Plants add a fresh and homely atmosphere to any room or style – and they’re so easy to come by! Ask friends, family and neighbours for plants or seedlings they can spare, or simply grow seeds. Here are some more green tips from Simson, IKEA Sweden.

“I like large plants, but the plant pots tend to cost a lot, so I use waste bins for a couple of euros each instead. These take ten litres and work just fine, they even look a bit like terracotta pots. You just need to cut a hole in the bottom. Then I have inexpensive shoe mats as floor protection.”

Simson Sundman

IKEA Sweden

These shoe cabinets are an IKEA classic – budget-friendly, good-looking and incredibly space-saving. They can make life easier by keeping shoes, but also important papers and all sorts of small but important things, in order.

“I’m so happy about them because they’re perfect for storing lots of different things, like scarves, keys, my phone chargers, umbrellas, towels for my cat, mail and bills – you name it!”

Miriam Almagro

IKEA Spain

Are you dealing with the architectural challenges of a slanted ceiling? Get inspired by this tip from Giada, IKEA Switzerland.

“Welcome to my walk-in closet! The ceiling is slanted, so I’ve used fairly low chests of drawers, and a clothes rail attached to the ceiling with two hooks and two loading straps that let you adjust the height. This open, airy solution is great for coats and clothes that have been used but aren’t ready to be washed yet.”

Giada Scannapieco

IKEA Switzerland

Narrow hallways and corridors are hard to furnish, but you can use the walls for other things, like putting up family photos, beautiful textile patterns or holiday postcards. Or maybe display a colourful collection of children’s drawings? Here’s some inspiration.

“Our hallway isn’t wide enough to place any furniture there, so we use the wall to add functionality and decorations. Wooden hangers with clips are perfect for creating a gallery of kids’ drawings, while fun hooks at the right height for the kids help them remember their stuff. A photo of a plant is nice, too, since there’s little room for actual plants.”

Jorge Da Cunha Gonçalves

IKEA Switzerland

Changing the look of a space can be as easy as hanging a throw, quilt cover or curtain over a clothes rack. Monalisha, IKEA India, uses clothes racks on wheels as room dividers, for decorating her apartment and for shielding off light when resting.

“I live in a small apartment, and when I have friends over, I use a clothes rack with a piece of fabric as an affordable and flexible room divider, creating a little bit of privacy for my sleeping area. It’s smart, simple, movable and works really well.”

Monalisha

IKEA India