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As far as design goes, there’s nothing quite as versatile as an IKEA hack. Sure, IKEA staples might not always need a glow-up, but we always appreciate it when someone wants to take a stab at reimagining the offerings. Take it from designer and creator Drew Michael Scott of Lone Fox, who has long been a fan of the Swedish retailer.
“IKEA has always been one of my go-tos for the base of my DIY projects,” says Scott. “IKEA’s furniture and decor usually have clean lines, neutral tones, and raw wood, making them easy to customize. Not to mention, most of the pieces are affordable and easy to assemble, which allows you to experiment without breaking the bank.”
We asked Scott to share his most-loved project so that you could keep it in your back pocket as a future DIY possibility. And as it turns out, his favorite one was personalizing a Billy bookcase—a classic IKEA hack option.
“At the time, I was really into statement bookcases and I loved the organic feel of furniture pieces with curves,” he says. “I found out that pole wrapped existed and knew I wanted to include it in a project. Once I sketched out a few different ideas on ways to flip the bookcase, I combined the rounded edges with the pole-wrap idea for a match made in heaven!”
To make the DIY happen, Scott used a jigsaw to cut out 12-inch circles of plywood before cutting them in half. He mounted the semicircles to the sides of the bookcase with L-brackets and then enclosed them in pole-wrap using wood glue and a brad nailer. “As the last step, I added the remaining pole wrap to the backing of the bookcase for a slatted finish you can see on the inside,” he says.
If he has any advice for those who want to follow in his footsteps or complete a different hack of their own, it’s just to go for it. “A lot of DIY projects can seem intimidating, but once you start and let your creativity flow, it’s such a fun experience,” he says. “Plus you will have a furniture piece that you fully crafted yourself. There’s no better feeling!”