How to Make an IKEA Piece Look High-End
Let’s be real for a second: most of us have at least one IKEA piece lurking in our homes. Whether it’s that KALLAX shelf you bought in college or the MALM dresser that’s been with you through three apartments, IKEA is basically the fast fashion of furniture—affordable, functional, but, uh… not exactly screaming “old money vibes.” 😅
But what if I told you that you can totally fake a high-end look using your trusty flat-pack friend? Yep, with a little creativity (and maybe some spray paint), you can turn a basic IKEA item into something that looks custom-made. Fancy on a budget? Say less.
Let’s talk hacks, upgrades, and secret sauce to make your IKEA stuff look like you hired an interior designer who definitely charges more than your rent.
Start With the Right IKEA Piece
Okay, hot take: not all IKEA furniture deserves a glow-up. Some items are too basic (or plasticky) to salvage. If it looks cheap straight out the box, odds are, it’ll still look cheap after ten hours of DIY.
So what does work?
Best IKEA Pieces to Hack
MALM dresser – Clean lines = perfect blank canvas.
BILLY bookcase – Add trim, paint, and boom, it’s built-in.
IVAR cabinets – Raw pine dreams waiting to happen.
BESTÅ units – Modular and ridiculously easy to customize.
KALLAX – Versatile, strong, and hackable in 400 ways.
FYI: I tried to “upgrade” a LACK side table once with marble contact paper. It peeled after a week. So yeah, choose wisely.
Paint: Your Best Friend (And Also a Little Devil)
A coat of paint changes everything. It’s like makeup for your furniture.
Tips to Nail the Luxe Look
Use a primer. Don’t skip this. IKEA’s finish is super slick and hates paint.
Sand first. Light sanding helps the paint stick. You don’t need to go beast mode—just a light buff.
Go matte. High-gloss finishes can scream “dorm room.” A matte or satin finish looks expensive.
Color matters. Think deep navy, rich charcoal, or warm taupe. White is classic, but too much can veer into hospital chic. :/
Pro Tip: Rust-Oleum’s chalk paint line is a game-changer. Trust me, I’ve painted three MALMs with it, and they now look like they belong in a boutique hotel.
Switch Out Those Basic Knobs (Seriously, Do This)
You’d be shocked at how much hardware upgrades elevate a piece. The standard IKEA knobs and pulls? They’re… fine. But fine doesn’t scream high-end.
Try These Instead:
Brass bar pulls for that Restoration Hardware look.
Matte black knobs for a minimal-modern vibe.
Acrylic + gold combos for glam without the guilt.
Leather pulls for a Scandinavian twist.
I swapped the handles on my HEMNES nightstand, and my friend legit thought it was from West Elm. Not kidding.
Add Molding or Trim – It’s Like Botox for Furniture
If you want something to look custom, add details. This is where the BILLY bookcase becomes a luxury built-in. No joke.
Molding Magic:
Use crown molding on the top of tall shelves.
Add baseboards around the bottom to make it look installed.
Use thin wood trim on drawer fronts to create shaker-style panels.
It’s honestly way easier than it sounds. Grab a miter box, some wood glue, and a free Sunday afternoon. The transformation is chef’s kiss.
Top It Off (Literally): Faux Marble, But Make It Chic
One of the easiest tricks? Change the top surface.
Add a marble slab (or marble contact paper—just pick the good stuff).
Butcher block countertop? YES. Looks artisanal, feels expensive.
Glass or mirror top for glam vibes.
I once glued a $30 piece of polished granite on top of a $60 IKEA console. Now everyone thinks it’s vintage Italian. If they only knew… 😉
Make It Built-In (Without Actually Building Anything)
Built-ins are the holy grail of luxury interiors. Luckily, IKEA hacks make built-in magic possible for the rest of us.
The Trick?
Combine multiple BILLY or BESTÅ units.
Use trim to hide the seams.
Paint everything the same color as your walls.
Finish with crown molding or baseboards.
Suddenly, that $200 IKEA setup looks like a $5,000 designer installation. Not even exaggerating.
Use Legs to Lift the Look (Literally & Aesthetically)
Fun fact: Most IKEA furniture sits too low, which screams “budget.” Swapping out the legs makes a huge difference.
Upgrade Options:
Mid-century tapered wood legs
Gold or brass stiletto legs (fancy, right?)
Hairpin legs for an artsy vibe
There are whole websites (like Pretty Pegs or IKEA Hackers) dedicated to this kind of glow-up. Thank me later.
Camouflage the IKEA-ness
Sometimes, you don’t want people to know it’s IKEA (nothing personal, IKEA… but still). So the goal is to hide the telltale signs.
Do This:
Paint over the laminate edges—they scream mass-produced.
Use wallpaper or cane webbing on doors and drawer fronts.
Add fabric panels (especially on cabinet doors) for texture and depth.
Ever covered a plain cabinet with rattan panels? It’s giving Serena & Lily on a shoestring budget. IMO, that’s genius.
Lighting + Styling = Instant Upgrade
Even if you don’t hack the furniture itself, how you style and light it makes all the difference.
Styling Tips That Work Every Time:
Use symmetry. Two matching lamps? Always looks chic.
Books, trays, candles. Layer your accessories like a pro.
Add a large mirror or art piece above. It draws the eye and distracts from the flat-pack-ness.
Use warm, soft lighting. Harsh white bulbs will expose every scratch and uneven surface.
If you style it right, no one will even notice it’s IKEA. They’ll be too distracted by your faux Diptyque candle and artfully stacked coffee table books.
Avoid These IKEA Upgrade Fails
Not every hack is a win. I’ve learned this the hard way (RIP to the rickety hacked LACK bench).
Skip These:
Overloading open shelves. They sag faster than my mood on Monday.
Fake marble contact paper that bubbles. You know the kind. Don’t do it.
Trying to glue legs onto units that aren’t meant to be raised. They wobble. It’s a no from me.
Final Touches That Seal the Deal
So you’ve hacked, painted, trimmed, styled… but the real luxury lies in how it all feels.
Keep it clutter-free. High-end always = clean and intentional.
Mix with vintage pieces. IKEA works so much better when it’s not surrounded by other IKEA.
Add texture. Think velvet cushions, chunky knits, woven baskets.
Make your space feel curated, not catalogued. That’s the real flex.
Wrapping It Up – IKEA, But Make It Fashion
So yeah, IKEA doesn’t have to look cheap—unless you let it. With the right tricks (and a little elbow grease), you can turn a flat-pack piece into a full-on statement. And hey, no one needs to know it cost less than your favorite bag.
If you’re still staring at your MALM dresser wondering where to start, pick one hack from this list and go for it. Paint it, swap the handles, add some sexy legs. Whatever floats your bougie boat.
You don’t need a trust fund to look like you have one.
Now go forth and fake that high-end life. Your secret’s safe with me. 😉
Let me know in the comments (or shoot me a DM) if you’ve got an IKEA hack you swear by—I’m always looking for my next project-slash-obsession! 🛠✨
