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Megan is a writer and editor who specializes in home upgrades, DIY projects, hacks, and design. Before Apartment Therapy, she was an editor at HGTV Magazine and This Old House Magazine. Megan has a degree in Magazine Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She is a self-taught weighted blanket connoisseur.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
IKEA has produced enough tried-and-true furniture staples since its founding that some hacks just feel like classics (think: BILLY bookshelf revamps and HEMNES dresser redos). But if you’re feeling especially adventurous, look to IKEA’s newest products. These new releases are fresh enough that hacks are few or even nonexistent, which means that the DIY world is your oyster.
The new releases below are some of the best IKEA has to offer in terms of affordability, practicality, and hack potential. Here, get the low-down on these six winning IKEA buys that we can’t wait to add to our carts, and ideas for how we’d hack them.
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IKEA is a treasure trove of organizational basics, but in recent collections, they’ve introduced items that focus on storage that can also act as displays. The SKUFFEN was designed for shoes, but the lightweight, durable aluminum frame and 360 views make us wonder what else could the SKUFFEN show off?
Hack it: Plants! The acrylic sides and removable front of the SKUFFEN lend themselves perfectly to a bookcase-sized terrarium. Use clear bathroom caulk along the bottom edges to completely waterproof and flip the removable front to the back to disguise.
The VARHAUG room divider is the latest and most robust divider among IKEA’s offerings. IKEA actually suggests using the thicker panels as a bulletin board in the product description, but we think it’s worth hacking it one step further.
Hack it: Remove the attachment pieces at the top and bottom joints and add French cleats to the back to hang as a triptych on your wall. You can further customize the boards by covering them in a richer fabric (Shelby of Farmhouse Living used gray burlap above) or mounting them in a decorative frame.
It can be difficult to find large mirrors that are both affordable and high quality, but HOVET manages to achieve both. The frame is made of anodized aluminum (available in both silver and black), and the surface is actual glass — not the flimsy “reflective mirror surface” you’ll find on cheap door mirrors. Hooks on the back give you flexibility to hang this either horizontally or vertically.
Hack it: Variations of this mirror DIYs took TikTok by storm in 2022, and it’s easy to see why. Each DIYer has their own method, but all of them are relatively easy to pull off and many require no power tools. Since the HOVET is already a solid base, you can fake mirror inlays by sectioning the mirror with black electric tape. Use a uniform pattern like The Sorry Girls did for an industrial look, or try a smaller pattern in the corners like Teresa of Create Beautiful Things for a transitional look.
The extra wall storage built into the NORBERG drop-leaf table makes it a unique storage solution for small spaces. This would be a great option in teeny kitchens that can’t fit a whole dining table, or as a home office solution if you don’t want to sacrifice floor space for a desk.
Hack it: Upgrade the shelves with brass shelf rails and deck out the back with statement wallpaper, and the simple table transforms into a decadent speakeasy. (Use this clever Murphy bar from Shades of Blue Interiors as inspo.) You can make the storage even more unobtrusive by adding a couple hinged doors to the front.
IKEA estimates that around the world, a BILLY bookcase is sold every five seconds — that’s how popular this staple is. But beyond the standard options for single or double wide, short or tall, and various door fronts, IKEA hasn’t released new items that added functionality until now. This BILLY drawer features casters on the bottom so it can slide smoothly out of the lowest shelf of your BILLY bookcase.
The TROFAST system also got a new addition to its lineup with the TROFAST mesh drawers. The line previously only had opaque bins, but IKEA has increased its offerings to include steel mesh baskets in four colors (gray, blue, green, and red). This might not seem like a major change, but the new material can make more sense in different applications.
Hack it: The mesh baskets are ideal for storing items that need air circulation, like clothing or certain pantry items. Fake a built-in linen closet by painting the TROFAST frame the same color as a nook like Kelin of Hydrangea Treehouse did here. TROFAST also happens to be a good working height, so try putting two back to back and adding a countertop to create a functional pantry island.
Cat beds have gotten a serious upgrade in recent years. Rather than snoozing the day away in whatever their owners could find at PetSmart — which can still be great, by the way — some furry friends doze in elaborate flower trees or beds that look more like miniature spaceships.
While these cat beds tend to fall on the more expensive side, that doesn’t always have to be the case. Just ask TikToker and DIY pro Blake Kinsman (@blake.kinsman), who turned his old TV into a cozy kitty bed and shared the impressive process in a recent TikTok video.
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First, Kinsman drilled a hole into the top of the TV and took out the back panel so that he could safely remove the TV’s electrical panel, wires, screen, and everything else that would otherwise get in the way. Next, he made a new makeshift back wall with a spare piece of wood, covering it in more aesthetically appealing contact paper and night sky-themed decals. The hole in the top became home to a cat scratcher and antenna, while a disco ball and traditional cat bed were added to the interior. And voila! What was once an underused TV is now a play and sleep area for two lucky kitties.
