It’s not entirely unlikely that you’ve encountered the classic Ikea “Kallax” range of shelving units in someone’s home. The simple, practical design makes them extremely popular; it really isn’t difficult to see why they’re present in so many houses across the U.S.
Hand on heart, however, it must be said that the shelf can sometimes be a bit deceiving. This was the case when one family got home with their purchase and realized they had a problem. Fortunately, however, the mother of the family came up with a brilliant idea – one that has taken the internet by storm.
Since it’s becoming increasingly trendy for people to adapt Ikea furniture to better suit their own specific needs, I thought this ‘hack’ was one many people would be interested in.
It doesn’t require any special skill or aptitude, and doesn’t take a long time. On top of that, it’s also good for the wallet. Take a look below to see how Michelle from blog Iron & Twine discovered the trick … when you’re done, feel free to share it with others!
Before the item was purchased, the family had prepared carefully. Mom Michelle had taken measurements so that the shelving unit would fit perfectly into a corner.
When the family returned with their shelves, though, a problem was immediately recognized. They simply didn’t fit … as you can see from the picture, the edge of the shelves peeks out into the doorway.
Luckily, Michelle came up with a great solution – the family could turn the end shelf 90 degrees to make it all fit.
The only issue they were left with now, was an aesthetic one. The family wanted to make the end cabinet prettier, and so gave it a facelift. With paint brushes and tape, they got started.
On the blank side of the shelves, they decided to make their own chalkboard, costing them less than $15. To cover the shelf, they used two coats of chalkboard spray paint from Home Depot – a non-reflective substance that can withstand severe wear and tear.
When the paint was dry, they removed the tape from the edges, and … wow!
Last but not least, the family added their personal effects to the shelves. The resulting look? Well, it’s certainly impressive.
The shelving unit is a dream for anyone who likes order in their life. There are spaces for photo albums, filing documents and boxes to hold all manner of things. It all fits perfectly, neatly and is guaranteed to hold its shape.
More importantly, however, is the lesson that it often only takes a little imagination to get around a potentially annoying problem.
Please share this with someone you think could appreciate the hack!
