No More Muddling in the Mudroom - thanks to an Ikea Hack

When we were planning our Ryan home we had a few opportunities to either have them finish something for us, or to do it ourselves. One of these spots was the mudroom. We weren’t wild about the option, or about mortgaging it. We decided to do it shortly after moving in. With two small humans and the midst of the Pennsylvania Winter, we decided the time was now. We used an Ikea hack to save time and money. Let me show you how we did it.

Our Ikea Hack for Transforming the Mudroom

The Plan

Knitting in the Park's mudroom makeover using an Ikea Hack

Most often our designs align. However on this project, my husband and I actually had different ideas. I wanted more of a built in look and he wanted more of a bench and wall feature. The Ikea hack was part of his design. We decided to show each other our thoughts and then combine them. Together we did some scrolling on Pinterest. Combining our ideas was easy enough, but I have to admit that I wasn’t set on using the Ikea hack at first. The storage didn’t seem optimal at first and the color was wrong. Two things we would remedy.

We also planned to hit Lowe’s for some trim pieces to make the wall look more finished, and a shelf to finish it off as well as draw your eye up toward the ceiling.

Off to Hack Ikea

We chose the Hemnes bench for our Ikea hack. There were a few different options but this one fit our space and needs the best. This bench is designed for use as a TV cabinet which makes it a bit too high. Together, we trimmed the legs down so the bench measures __ high. We painted the bench with Benjamin Moore SCUFF-X paint in Hale Navy. We later would attach the bench to the wall so that it did not move around.

The Overall Design

Mapping Out the Design

hacking an ikea bench for a mudroom makeover

Our overall design involved a geometric pattern on the wall. Trim would be cut, installed and painted in order to achieve this look. First we needed to map out the design. Painters tape enabled us to see the full design as it would look in the mudroom. The features of painters tape meant that we could try and try again until we got it just right.

By schooling, I’m a two dimensional design minor. I love playing with positive and negative space. Together we played with design rules and came up with something we both loved.

My next step involved sketching the lines out so that we could better measure. My son also loved pulling the painters tape off the wall. Then we were able to make our measurements and purchase the trim that we needed.

Paint

This being a busy area of our house we decided to continue to use the SCUFF-X paint rather than another base. Typically we use the Ben base for walls. This latex base means that the paint will hold up to scuffs, scratches, and clean off rather easily. With the walls primed, we set about creating our design.

I got ahead of my hubs with his work schedule so I painted the wall around our design. It turned out my lines weren’t perfectly square so it saved some work but not as much as I’d hoped. Once the trim was on the wall we were able to finish the painting together. We also painted our Ikea hack bench seat.

Hooks

Looking for hooks sent me down a rabbit hole. I looked and looked for something that was simple, gold, or that would create a spark. And then, I found it! These golden bird hooks add just the right amount of detail. They’re sturdy yet delicate looking. I’m in love.

Shelf

For the shelf we simply bought two long and one short piece of lumber from Lowes. We sanded down the edges of these pieces and built an “L” shaped shelf. Then, we cut smaller triangles and used them to shore up the shelf and give it strength so that I could accessorize later.