IKEA HAVSTA, the new favourite for built-in bookshelves

Move over HEMNES, IKEA HAVSTA is taking over.

The quote for a bespoke bookcase was over £3K. We rolled up our shelves and hacked ourselves an IKEA HAVSTA built-in bookcase. We love that we get the bespoke looking finish for the IKEA price!

IKEA HAVSTA storage combination built-in hack

Watch the transformation on our Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jo • The New Front Wall • (@thenewfrontwall)

The project took around a week and cost about £1200.

IKEA items used:

4 x IKEA HAVSTA storage combination

HAVSTA storage combination | Photo: IKEA.com | Buy on IKEA.com

Other materials and tools:

MDF
Saw
Drill
Screws
Decorators caulk
Wagner paint sprayer
Paint primer
Paint
Varnish
Door handles

IKEA HAVSTA built-in bookshelf hack instructions:

1. Assemble the IKEA HAVSTA units. (We decided to omit the back lip of the shelf. Refer to photo above of the original HAVSTA to see it.)

2. Screw the units to each other.

3. Then, place an MDF piece across the bottom to create a uniformed looking “plinth”.

4. Add MDF to each side and across the top of the units using batons.

5. Add the coving across the top so it looks like a continuation of the wall.

6. Use decorators caulk to hide all the joints.

7. Next, remove the doors for ease of painting.

8. Prime the units and mdf. (You can can use a paint sprayer or do it by hand.)

9. Paint the entire unit. We used a sprayer and saved loads of time.

10. Seal the paint using a clear paint varnish.

11. Put the doors back on.

12. Add new handles.

Done!

What was the hardest part about this hack?

Realising we needed a primer after we started to paint!

What to pay special attention to?

Take time to practice using a sprayer before starting as there is a bit of knack to it!

Looking back, would you have done it differently?

Sprayed the whole unit with a primer first!

~ by Jo @thenewfrontwall

The post IKEA HAVSTA, the new favourite for built-in bookshelves appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

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