We all love the gorgeous, picture perfect coffee stations that are all over social media. But let’s be honest, not everyone can afford those expensive setups.
It’s okay, though, because even though you may not have the bank account to buy everything you want from Pottery Barn (listen, we’re sad about it too…), you can still build your own perfect coffee station for yourself with a cheaper alternative: IKEA.
IKEA genuinely has some of the most hackable furniture on the planet. They’re minimal enough to add some of your own personal style to it. And they’re affordable enough that you can experiment with it without fear of ruining something expensive.
In this blog post, we’ll give you the best IKEA pieces to use and how to hack them, along with different budgets.
And if you enjoy this post, you should definitely check out this one as well, which is all about coffee bar accessories to add to your setup once your hack is complete!
Why IKEA is Perfect for a Budget Coffee Station Hack
First up, let’s talk about why IKEA is such a great starting point for a DIY coffee bar project
The pieces that IKEA offers are specifically designed to be modular and customizable. They’re built with the assumption that you’re going to modify them. They’re a DIYer’s dream.
The cheap price also means that you can actually experiment. For example, IKEA sells shelves that literally cost $15. If you paint it a color and end up hating it, you can easily repaint it. No big deal.
Additionally, the minimal aesthetic of a lot of IKEA pieces are a great starting point to take it in any direction you want.
And last, but not least, is our favorite reason to use IKEA furniture: the community around hacking IKEA furniture is massive. There’s so much support and inspo online, that you’re bound to find things that people already did, and you can totally copy them!
The Best IKEA Pieces to Use for a Coffee Station Hack
1. The KALLAX Shelving Unit
This is definitely one of the most famous IKEA hack pieces. It’s sturdy, versatile, and comes in multiple sizes. For a coffee bar, the most popular approach is to add legs to raise it to counter height, paint it in your color of choice, and style the cubbies with a mix of coffee accessories, baskets, and storage boxes.
2. The RASKOG Cart
The RASKOG cart is an IKEA coffee station hack classic. If you want a coffee cart on wheels, then this is the perfect option for you. It’s a three-tier rolling cart that gives you the best, most practical coffee bar layout: machine on top, accessories and mugs in the middle, and storage on the bottom. The rolling part means it can live wherever and be moved to the nearest outlet when needed.
3. The LACK Wall Shelf
The LACK shelf is another great option for those working within a small budget. And it’s also one of the best IKEA coffee station hack bases for anyone who wants a wall-mounted setup. It’s clean and minimal, making it the perfect blank slate for however you want to customize it. You could add a second shelf below for extra display space as well.
4. The BEKVAM Step Stool or Spice Rack
Both of these pieces are genuine favorites within the IKEA hack world. The step stool can easily become a mini coffee station with the right coat of paint and a few accessories. The spice rack can be easily mounted on the wall and becomes an easy coffee pod organizer. And the best thing about these two pieces is their low price.
5. The KALLAX with ALEX Drawer Insert
This specific hack is a little more involved, but the results are great. Combining both of these pieces means you can create a coffee station that has both open display cubbies and hidden drawer storage. This hack allows you to display what you want (coffee machine, mugs, etc) while hiding what you don’t want (pods, syrups, and more).
6. The IVAR Cabinet
The IVAR Cabinet is one of the most underrated IKEA pieces. It’s an unfinished pine cabinet that comes without any finish or hardware, meaning that you get to do everything and anything you want with it: paint, stain, wallpaper. Create your own perfect closed coffee bar station that’s customized for you.
7. The VITTSJO Shelving Unit
This is for all the folks out here that love a modern or dark aesthetic. It’s a metal and glass shelving unit, where you don’t really have to do anything with as it already looks intentionally made. You just need to add some accessories and small touches to turn it into a genuinely stunning coffee bar setup.
How to Hack Your IKEA Coffee Station Step by Step
1. Choose your base piece
When hacking your IKEA furniture, the first thing you need to do is to choose which IKEA item fits your space, budget, and vision. The first thing you need to do, and this is very important, is you need to measure your space. Then figure out where you want your space to live: standing by itself, on the wall, or a rolling piece.
2. Pick the finish
This is where you get to start modifying your IKEA piece. You can do this in many different ways: paint, contact paper, peel-and-stick wallpaper, and more. The most popular one is definitely paint, especially in the IKEA hacking community online. They say that it adheres nicely to the surfaces without a ton of prep work.
3. Upgrade hardware
If you feel like upgrading your furniture even further, then you should definitely think about upgrading any hardware on your IKEA piece. Depending on what your preference is, you can switch out the hardware for gold, brass, black, or ceramic. This is a cheap way to make your furniture piece look significantly more expensive.
4. Add your machine!
Now it’s time to add your machine, so you can start decorating around it. Your coffee machine is the anchor piece of your coffee setup. Make sure that it goes in first before any other coffee accessories or decor. Be thoughtful about its position, especially ensure that your outlet is close enough to plug your machine into it.
5. Grab your accessories
You’ve added your coffee machine into your brand new IKEA furniture piece and all you’re missing now are your accessories. Depending on your vibe, you can add whatever items that go with how you drink coffee: containers, a tray, mugs, even a small plant.
What You Need to Complete Your IKEA Coffee Station Hack
Here’s what you need:
Painting and finishing:
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Chalk paint or furniture paint in your chosen color
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Light grit sandpaper for prep (120-grit to 220-grit)
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A small foam roller for a smooth, even finish
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Clear wax or a topcoat for sealing and protecting
Hardware upgrades:
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Replacement drawer pulls or knobs in your finish of choice
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A basic screwdriver
Styling:
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A decorative tray
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A coffee canister
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Mug tree or under-shelf hooks
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A small plant or high-quality faux greenery
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A candle
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A small sign or piece of art for above the setup
How Much Does an IKEA Coffee Station Hack Actually Cost?
Budget version: under $75
If we’re shopping in the budget range for this project, we’re going to start with the LACK shelf. There are plenty of different shelving and furniture pieces under the LACK series, but we’re referring to this one. There’s usually a cheaper one at $15, but we’re going to go with the one we linked.
After grabbing that shelf, some chalk paint for about $15, and $30 worth of basic accessories, you can have a complete wall-mounted IKEA coffee station hack for around $75, which we think is a great value.
Mid-range version: $75-$150
Now, let’s take a look at a mid-range version. Let’s go with the RASKOG cart for $40. There are cheaper versions than the one we linked, but we think this is the best one for the price, especially the height. You add in paint and hardware update for another $30-40, plus some great accessories for $40-50, and you have yourself a rolling coffee station.
Full setup: $150-$300:
If we’re talking about a full setup, then it gets a little pricier. We’ll start with a KALLAX unit, which is anywhere from $60-100. Then add some new hardware and paint at around $40-60 and some accessories at $80-120 for what can look like a custom sideboard coffee bar.
For comparison, an actual custom built-in would run you thousands. The value here is crazy.
Your Dream Coffee Bar Is Closer Than You Think
The bottom line here is that an IKEA coffee station hack is one of the best home projects you can do because the before and after is so dramatic for the cost you’re paying. You don’t have to be a seasoned DIYer or spend a lot of money. You just have to be willing to do the work and spend the time.
The IKEA coffee station hack community is full of people who are first-time hackers as well. You can absolutely join the crew! Take it from someone who didn’t even know that you should prep before painting furniture, you can do it!
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