Dining Room Becomes the Ultimate Home Office: An IKEA Hack That Saved a Handy Homeowner Up to $10,000
Home offices are quickly becoming more and more popular in today’s homes, and with good reason! We’re busier than ever before and need more time to get work done at home so we can spend more time with our friends and family. But if you’re looking to turn your dining room into an office, you’ll find that most home office furniture doesn’t exactly fit in with the rest of your house’s décor.
Before & After
I had been wanting to convert my underused dining room into a home office for quite some time. The problem was that I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on the project, and I wanted to do it myself.
Then, I came across an Ikea hack that saved me up to $10,000! With this hack, I was able to turn my dining room into the ultimate home office, complete with a desk, shelving unit, and comfortable chair. Plus, it only took me a weekend to complete the project! Here’s how I did it: First, I spent about $200 at Ikea on a desk and two cabinets.
Next, I pulled out all of the drawers from my kitchen island and used them as storage in the new cabinets. Finally, I found an old ottoman (that cost less than $5) that matched perfectly with my flooring and reupholstered it in brown leather so that it could serve as extra seating when needed. All in all, the project only took me about two hours to complete.
My wife loves the new space and says she is relieved to know that her dinner parties won’t be interrupted by our office any longer. As for my home office, I couldn’t be happier with how well it turned out! It is now one of the most-used rooms in our house.
Plus, it was completely affordable and easy to make happen! All in all, the project only took me about two hours to complete. My wife loves the new space and says she is relieved to know that her dinner parties won’t be interrupted by our office any longer. As for my home office, I couldn’t be happier with how well it turned out! It is now one of the most-used rooms in our house.
The Inspiration
The handy homeowner in question had been wanting to create a home office for some time. But with an unused dining room taking up valuable space in their home, they weren’t sure how to make it work. Then, they came across an IKEA hack that would not only save them money, but also create the perfect home office!
After doing some research, they found that by using IKEA furniture and hacking it to fit their needs, they could easily create a custom home office that would cost a fraction of what it would if they had gone with traditional furniture. Plus, they would get the added bonus of being able to use some of the existing furniture in their home!
To save even more money, they decided to do the majority of the work themselves.
The Money-Saving IKEA Hack (The Desk)
The desktop is actually an IKEA hack that saved the handy homeowner up to $10,000. By using an IKEA hack, the homeowner was able to create a desk that is both stylish and functional. The desk is made of two IKEA Lack tables and one IKEA Alex drawer unit. The Lack tables are placed side by side and the Alex drawer unit is placed in between them.
All three pieces come from the IKEA family and cost less than $150. A lack table (about $40) becomes the desk surface with an Alex drawer unit ($40) as its base. To attach the table top to the base, there’s no need for any tools or screws. It’s simply four pins that are used to join each piece together at four corners with no visible hardware on show.
The only part of this easy assembly process that requires any sort of skill is when it comes time to drill holes into the table top so that it can be attached to the bottom of the Alex drawer unit. But even then, all you need is a drill bit and step-by-step instructions from Ikea.
The Stylish Bench
Before this home office makeover, the room was an underused dining room. The homeowners wanted to create a space that would be both functional and stylish. They achieved their goal by adding a stylish bench from IKEA. This bench added both style and function to the room and saved the homeowner up to $10,000. The simple white bench gives enough space for the family to enjoy meals while also doubling as an office station.
A high top table with two chairs provides extra seating when needed. But don’t think you need fancy chairs for your workstation – this IKEA hack used folding chairs! In order to transform the unused dining room into a stunning home office, all it took was one Stylish Bench from IKEA! The first step in the transformation process was to remove everything from the room, including doors, molding and window coverings.
Then we created storage space below the bench seat using stackable units from IKEA in natural pine color. And of course we had to include our favorite accessory—a cozy reading nook complete with a fluffy throw pillow!
To keep all of our papers organized, we found some handy shelf organizers at IKEA that are just perfect for storing important documents on desktops or bookshelves. These organizers have been a lifesaver because they not only give us easy access to everything but they also save us money since they are inexpensive and can be replaced anytime without breaking the bank!
The Perfect Finishing Touches
With the right finishing touches, your home office can be both stylish and functional. Here are a few ideas to get you started on creating your perfect home office space. Place your desk in an area that is spacious, well-lit, and has ample power outlets nearby. Arrange shelves or cabinets around the perimeter of the room to house files or office supplies.
Invest in an ergonomic chair with a high back so that you can stay seated for long periods of time without straining any muscles. Finally, invest in a printer/scanner/copier combo unit for optimal efficiency! We recommend this Brother MFCL2700DW Wireless Monochrome Laser All-in-One Printer from Amazon. It’s simple to use, reliable, and will meet all of your printing needs.
Our Favorite DIY Tips from Homeowners
- Planning is key – take the time to map out what you want and need before you start any project. This will save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.
- Get creative with storage – think outside the box when it comes to where you store things. You can often find unique and affordable solutions by repurposing items you already have or shopping at second-hand stores.
- Don’t be afraid to DIY – many home improvement projects are easier than you think and can save you a lot of money if you do them yourself. Just be sure to do your research beforehand and have a plan in place. You’ll not only save money but also know exactly what materials you’ll need for each step along the way.
#IkeaHackContest – How to enter the contest
1.Take a before photo of your empty dining room.
2.Plan your Ikea hack using the items listed below.
3.Purchase your supplies from Ikea.
4.Execute your plan and take an after photo of your new home office.
5.Upload both photos to Instagram and tag @IkeaUSA and #IkeaHackContest in the caption.
6.You could be one of three winners who will each receive a $500 Ikea gift card!
7.The contest is open now through May 31, 2019 – so get started today.
