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Ikea Shelf Flip

by Lynn Lilly, Feb 26 2017

I think at least 50% of the world has one of these Ikea shelves. I happen to have a few too many that either needed to find a new home or get a new life. You are going to die over how cute this bench is and how easy it was to make!!! oing to die over how cute this bench is and how easy it was to make!!! 

This project was a huge hit on my weekly NBC's Atlanta & Company segment. Just hanging out with my good friend Christine, the host of Atlanta & Company! 

Ikea Shelf Flip

Materials: 

  • Ikea Shelf
  • Fabric
  • Poly-fil
  • 6 Couch Legs & Top Plate Kits & a Drill to Install(optional)
  • Peg Board or Thin Wood Board 
  • Staple Gun
  • Buttons
  • Liquid Nails Glue
  • Pencil 
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. If you opt to add legs to the bench use a power drill to install the plates and then screw in the legs. If the legs are raw wood like mine, paint them before attaching.                                                                                                                                        Table Leg Platescouch legs
  2. Measure the side of the shelf before you purchase fabric and peg board. If you are purchasing peg board, the hardware store will cut it to size.  
  3. Lay fabric face down on a large table. Cut the fabric so that is about 8 inches wider and longer on each side than the measurements of the shelf. 
  4. Place pegboard in the center of the fabric. Ikea Shelf Flip
  5. Fold the fabric edges half way over with the edge laying on the pegboard. Staple fabric on the long sides every few inches to the peg board.                                      
  6. Stuff the short sides with Poly-fil until you the entire cushion is filled.   
  7. Fold the short ends over, pull tight and staple shut. 
  8. If you want to add tufts to the cushion cover 6 buttons with the fabric scraps Use hot glue to secure fabric around the buttons. 
  9. Using a pencil mark the fabric where the buttons will go. I used 6 buttons. 
  10. Staple two times over each pencil mark straight down into the fabric attaching it to the peg board.  tufting hack
  11. Attach buttons over the stapled tufts with hot glue or fabric glue.  
  12. Now that the cushion is done attach it to the top of the bench with liquid nails glue. Put glue on both the bench surface and the bottom of the peg board. 
  13. I had white cardboard storage boxes (Ikea has them for $3) that I dressed up with scrapbook paper! 

Happy Flippin!! 

xoxo- Lynn

Ikea Shelf Flip

Ikea Shelf Bench

bench cat-home creative inspiration furniture furniture flip home home decor ikea storage

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  • Sherry on

    Will the boxes hold letter size file folders?

  • Jackie on

    Hi – Love this idea! The Kellex is too short for the space I have – we need something approx 68 inches. Any ideas on how to add on to a Kellex bookshelf to make the bench longer?

  • Lynn on

    Responding to Cait:

    Yes it is super sturdy! Just make sure the legs you select are really sturdy and you use 6 (2 in the middle). I recommend screwing the legs in for extra support or using an industrial strength glue (if you don’t want to screw).

    Responding to Jennie,

    Here is the link of the one from Ikea (Kalex Shelf): https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00275848/
    - Measurements: 16 1/2×57 7/8 "

  • Cait on

    Is this actually sturdy enough to sit on? How much weight can it hold? I love it and want to make one it I’m afraid I will sit down and it will crumble!

  • Lynn on

    Hi Jennifer,

    I wanted to directly respond to you comment. Here is a link to the shelf that was used in the post: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40275846/

    Measurements are also included in the product page! Please feel free to reach out if you any other questions!

    Lynn :)

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