Looking for IKEA furniture makeover ideas? Functional and affordable, the Scandi furniture brand is known the world over – but its popularity means you're likely to end up with the same flatpack finds as your family and friends. We've brought together our favorite IKEA hacks to turn a run-of-the-mill design into a unique piece of upcycled furniture. Click or scroll through and get ready to be inspired...

Give an all-white MALM headboard a rustic vintage touch. This once glossy bed frame now looks striking and intricate against a pale backdrop thanks to tiled 'stickwood', which is reclaimed wood that's already finished with an adhesive backing. All you do to apply is cut to size, peel and stick. Check out the full tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.

Hacking is taken to another level with customized IKEA kitchen cabinetry. Unique cupboard fronts, countertops and handles can be handmade to fit standard IKEA kitchen plans and unit frames. The results are bespoke, beautiful and highly functional. Check out the quirky pet pad in the bottom-left cupboard of this structure.

Sometimes it is hard to find homes for storage solutions so this headboard made out of TRONES shoe storage units is genius. It's the perfect place to keep ready-to-use fresh linen, spare pillows and slippers. Why not finish the look with an ambient bedtime glow using LED strip lights around the edge?

Thrifty and easy to execute, it's no surprise that some IKEA hacks have become firm DIY favorites. This jewelry dish project is a great example. Made from just two cork coasters, it took Paper & Stitch only 20 minutes to finish, using a wooden dowel rod and drill to make the holes. 

A set of stylish chopping boards makes a great addition to any kitchen, but they can be expensive. Paper & Stitch has made her own using APTITLIG boards; a much more affordable option. The contemporary house shapes are cut with a circular saw and the cut-offs are used to make cute geometric chopping boards for smaller food preparation. Leather straps give them a designer finish.

Turn the simplest MARIUS IKEA stool into retro seating with a homemade cover. This IKEA basic stool has had its legs sprayed teal and a colorful matching crochet cushion cover attached to the seat pad. The stool legs and screws secure the cushion in place, making a comfortable pad. If you're not a crafter, you can buy ready-made covers online.

Reupholstery is a great way to transform an IKEA staple. By swapping out the sometimes plain fabrics, you can give your IKEA sofa a whole new lease of life. If you're not much of a seamstress, then check out Etsy or eBay – there are lots of users who sell various vibrant covers that fit all the most popular IKEA products.

The smooth handle-free surface of IVAR cupboards makes them the perfect backdrop to many inventive updates. An appliqué trellis adds a decorative effect and can be bought ready-made in a pack. Prime and paint the cupboards a contrasting color before application to give it a glamorous boutique finish.

Let the pine grain of RAST draws show through with a cool color wash technique. Remove the handles and mark out your pattern with painter's tape. Then paint straight onto the wood for a pretty translucent finish. Paint the handles to match and reattach once dry. The finished IKEA hack will make a bright and budget-friendly addition to any room. 

Add some industrial style to your bedroom with a pair of sconce lights. A wood or metal IKEA shelf bracket can act as a stylish holder for a super-cheap IKEA cord light. Simply wrap the cord around the bracket and attach a bulb of your choice. It's an inventive and thrifty idea from IKEA Hackers, and we love it. 

MOSSLANDA picture ledges are currently fashionable when mounted above sofas and beds to artfully lean pictures – but how about using them in new ways? Turn them lengthwise and secure them vertically to a wall. Attach knobs to the tops and bottoms. Then use rope or stretchy bands to create ‘fences’ across the knobs. It's a simple but effective way to store tall items in an entryway.

The odd tweak here and there can make a world of difference. HEMNES drawers are an old IKEA favorite, but some find the black handles too drab. Replacing them with decorative glass or stylish leather alternatives turns the drawers into a pared-back and classic choice for children's rooms. 

Looking to smarten up a home office? Prettify mini desk organizers with adhesive film, paint and stencils for organized perfection. The little drawers are just right for customizing: go for multiple units decorated in different but coordinated designs.

Bar trolleys are all the rage, so this cute IKEA hack from Sugar & Cloth is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Simply add castor wheels beneath a KALLAX shelving unit, pop pull rails on top, finish with your finest cocktail glasses and voilà – Swedish punsch, anyone? 

Sometimes all you need is a little bling. These white MALM drawers are a popular bedroom storage solution, but they've been souped up with gold contact paper mounted on the frame. The simple update by Preciously Me has turned a popular piece into a vintage-inspired sideboard. 

Découpage is certainly not dated on this beautiful bedroom sideboard by We Are Scout. Reflecting the oversized floral trend, this plain IVAR cabinet has been transformed into a standout piece.

