9 IKEA buys that are too good to hack – these design gems need no special makeover to look twice the price they actually are
There isn't one thing I'd change about these gorgeous Scandi pieces
IKEA has always been famous for its budget-friendly furniture, but over the last decade, the concept of the IKEA hack has blown up on social media. All over Instagram and TikTok you'll find people transforming bestsellers like the Billy bookcase or the Kallax unit into designer lookalikes. But what about the IKEA pieces that are too good to hack?
For every non-descript (albeit well-designed) piece of IKEA furniture, there is a Scandi design classic that you'd be doing a disservice to if you were to touch it with a glue gun or tin of paint. IKEA has always been home to a huge team of talented designers, many of whom have created iconic IKEA pieces that can now fetch £1000s at auction.
I've written about IKEA for going on seven years now, and in that time, I've encountered several lust-worthy IKEA finds I wouldn't want to change a thing about. While I can't promise that the pieces I've rounded up below will one day be worth a small fortune, I can promise you don't need to hack them to make them look good.
This IKEA lamp is one interior designers often turn to. At £9, it is a prime candidate for a hack, but it already looks so sharp and chic that it doesn't need any alteration.
It's no surprise that this floor lamp is a bestseller. The chrome finish and globes hit the Pinterest Predicts Neo Deco home decor trend on the head.
This stool is made for the garden, but I reckon it could be used all over the home without any modification. I wouldn't want to mess with that classic Scandi shape, acacia wood and braided seat.
This is a reimagined piece from the IKEA archives, inspired by the MILA 'anti-stress armchair' from 1967. There are several similar version on the high street like the Habitat Dawson Fabric Swivel Chair which comes in a natural colourway if the orange is too bright for you.
This simply but stylish cabinet is part of the STOCKHOLM 2025 collection which is packed with future design classics. It's more expensive than most IKEA pieces, and definitely a piece that's too good to hack.
I've loved this display cabinet for years for its retro utilitarian look and that pop of blue. I have yet to see anyone else on the high street compete with this display cabinet on looks or even come close to this price tag.
Another one from the STOCKHOLM 2025 collection, the whole Ideal Home team has been eyeing up this rug. Again, it is expensive for IKEA, but it would look so chic on the floor or hung on a wall.
This simple and classic bedside table was brought to my attention by our Sleep Editor, Amy Lockwood. It's the epitome of Scandi design, has incredible reviews and comes in three colourways.
This bed is from a collection that has it's roots in Scandinavian craftsmanship, and has become a cult classic. From the pillow headboard to the simple design, there is nothing I'd want to change — it already looks twice the price it actually is.
In the sea of IKEA hacks on social media it can be easy to loose sight of some of the serious design gems hiding at IKEA. However, these 9 buys look gorgeous just the way they are.
