IKEA is everyone’s favourite budget-friendly megastore. But therein lies the problem – the whole world and his wife owns the same Billy bookcase.

The wonderful thing about IKEA’s mind-bendingly affordable, build-it-yourself furniture is that it lends itself to a good hack. With a bit of imagination and a few tools, you can transform it into something utterly unique.

To get you inspired to try your own, I rounded up some of the most creative IKEA hacks on the web. Here are my top picks:

Floating Bookshelves by Teste di Legno

These floating shelves look high-end and expensive but cost less than £100 to put together. It’s a clever reimagining of some really simple, readily available elements: shelves and (painted) brackets.  The brackets are positioned in such a way that supports the shelves so the unit is freestanding.

Tapered Leg Coffee Table by Triple Max Tons

All new homeowners have either bought, or been gifted a ‘Lack’ table. They’re as synonymous with IKEA as meatballs and little pencils. They’re cheap, durable and practical. But they’re not especially exciting. Kirsten at Triple Max Tons gave hers a mid-century makeover by swapping the standard chunky legs for elegant tapered ones. It’s a really quick project that gives the coffee table a designer look.

Dresser to Desk by In My Own Style

This hack is a lot more involved than most, but the end result is quite special. Diane started with the Tarva Chest of Drawers and created a rolling secretary desk. I love the little details, like the gold hardware and pull-down drawer. Full instructions are provided on her blog if you feel like tackling this challenging hack yourself.

Basket turned Cat Bed by Brit + Co

This is one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ hacks. A basket has been turned on its side, secured to the wall and fitted out with a blanket to create a cosy, safe space for your furry friends. If you want more amazing pet-themed hacks, check out the IKEA Hackers site.

Mid-Century Sideboard by IKEA Hackers

Another hit of mid-century charm and another low cost hack that looks really high-end, this time in the shape of a sideboard. This hack takes an Expedit bookcase and literally turns it on its side. The maker added stained plywood sheets and salvaged legs to give it its stylish two-tone finish.