The humble BEKVÄM step stool has many uses, but none so pretty as this two-tier plant stand from The Ordinary Lovely. The duck-egg blue painted frame, set against a ceramic monochrome tile top, is utterly elegant. Don't forget to grout to make it waterproof!

Stylish, narrow storage that fits in an entryway can be hard to find – so this twist on KALLAX storage shelves is clever. Thanks to Charley Chic, it's now a practical shoe bench with tidy wooden storage boxes beneath. We also love the impressive yellow photo frame above, which had a previous life as a French door.

At the other end of the spectrum is a complete overhaul, like this beautiful KURA mid-sleeper IKEA Hack by The Divine Living Space. Kids love an adventurous bed and this budget-friendly design has become a bit of a makeover favorite: there are many variations on Pinterest and Instagram, but this floral version with pretty green curtains is one of our top picks. 

Slim-framed VITTSJÖ storage looks sensational when sprayed with metallic paint available from hardware stores. This is another easy update with expensive-looking results that beginners can tackle without too much fuss. Choose gold, rose-gold or copper tones like @living_with_jen to be totally on trend.

Need more kitchen work surfaces but can't afford an expensive island? This kitchen-trolley IKEA Hack by Oliver and Rust looks just as good and creates storage underneath too. A marble countertop offcut transforms the BEKVÄM trolley and blends it into the rest of the room perfectly. 

Turn basic into beautiful with vibrant pops of color. Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body has combined two classic IKEA products, a BILLY bookcase and a SONGESAND chest of drawers, to create one elegant storage solution. Painted pretty fuchsia pink and customized with backing board, the fabulous creation is complete. And, if one IKEA hack is not enough, make two for double the impact. 

A touch of durable outdoor paint turns a budget bench into a cheerful seating solution for the garden. We're loving Sarah Hearts' reverse color-dip idea that drenches this NORNÄS bench (now discontinued) in sunshine yellow. The SKOGSTA bench is similar.

And, here's a stylish example of the classic color-dipping technique. A simple, ice blue and white BEKVÄM step stool, such as this one by De Kleine Dingen, will brighten your interiors. It would also make an attractive addition to small bathrooms, as a charming towel store, for instance. 

It's not just bloggers who love an IKEA hack. The Swedish giants themselves have tapped into the craze by posting a whole gallery of inspiration on their website, such as making a chic mural out of simple storage units. And, being Scandinavian, of course, their projects are arguably the most stylish of them all. 

Parents of toddlers and preschoolers will tell you that safe storage for oversized books is a priority in children's rooms – so this BEKVÄM spice rack hack by A Baby On Board is genius. The kitchen racks are a fraction of the price of usual bookshelves and can be painted to suit your child's bedroom theme. Why not safely mount them at a low level to give little ones a sense of independence too? 

Warm up a neutral gray kitchen with a touch of copper. These hanging pendant lights look very expensive indeed, but they're not – instead, they're another IKEA hack by Kojo Designs. This time spray paint has refurbished standard kitchen lighting into a stunning statement accent, perfect for hanging over a breakfast bar.

​Paint companies are getting IKEA-hack creative too. IVAR cabinets are particularly versatile. We especially like this creation from Rust-Oleum – it leaves the cabinet in a natural form but gives it height with spindle legs in contrasting neon pink. Give it a go if you're looking to give your entryway a new look.

IKEA is very proud of their children's department and they produce plenty of kid-friendly products that are perfect for hacking. The DUKTIG play kitchen makes a fun canvas to makeover and could perhaps be a trial run for your own colorful new kitchen scheme. Little Years has created a mid-century modern kitchenette with funky retro wallpaper that we think is very striking. 

Rust-Oleum has also transformed this TARVA chest into a beautiful royal blue unit of drawers with glamorous gold detailing. Visitors will never guess where you got it. Now discontinued, the RAST chest of three drawers is similar.

Bigger pieces in block colors can really make a statement. This daybed usually comes in a standard white or gray – but thanks to design team Robinson Van Noort it has been transformed into a lounging spot fit for a stately home with a coat of deep olive green paint and a jewel-toned mattress cover.

The sturdy BILLY bookcase has a winning structure and can be used in many formats, from petite three-shelf units to full floor-to-ceiling libraries. House of Hawkes has fitted custom doors with simple cane webbing to her BILLY and transformed it into a muted rattan storage cupboard, adding warm tones and soft texture to the space.

You don't have to be a DIY wizard to be an IKEA hacker. Easy updates can also add an eye-catching twist that you won't see elsewhere. These REGOLIT paper lampshades have been given a monochrome makeover with ink stamps and geometric freehand painted black stripes.

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