Before And After: DIYer Turns Ordinary IKEA Storage Into Stylish Showpiece

Because living rooms are often a central part of a home, it's natural to want the space to look just right. If you don't have enough storage space, though, it's easy for the room to get cluttered — and for your personal style to get lost in it. Luckily, there are plenty of DIY living room storage ideas to give your home a customized look — including an IKEA hack recently shared on Instagram by Scandinavian content creator @eilandhuisjevanhetnoorden, who used the LÅDMAKARE bookshelf system to create a unique storage unit that doubles as design statement for her living room.

To turn the LÅDMAKARE bookshelf, which originally comes in a light oak finish, into a piece that would complement her decor, the creator decided to paint it a deep purple. Before painting, though, there were a few steps she had to take. First, she had to assemble the unit. "You have to first assemble [it] and then paint it," she explained. "Because a lot of parts are shuffled together, you can damage the paint if you do it the other way around." The doors, however, can be painted separately and added at the end. Her next steps were sanding and prepping the unit with a primer. And once dry, she applied her paint — using two coats for most areas and three for some spots. Then, after the paint had completely dried, she installed the sliding doors and styled her new unit with books and magazines, and other decorative pieces like a lamp, a clock, and candles.

The great thing about this IKEA DIY is that there are plenty of ways to make it your own. The light oak finish also acts as a blank canvas, giving you the freedom to paint it any color you want. While the creator went with a dark purple, you could go with neutral shades like black or white. Or, you could consider some inspiring paint color ideas that will brighten up your home. An emerald green, for example, would pop against light gray walls, while a sunny yellow would beautifully compliment taupe.

If you want your DIY project to lean more vintage, you could opt for a dark brown paint to mimic an antique wood bookshelf. To embrace the retro look even further, think about adding wood wall paneling to the back, and style it with things like old books and brass-toned decor — just some of the essential components when styling a bookshelf. For a completely different vibe, lean into an English cottage aesthetic by painting the unit a pastel shade and lining the back with drywall covered with a floral-printed wallpaper. Finish the look with woven baskets and vases with fresh or dried flowers. Of course, the unit doesn't have to stay confined to the living room. It could also make a stylish storage piece for a walk-in closet — simply attach adjustable rods inside for hanging clothes and add shelf dividers for folded items.