The joy of being organised

‘I love arranging things, for me it’s a pleasure in itself. My husband Dennis often laughs at my perfectionist nature even though he enjoys the benefits. I was the oldest sister in my family and was always taking care of my siblings and the house, so maybe it stems from that. Being in control of my surroundings boosts my sense of purpose and wellbeing.’

Upcycle old containers

Personalise your kitchen in small and sustainable ways by finding new uses for old items. ‘I use vintage teacups as measuring jugs and old sample bottles for spices, which I put chalk labels on,’ says Mona.

Repurpose your storage

Try bathroom storage in other rooms, too. ‘This hanging IKEA basket is perfect for storing small items in my kitchen and I can see what’s inside at a glance,’ says Mona. ‘I spray-painted it black to match the shelves.’

Make recycling easy for everyone

Labelling matching storage saves time searching and sorting, while keeping the look simple. ‘I made these handmade tags for my recycling bins so that all our family and guests know what to put where,’ says Mona.

Make guests feel at home

‘Growing up, I remember an open-door policy where loved ones were always made welcome. That’s a tradition I wanted to continue with Dennis and we love having people over for brunch. I lay the table with individual settings for each person, candles and freshly-cut flowers or ferns – it means every get-together feels really special.’

Create a flexible living space

‘The living room is many things. It’s my second workspace when I write my blog posts on the sofa in the evenings, but we love to eat in there too. Then, with lots of cushions and soft throws, it’s also a lovely safe space for our daughter Kalea to play. I recently made her a teepee – she loves having a little hideaway that’s still close to us.’

Pet-friendly and practical

With animals, find ways to make looking after your home easier. ‘We all love our dog Maya and two cats,’ says Mona. ‘I made a grey cover for our beige sofa from IKEA fabric as it shows less dirt.’

Mix storage in a kid’s room

Box inserts for shelving are great for toys while stackable cardboard boxes work well for small items. ‘The storage in Kalea’s room will make it easier for her to begin tidying up herself as she grows,’ says Mona.

Customise in small ways

Personalising Kalea’s room is one of the ways Mona makes it unique. ‘Here and there I’ve added my own touches, like changing the handles on the drawers and wardrobe doors.’

A bedroom to unwind in

Turn your bedroom into a relaxing retreat. ‘We use ours as a second living room,’ says Mona. ‘When Kalea naps, I like to sit in the cosy chair with a magazine and put my feet up. It’s a small break, but a treasured one.’

A streamlined walk-in wardrobe

Maximise your dressing area without compromising on storage. ‘By using shallow BILLY shelves for my shoes instead of deeper ones and leaving the doors off the PAX wardrobes I could even fit in a chair,’ says Mona.

A family bathroom for sharing

Make your bathroom somewhere everyone can use at the same time. ‘The double sink and rug mean Dennis can brush his teeth while I do my makeup and Kalea plays,’ says Mona. ‘We each have our own storage too.’

We love to see our customers get creative with our products. Go for it! But please note that altering or modifying IKEA products so they can no longer be re-sold or used for their original purpose, means the IKEA commercial guarantees and your right to return the products will be lost.

Made by
Photography: Michael Sinclair
Styling: Ashlyn Gibson
ichliebedeko.de