IKEA IVAR Hacks for Stylish, Functional Storage

By the Viral Info team · Updated November 2026 · 3 min read

IKEA IVAR is one of the most hackable pieces of furniture you can buy. It is made from untreated solid pine, so it takes paint, stain and wax beautifully, and the simple frame is easy to dress up with trim, new doors or legs. Whether you have a cabinet, a shelving unit or a chest of drawers, a few changes can make it look custom and suit almost any room.

Start with the IVAR piece you own

IVAR comes as shelving systems, cabinets with doors, chests of drawers and storage benches. Before choosing a hack, look at the job the piece will do:

Entryway: a cabinet for shoes, bags and dog gear.
Living room: a sideboard or media unit.
Bedroom: a dresser or bedside cabinet.
Kitchen or dining: a pantry or buffet.
Office: open shelving with boxes and files.

The use decides which finish is practical. A shoe cabinet needs a durable, wipeable surface, while a bedroom piece can take a softer wax finish.

Prepare the wood before choosing a color

Raw pine is soft and porous, so preparation makes the difference between a professional and a patchy finish.

Lightly sand all surfaces with 180–240 grit paper and wipe off the dust.
Seal knots with a shellac-based or stain-blocking primer. Pine knots can bleed through light paint over time.
Prime with a primer suitable for bare wood.
Paint in thin coats, sanding lightly between them for a smooth finish.
Topcoat high-traffic surfaces, like tops and door edges, with a water-based polyurethane or furniture lacquer.

Test first: paint a sample on the back or inside of a panel before committing to a color.

Finish ideas that suit different rooms

Soft sage or olive: works in kitchens, entryways and cottage-style rooms.
Warm white: clean and timeless, but use a good primer to stop knots showing.
Deep navy, charcoal or forest green: dramatic in living rooms and offices.
Natural wax or white oil: keeps the pine look but protects it and reduces yellowing.
Stain: a walnut or oak-toned stain gives a mid-century or traditional feel. Use a pre-stain conditioner to prevent blotches on pine.

Hack ideas

Add cane or rattan panels

Cut out the center of the cabinet doors with a jigsaw, leaving a frame, then staple cane webbing to the inside. It looks light and airy and suits boho, Scandinavian and cottage rooms.

Fluted or reeded fronts

Glue half-round dowels or ready-made fluted panels to the doors for a high-end look. Paint everything one color for a sleek, modern result.

Trim and molding

Add simple picture-frame molding to doors and side panels for a traditional or French feel. Caulk the joins before painting so the trim looks built in.

New legs and a base

Lift a cabinet on tapered mid-century legs or chunky turned feet. Fix a mounting plate or a plinth securely to the base, and check that the piece still sits level and stable.

Upgrade the top

Replace or cover the top with a solid wood board, a stone-look laminate or a contrasting stain to make it look more substantial.

Swap the hardware

Leather pulls, brass knobs, black bar handles or ceramic knobs change the character of the piece instantly. Use a template so every handle sits in the same position.

Install for real-life use

Anchor tall pieces to the wall with the right fixings for your wall type.
Add felt pads or adjustable feet on uneven floors.
Use soft-close hinges or door bumpers to protect your paint finish.
Add internal organizers – baskets, shelf risers or dividers – so the inside works as well as the outside looks.

Styling the finished IVAR

On a sideboard, group a lamp, a stack of books and one larger object such as a vase or framed print. On open shelves, mix closed boxes with a few decorative items, and leave some space empty so it does not look crowded.

Keep the project manageable

Make a parts list – paint, primer, sandpaper, hardware, trim, glue, legs – before you begin, and check measurements on the actual piece. Work in a well-ventilated space and allow full drying time between coats. A weekend is usually enough for a cabinet; larger shelving systems may take longer.

With a good finish and one or two thoughtful details, IKEA IVAR stops looking like flat-pack furniture and starts looking like a piece made for your home.