to give it a completely different look. This hack does it with a timber frame that is then covered with baseboard to tie in with the rest of the entryway.
The inserts of drawers and baskets are well chosen to finish the New England/beach style look.
It also gives tons of storage where you need it most, by the front door!
Ikea Kallax Bag Display Hack
What a way to store your bags! If you are someone that loves to see their bags, even when they are not using them then this Kallax hack is for you!
The downlights give the perfect lighting to see the bags at their best and the simplicity of the Kallax allows the bags to shine rather than the furniture they sit on.
Don’t worry, if you’re a sneaker fan there is something for you later!
Ikea Kallax Kitchen Island Hack
This Kallax hack is an excellent piece of design and makes everyone’s dream of having a kitchen island so much more accessible, even if you have a small kitchen.
The unit provides loads of storage and a handy extra work surface (even if it is just for the chef’s glass of wine!)
Ikea Kallax Stylish Cubby Hack
I love this gorgeous Kallax hack with it’s deep, earthy colors. It ties in really well to it’s surroundings.
The labelled cubby drawers are a really original, stylish way to store things and there are so many options out there for Kallax inserts that you can find something perfect for your preferred style.
Ikea Kallax Shoe Organization Hack
I did say there would be something for sneaker fans. If you have a footwear obsession (could be sneakers, could be high heels..) then this is a stunning way to store and display them.
Again the lighting really makes this Kallax hack stand out and it’s quite simple to do with LED strip lighting.
Ikea Kallax Shelf Lighting Hack
Using lighting to completely change the look od the Kallax seems to be a bit of a recurring theme, but there is good reason for it as you can see in this great hack.
It doesn’t just have to be sneakers and handbags on display, it would work great with books too.
Lighting is often an overlooked method of improving your home decor and these examples have hopefully shown you what can be achieved.
Ikea Kallax Long Storage Unit Hack
This is such a good looking Ikea Kallax hack. It again uses baseboards to raise the unit up on a plinth and it is painted a blue gray to contrast beautifully with the basket storage and the wood work top.
I think this would look great in any situation, no matter how high-end a look you’re after.
Ikea Kallax Mid Century Modern Table Hack
Another simple Kallax hack with a different style of legs. These legs can be made using 2″x2″ timber which makes this a really cheap hack that creates a stunning mid-century style piece of furniture.
The Kallax is such a great shelving unit for displaying some of your favorite things within it’s square openings.
Ikea Kallax Embellished Shelf Hack
I really like the ingenuity of this Ikea Kallax hack, using a dado trim and embellishment to upcycle the Kallax into something more elegant.
It really works well with the rest of the decor in the room and transforms the Kallax into an attractive piece of furniture rather than the big square box it comes as!
Ikea Kallax Mid Century Modern Sideboard Hack
This is one of my favorite Kallax hacks as I do love a bit of mid-century modern decor. The addition of the angled, tapered legs is all the Kallax needs to make this transformation.
The size of the Kallax sections make it well suited to vinyl record storage too! The hacker in this case has made an excellent home for his record collection and turntable.
Ikea Kallax Media Unit Hack
This Ikea Kallax hack has a slight industrial feel to it due to the large castors on the bottom of the Kallax units. It means that you could change the layout of the room very easily to keep your mind on it’s toes.
The Kallax is a great piece of design in itself as a modern piece of furniture, all it needs is something beautiful, like books, fill it’s shelves.
Ikea Kallax Room Divider Hack
A great use of the Kallax is as a room divider and this hacker has used two Kallax units and some framing to go right to the ceiling with their room divider.
It also provides a large amount of storage as well as display space for favorite items.
Ikea Kallax Rustic Tall Unit Hack
This Ikea Kallax hack has really flexed someone’s creative juices. The distressing on the doors has been expertly done and really makes this Kallax unit look the part as a rustic cabinet.
It fits in well with it’s surroundings, which speaks volumes about how well hacked it is.
This would also work really well in a bathroom.
Ikea Kallax Double Height Shelving Hack
If you have a big space to fill, go big with your furniture! This awesome Kallax hack stacks two large Kallax units to create a dramatic shelving unit that dominates the space.
The great part is that you then need to gather lots of lovely things to fill it with!
I think the huge banana plant is also entirely necessary!
Ikea Kallax Window Seat hack
This has to be one of the best uses of the Kallax. It is the perfect size to create a window seat, all you need is to create a cushion for the top. This one has been made by Tonic Living and is rather stylish with it’s pinstripes.
I think with some upholstery foam, fabric and a staple gun though, you could do something similar yourself!
This Kallax could just have become someone’s favorite place to sit and dream!
Ikea Kallax Wine Rack Hack
There are so many great inserts out there for the Kallax and these have just become my favorite!
I might have to use every single section for wine storage though, rather than the spaces left for trinkets and plant pots!
Ikea Kallax Rustic Wood Storage Hack
This Ikea Kallax hack has taken quite a lot of work to create, but the results are fabulous! The Kallax units have simply been used as framing for the gorgeous wooden crates.
Basically, this hacker has created his own Kallax inserts, which is a great idea for anyone with creativity and some DIY skills.
Ikea Kallax Wood Clad Unit Hack
Simply cladding the Kallax with wood has really transformed it in this great Kallax hack. The combination of white and wood is always a winner!
There are so many ways you could go about this too. You could use wood flooring, wood effect laminated chipboard panels, reclaimed scaffold boards. If you eat a lot of popsicles, you could collect the sticks and stick them around the outside (that’s a LOT of popsicles though!)
Ikea Kallax Under Bed Storage Hack
Under bed storage is often overlook, but this hacker has taken it to a new level and really gone to town with the Kallax as a bed platform that doubles as under bed storage.
You can simply arrange Kallax units in a U shape and fix a board in the space between to create the bed platform.
The bridge storage either side of the bed and over the top is just showing off now though!
Ikea Kallax Craft Storage Hack
As I have mentioned before, there are a lot of awesome Kallax inserts available and these craft-based inserts are exceptional. There are so many options from paper trays to pencil holders to ink pad holders!
The inserts are all CNC cut and perfect for the Kallax. I don’t think there is a better way to store all those craft supplies!
This is truly a craft command center!
Ikea Kallax Command Center Hack
Speaking of command center, this great Kallax hack makes good use of the modular nature of the Kallax to create a family home organization unit, complete with chalkboard to make sure the household is kept ship-shape!
Creating something fun and accessible for the whole family, like this, means that everyone can get involved and contribute to keeping life organized. It’s a great way for kids to learn about ‘real life’ too!
Whatever your furniture needs, the Kallax can provide an excellent way of achieving them at low cost and with a bit of fun along the way.
Be ready to get your creativity hat on, or remake one of the examples above. Either way, Kallax hacks can be used to make something gorgeous, practical, surprising and unique.
I hope you’ve found plenty of inspiration here, don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more great ideas!
Enjoy your Kallax hacking!