Upgrade Your IKEA IVAR Cabinet With A Stylish DIY Idea

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IKEA fanatics know that when you buy one of the Swedish retailer's furniture pieces, you're rarely bringing home a finished product. The streamlined constructions are fully functional, kind to the wallet, and perfectly fit for low-key interior stylings, for sure, but the reason IKEA's items stand out is their endless customization potential. Products like the no-frills KALLAX, BILLY, and IVAR are foundations to build on. IKEA takes care of the complicated construction part, and we get to style and tweak the units into chic DIY designs that suit our aesthetic, whether we lean towards traditional, retro, or modern looks. We see this countless times from inspired DIYers, including TikTok creator @xojennosias, who found that the pine IVAR cabinet made the perfect base for a stunning storage piece to show off in the entryway, hallway, or living room. With just a few glued-on wood accents and a coat of stain, the cabinet gains a serious style upgrade, moving from mundane modern minimalism to a magnificent mid-century statement — no drilling, cutting, or nailing required!

After building the IVAR cabinet, the idea is to apply rows of equally spaced half-spheres to the front and sides of the cabinet. A pack of 2-inch-wide wood circles, like GNIEMCKIN 2-Inch half wood balls, is ideal for this project. You'll also need some wood glue and, to finish it off, a stain of your choice (dark tones are popular) and a top coat. Since pine can be tricky to stain, applying a wood conditioner before staining will help you get even absorption and a cleaner look. A more consistent finish is also why many DIYers switch from water-based to gel-based stains for projects like these, as gel stains wipe on easily and sit more on the surface rather than soak in unevenly.

Thanks to its simplicity and high-end final appearance, this brutalist IVAR DIY is shaping up to be one of the best IKEA hacks on TikTok. The two essential steps are installing the wood half-spheres with uniform spacing and applying the stain. You can stain the build as one piece after gluing the balls to the cabinet, or you could stain the IVAR and the individual balls separately. When using wood stain, apply it generously across the surfaces with a brush or cloth, and wipe away the excess with a paper towel. Let the stain dry for the recommended time, and add more coats until you reach a rich, sophisticated color to mesh with your interior.

Before sticking the balls to the cabinet, lay the doors on the floor to plan your layout with a dry run. Many creators who try this DIY line up the spheres on the doors in tidy rows and columns using a straightedge, like a ruler or paint stirrer. For a more precise layout with equal spacing, you can use a tape measure, straightedge, and pencil to draw out a grid, placing the wood balls at the intersecting points. If you're using a light-colored stain, maintain a gentle hand with the pencil so it's easy to erase or wipe off with alcohol.

With your layout set, glue down the balls by dropping a small amount of wood glue on the back of each one, keeping it in the center. Don't use too much, or the glue may squeeze out around the edges when you put it in place. Repeat the process for the cabinet's side panels. After all the balls are attached and the glue cures, finish with a few coats of polyurethane for a glossy, protective finish.