DIY An Innovative Storage Solution On An IKEA Budget With This Clever Hack

IKEA is a store that needs no introduction. For decades, the Swedish retail giant has prioritized selling functional and practical home essentials that are both affordable and stylish. Sometimes, you can find IKEA products that are incredibly versatile and not limited to their intended function, especially when it comes to storage. If you're the type of person who's crafty by nature and looking to take on your next DIY project, you can find inexpensive IKEA storage hacks that keep clutter at bay across all social media platforms. 

One popular IKEA hack that's made waves online involves transforming the inexpensive OSTBIT plate holder into chic open shelves. Dutch interior designer Janneke Peters shared her rendition on Instagram, which featured crisp white shelves stacked with elegant accents and houseplants. IKEA's OSTBIT plate holders are made of natural bamboo, which is low-maintenance and durable. A single plate holder is priced at just $5.99, but you'll need a minimum of two for this DIY, as well as a lightweight board that can serve as a shelf. In addition, you will need a drill with a bit, screws, and ideally a stud finder. It is also possible to find a stud without a stud finder; simply knock on the wall until you find the section that sounds solid (not hollow). Once you have your materials together, you're all set to go. 

To start, accurately measure and mark the distance between the OSTBIT plate racks before you mount them, to ensure your shelves will be even and level. The plate rack's bamboo material is not intended to bear large amounts of weight. Because of this, it's better to opt for shorter shelves, so you can mount the racks closer together for better stability. Line up the plate racks against the wall vertically so that the pegs form horizontal slots where you can slip in the shelves, and make sure they are positioned on a stud. If you own a level, now is a good time to check that nothing is crooked before drilling the plate holders into the wall.   

Once you've decided on a good position for the shelves, use a drill and drill bit to drive the screws through the back of the bamboo. Repeat this process with the other plate racks. Once all your racks are mounted to the wall, you can slide a lightweight board or plank of wood into the rack to serve as the shelf. You can always mount multiple OSTBIT racks together to create more space for additional shelves. This simple DIY transforms the OSTBIT plate holder into a storage solution that can be used in any room of the house, not just the kitchen. 

You can style the OSTBIT DIY floating shelves to fit effortlessly into your own personal aesthetic or interior design scheme. One of the easiest ways to make the DIY your own, is to paint the shelves so that they blend in with the color scheme of your room. The clean, white shelves in Janneke Peters' original DIY would fit in perfectly with rustic farmhouse decor, and could be used to store spices, glassware, or even hang dish towels off the bottom pegs for convenience. You can also use this IKEA DIY to add stylish floating storage to your bedroom. Pictures, mementos, or small house plants are all light enough to be elegantly displayed on the shelves and create an elevated focal point for your bedroom wall.

This DIY would also be a perfect fit in home offices or craft stations. You can organize cups of office supplies, folder organizers, stationery, or craft supplies on open shelves mounted near your desk or workstation. Some DIY enthusiasts have even omitted the wooden shelves entirely, and stacked appropriately sized books directly on the pegs of a singular plate rack, to create a cozy reading nook that's chic and inviting. This method would be great for smaller rooms with limited wall space, since the racks can just be mounted vertically on top of each other. Overall, the IKEA OSTBIT storage DIY is affordable, practical, and incredibly versatile.