Clearly, Kinsman’s DIY work hasn’t gone unseen. At the time of writing, the video has received over 32,000 likes and over a million views.
“From one cat lover to another… this is wonderful and now I want one,” one user commented.
Another chimed in, joking, “As long as you don’t get bored watching [your] cat on TV!”
While the results are impressive, Kinsman reminded viewers that seeking out professionals for projects like this is important, writing, “This is done by professionals and proper caution was used.”
Those of us who live in cold weather environments know the challenge of staying cozy without having to pay astronomical bills in the winter. Yes, there are a thousand ways you can renovate your home to help make your heating more efficient, but that doesn’t help you right now. This post is about practical tips and small purchases that can help you stay warm today without a renovation.
If you live in one of those places where the weather is 80 degrees all year you might want to skip this post. Better yet, read it so you can survive when the weather drops to 65 degrees. We kid, warm weather dwellers. Believe me, all of us want to be you right now (and all year long).
Read on for our best tips are keeping cozy this winter season.
Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!
I am always cold so my family purchased me the above heated blanket for Christmas. I use it every day. Modern day heated blankets have shutoff timers and overheat limits so they are totally safe. I use my heated blanket to keep warm while I am snuggled up on the sofa or sitting at my desk. The heated blanket keeps you from knowing really your furnace is turned down.
Make sure you keep the doors shut to rooms you do not use during the day or night. This will help your heating source focus on the areas where you are spending time. This is called zone heating. Zoned heating is your friend in the winter because it maximizes the heat where you are.
There is no need to heat your guest bedroom or unfinished basement if the rooms are not being used. This will force all the heat into the rooms that you do use.
If you really want to be proactive, shut the vents to your bedroom during the day and open it back up about an hour before you go to bed. At bedtime, shut your living and kitchen area vents.
Oil-filled heaters are the safer version of space heaters to use in your home. They do take a little while to heat up but they do warm up a space effectively, especially if you shut doors to maximize the space. Even though they are the “safer version,” you still need to be careful. Make sure you spend a little extra money for one with a timer and an overheat shutoff for safety reasons. You do not want to leave them on overnight or while you are away from home. They can be warm to the touch so like any space heater, it may not be good with little kids.
An electric fireplace with high BTUs can really warm up a space. These are more expensive than space heaters, but most are safe to touch for the littles in your home. They are also very safe and efficient to run for long periods of time. I am getting impressed with the stylish options available these days.
Switch out curtains with thermal curtains or attach thermal curtain liners to your existing curtains. Windows can be the largest source of cold air entering into your home. Thermal curtains can help keep the cold air insulated.
Hanging a curtain over your exterior doors can be stylish and help your house feel warmer in the winter.
During a sunny winter day, let the sun in to warm your home. When the sun is down, shut them to insulate the cold air.
If you have a two-story home use a thermal curtain and tension rod at the top of your stairs. Close the curtain the times of the day when you spend most of your time downstairs. Why? It is simple, hot air rises and the closed curtain can keep the hot air downstairs.
Maximize the usage of your oven as long as you can. After you use your oven, keep the door open while the oven cools down. Of course, not the best thing to do if you have little kiddos hanging around.
Warm up a heated rice bag in the microwave and place it under your sheets. This is a safe way to keep your toes warm at night.
Find this heating pad set on Amazon
Your outlets and light switches can be a source for cold air to get into your home. This is true especially if you live in an old home where the walls are not insulated. If you live in an old home with original plaster walls…this applies to you. This fix requires no rewiring or electrician skills. You just need a screwdriver to take off the face plate.
Use rice and fabric remnants to create a cute insulated window sill or door draft stopper
If you have hardwood floors, rugs can help with cold floors. Check your local carpet store for remnants if you are on a budget. If there is no room in the budget for a rug, lay a blanket on the floor while you are hanging out in your living room.
Heat exits your body from your head so keep yourself warm by keeping a cute winter hat on your head while you are home.
Like your head, heat exits your body from your feet so keep them insulated.
Fight the cold in the bathroom by warming up your towels while you shower. They also work for bathrobes.
Give your living room a fresh look by rearranging your furniture away from your windows. If the furniture in front of your window only fits one way, move your seating away from the window a least 6 inches and execute tips 6, 8, 13, and 20.
Don’t sacrifice your coziness for a piece of furniture over a vent. Rearrange your furniture to unblock the vent. Not possible? Purchase a vent attachment or extender.
These plastic window insulators can help your windows feel like a more expensive window. If done well, the insulator really isn’t super noticeable. They are easy to install and remove. All you need is scissors and a hair dryer. Most of the instructions tell you to install the plastic over your outer trim. I was able to install the plastic on the inside of the window trim behind my window treatments. These are a great solution for large windows with no window treatments.
Sarah is a staff writer at Apartment Therapy. She completed her MA in journalism at the University of Missouri and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Belmont University. Past writing and editing stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and several outlets local to her hometown, Columbia, Missouri.