11 Totally Unexpected Uses for IKEA Furniture

The best part about buying IKEA is that you get a lot of bang for your buck. Out of the box, each piece is wildly versatile and can often be used for multiple purposes and in a number of different rooms. But sometimes you need a special design to suit a tricky problem area that’s unique to your home—something so specific that even an IKEA piece won’t quite fit the bill. Fortunately, with a little customization, you can make it happen. The simplicity of the brand’s designs makes them easy to hack and reinvent to meet your needs. As these 11 clever ideas show, all it takes is thinking outside the (flat-pack) box. —Lucy Congress