The Solid Wood IKEA Furniture That Makes Great Extra Kitchen Storage

IKEA may be best known for their sprawling home displays, seemingly infinite selection of products, and Swedish meatballs, but one of the best things they have to offer is their solid wood furniture. Unlike many build-at-home brands, there are quite a few different IKEA storage solutions that are made from solid wood. Though this wood is generally unfinished, that can actually be a good thing because it allows you to stain or paint it to your liking without having to do much if any prep work. Plus if you like the appearance of the raw wood, you don't have to finish it, it works just as well as-is. 

One of their best and most expansive solid wood collections is the IVAR system. This shelving system is super versatile because you can go with a pre-designed model or create a combination that is best for your kitchen (or whichever room you use it in). There are a range of different shelves, bases, and cabinets to choose from, that come in all different sizes and prices, making it a great choice for someone that is after a custom-built feel on a prefab budget. Though a couple of these pieces are finished, the majority are raw, solid wood, so you can easily mix and match to find the combination that works for your kitchen. Then you can finish them all to fit the aesthetic of the rest of your kitchen, giving you a clever cabinet upgrade without having to install a new permanent shelving system. 

When deciding which pieces you want to use in your kitchen, you want to consider the space you already have, the space that you want the new piece to take up, and what you plan to store in it. This will help you determine how large of a piece you should purchase, and what specific designs will be the most functional for you. If you don't need a ton of extra storage or are looking for something more decorative, opting for an open-shelving option could be the right fit for you. This allows you to both store and display your food and dishes, and it's also a great way to keep everyday necessities within reach. If you have kids and pets however, you may have some things to consider before committing to open shelving. 

If you need to seriously increase your storage, you may do better with some cabinets. Keeping your items hidden can be very useful when working with a tight space as it allows you to shut out the clutter when not in use, keeping the visual chaos to a minimum. There are a few different options to choose from with both floating shelves and cabinets and floor models, but if you aren't sure which is the right pick for you, the IVAR 2 Section Shelving Unit With Cabinet gives you the best of both worlds in one compact package. The solid pine wood is easily stained or painted, and the shelves are adjustable so you can move them around so that your space adequately meets your needs. 

These cabinets may be particularly good for storing dishes, food, cooking utensils, and more, but their use isn't exclusive to the kitchen. The basic design lends itself to being incredibly versatile, and these shelving and cabinet units can be excellent options for additional storage in a bedroom, office, living room, or even a large bathroom.

Sure, these pieces are pretty basic, but you're still getting solid wood for laminate or particle board prices. Rather than thinking of them as boring or unfinished, they can truly be a blank canvas that can be transformed into whatever you want. There are also a ton of hacks out there that show you how to make your IVAR pieces look unique, custom, and nothing like they did in the first place. Because they are so bare-bones, they are particularly DIY-friendly, and can be an excellent way to make a dupe of a higher end furniture or built-in that you had your eye on. Besides just paint or staining, you can change the hardware, add more decorative doors, or even incorporate some fun, patterned wallpaper. Though it's true that the more you add, the more it will cost, this can be a worthwhile investment to create a piece you truly love and will use for years to come.