DIYer Shares 4 Hacks for Making Your IKEA Furniture Look More Expensive
My apartment has plenty of IKEA furniture: I bought my bed frame there more than a decade ago; I also have a desk, kitchen chairs and side table that are from IKEA (but I got those secondhand). Even after many years of use, all my IKEA pieces look great and function perfectly - but still, my mind was piqued when I came across a video offering tricks to make IKEA furniture look more expensive.
"IKEA is great for affordable furniture options, but I always recommend doing what you can to personalise and [elevate] their pieces," DIY and home renovation creator Brittany (@thebrickhousechronicles) captioned a recent TikTok video. "Not only does it add more interest, but it makes it unique to you and much more custom than what everyone else is getting out of the box!"
Keep reading to learn Brittany's four tips for upgrading your IKEA furniture and making it appear more expensive.
Related: Furniture Flipper Turns a Basic Dresser From IKEA Into a Vintage-Inspired Custom Piece
1. Upgrade Furniture With Fun Drawer Pulls and Handles
"If it comes with plain handles, swap them for something more interesting. If it doesn't have handles at all, add some," Brittany advises. This rule applies for anything with a drawer or door, such as a dresser, desk or cabinet.
"IKEA furniture often lacks dimension, so adding a nice handle can make it feel more interesting," she explains.
2. Update the Feet or Add Decorative Molding
"Swap the feet to something with a cool shape," suggests Brittany. If your dresser, cabinet or even couch came with basic straight wood legs, maybe switch them out for metallic legs. Or, if your furniture item came with no legs at all, try adding spherical wooden furniture legs. Just make sure whatever legs you do add are securely attached.
Alternatively, you can add decorative molding or wood trims. "Anything you can do to make it look less like a boring box will make it more elevated," she says.
3. Fill in Pre-Drilled Shelf Holes
According to Brittany, the pre-drilled shelf holes on the inside of cabinets and bookcases "scream flat-pack furniture." She advises filling the holes with matching hole plugs (which you can find on Etsy); or, take it to the next level and fill them with matching putty.
4. Make Sure Cabinet Doors Are Even
"IKEA furniture is notorious for having wonky doors, but not everyone knows that you can usually fix it by adjusting the screws on the hinges," Brittany says. "It takes patience but it makes it looks so much better."
Watch her full video below:
@thebrickhousechronicles Ikea is great for affordable furniture options, but I always recommend doing what you can to personalise and elevating their pieces as much as you can. Not only does it add more interest, but it makes it unique to you and much more custom than what everyone else is getting out of the box! #diy#homedecor#birminghamuk#birminghaminfluencer#birminghamcontentcreator
yellow - ggg.
Related: This Interior Designer Thinks 'Knurling' Is Poised to Take Over Hardware in 2026
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 10:30 AM.