We don't have a ton of storage space in our house. We don't have a basement. We're thinking about buying a bunch of Ikea cabinets (from their kitchen department) to use as both storage and an office desk for my wife. We were originally just going to build something using the BESTA line, but they're only 15 inches deep. The kitchen cabinets are 24 inches deep.
Does anyone have experience using Ikea furniture in this way? I feel a little bit strange using their kitchen cabinets to build an office desk. Not sure if I might run into some issues that I'm not thinking of (like routing power cables - I already know this is going to be a headache, or the fact that this desk will be a few inches higher than a normal desk).
Here's a link to the Ikea planner I'm using, and photos of the actual space. We'll be keeping another office desk in this room, too (as shown in the photo). https://imgur.com/a/n8cBoAW
Videos
My husband and I built an office space for him in our main living area. We used 2 Billy Bookcases, 2 Sektion Base Cabinets and a Karlby walnut counter top. Whole project took about 3 days. We have a few little touch ups and some decorating to do but I’m really happy with the result! Before and after included.
This is my second ikea hack, this one a little more complex than the first I posted about at the end of last year.
My wife wanted a builtin desk with storage for our office instead of the hodgepodge space we were currently using.
Didn’t know I’d be doing some electrical work during this, but the only outlet we had was the one below the desk so I added the one above for all the cords. There was also an old box on the left wall the would be half-covered with trim so I took that out and patched the wall.
A lot of challenges with this one. It was fun and each time something new came up, I panicked at first, thought the project was ruined and then started problem solving.
Is it perfect? No! But hearing my wife exclaim, “I’ve always seen these on Pinterest and now it’s in our house!” made it all worth it.
I built it and she painted it and we are glad we added the wallpaper in the center.
That was a lot of fun but I’m glad it’s finished.
We're looking at blogs discussing install without plinth/toe kick to bring base cabinets to desk height. Flooring is vinyl plank. There will be butcher block installed as desk surface.
A contractor will be helping, but he has not done Ikea cabinets anywhere but kitchen. Ikea has ordering sheets to place order without the toe kicks and support feet. Just want to know if I should be planning to put cabinets on ply supports or such for clearance of drawers/doors, or inherent support.
edit to add I am planning on several floor cabinets that are 24" deep. We want the cabinet and counter to be as close to "normal" desk height as possible.
given 30" cab, a ply base and countertop surface we're at 32" tall. I believe anchoring them on steel rails on wall to be best idea thus far.
edit to add I just hired an Ikea virtual designer to figure this out. I will share results later promise
Instead of getting the ikea particleboard countertop, my bf convinced me to get wood counter top/butcher block. I ordered a teak countertop from Lowes and I love how it turned out🥰