Three Ways to Make IVAR Your Own
IKEA's IVAR shelving has always been a blank canvas, raw pine that takes well to paint, fabric and a bit of imagination. Here are three ways Maltese owners have shaped it around their own hobbies, from plant corners to drinks cabinets.
A sunny shelf for a growing plant collection
An unfinished IVAR shelving unit works well for anyone building up a collection of plants, especially in Maltese homes where a bright balcony or window ledge is often the only growing space available. Use the lower shelves for spare pots, trays and gardening bits, keeping them out of sight but within reach, and let the upper shelves hold the plants that are furthest along. Growing cuttings in water rather than soil keeps things tidy, which matters when shelving sits close to a sofa or dining table in a compact room.
IVAR cabinet, pine, 80x30x83 cm
IVAR cabinet with doors, white, 80x83 cm
IVAR cabinet, pine, 80x50x83 cm
IVAR wall cabinet with doors, pine, 160x30x83 cm
IVAR cabinet with sliding doors, pine, 80x30x60 cm
IVAR folding table, pine, 80x30-91 cm
Giving a cabinet a soft, textured front
For a change of texture, the drawers and sides of an IVAR cabinet can be covered in fabric instead of left as plain wood. Start by drilling through for the handles, then pad the drawer fronts with wadding before stretching fabric over and securing it inside with a staple gun. The result sits somewhere between furniture and upholstery, which suits a sewing corner or craft nook where fabric scraps and patterns are already part of the room. It is a straightforward weekend project that needs no special tools beyond a drill and a staple gun.
ALEX drawer unit, white, 36x70 cm
ALEX drawer unit, black-brown, 36x70 cm
ALEX drawer unit, white stained/oak effect, 36x70 cm
ALEX storage unit, white, 36x70 cm
ALEX drawer unit, dark grey, 36x70 cm
LENNART drawer unit, white, 30x56x34 cm
Turning a cabinet into a home drinks cupboard
An IVAR cabinet with doors can be dressed up for a different kind of storage altogether. Lining the inside with mirrors helps bounce light across glassware, which makes even a small cabinet in a corner of a living room feel inviting once the doors are opened. The doors themselves take paint well, so a glazed white finish with a gold motif, or any colour that suits the room, turns a plain cabinet into something closer to a drinks cabinet than a storage unit. It is a good way to bring a bit of character to an otherwise functional piece.
Whichever version suits your home, IVAR pieces are available through Maltashopper for delivery across Malta and Gozo, ready for whatever project you have in mind.