Built-In IKEA Havsta Hack: Kitchen Cabinets
How to create custom looking built-in cabinets using the IKEA Havsta cabinet series
Oh Ikea if only you made a home in Alabama…
Our closest Ikea is located in Georgia which isn’t too far and the distance is probably better for our bank account 😅
But when I get the chance to go and explore the giant store I always take it!
Now that we are almost (I swear we are) done with our kitchen renovation, it’s time to tackle the final giant empty wall.
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I knew I wanted custom cabinets with glass doors to go in this space so that I could display some prettier kitchen ware but also use it for some much needed storage.
The problem with custom things is that usually they are very expensive…
So to keep this part of the renovation budget friendly I decided to start with the Ikea Havsta system and go from there.
Let me show you how we transformed these prefab cabinets into built-in custom looking storage.
Built-In IKEA Havsta Hack: Kitchen Cabinets
Creating The Built-in Element
Assembling the actual Havsta cabinets went really smoothly.
It did make a while because it is so many pieces, also our attention span is kind of low…
But after we got it all built, we centered it on the wall and attached it to the studs with the hardware they provided.
Then we cut scrap 2x4s attached them into the ceiling joists.
We also attached scrap 1×3 boards to the front top of the Ikea cabinet.
Next we measured the distance from the top of the cabinet to the ceiling and ripped 3/4″ cabinet grade plywood to that width.
This piece of cabinet will create the illusion that the cabinet actually goes all the way up to the ceiling.
We nailed the plywood into the 1×3 and 2×4 boards that we already attached.
Now that the plywood fronts are attached, I moved onto attaching small trim pieces to close the gap between the plywood and cabinet.
I also added corner trim in-between the cabinet and the wall to close that gap.
After all the trim was in place I primed, sanded, primed (yes again), and finally painted the plywood and trim to match the cabinet color.
Now that the cabinet is officially built in I moved onto the other elements that make a piece of furniture look really custom.
Swapping Hardware
The Havsta cabinet came with basic, standard chrome knobs, they weren’t bad just not what I was wanting for the space.
So I found these Restoration Hardware esque brass knobs off of Amazon.
They were very budget friendly and I am amazed with the quality!
Applying Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Wallpaper is one of my favorite tricks for upgrading any piece of furniture.
It adds immediate character and really elevates plain furniture.
For this cabinet I found this gorgeous vintage floral peel and stick wallpaper.
Peel and stick wallpaper can be a hassle but it’s always worth it, find all my best tips and tricks for applying it here.
Ikea Built-In Reveal
Y’all I am so happy with how this built-in cabinet turned out!
It is exactly what I had envisioned for the space but cost a fraction of what it would have to build from scratch or custom order.
It adds that extra oomph of character our kitchen needed plus adds a ton more storage.
Let me know what you think of our new built-in cabinet and if you would consider putting Ikea in your kitchen.
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What paint brand and color did you use to match up with IKEA Havsta white cabinet?
I found that Chantilly Lace is a great match but you can also remove a door and bring it in to be color matched!
Did you install them on the baseboard that come with the cabinets? How did you do get the swelled look in the bottom?
Hi there! nope I attached them to the 2×4 pieces I added to the studs. That is just a piece of trim I attached to hide the gap!
I believe they were asking how and with what did you use to accomplish the bases of the cabinets being uniform and hiding that there were more then one cabinet used? Also, how did you seal the seems/gaps between the pieces to make them look as if it is all one piece?
Hi Kim! I didn’t do anything special I just placed them as close together as possible and added a piece of baseboard along the bottom so that they wouldn’t look like separate units. I also did not add caulk or anything to the seams because I didn’t feel it was necessary, attaching the cabinets so close together really makes the seams barely noticeable, but you could add caulk if you were unhappy with that look!
Did you attach the bookcases to each other? I’ve got 5 havsta bookcases sitting in my office waiting to be put together and am curious if I should be attaching them together?
Hi Tina, no we did not we just attached them to the wall!
Thank you for this great article! The cabinets look beautiful! I am wondering if the Havsta cabinets are a true white or slightly off-white (as they look on the IKEA website)? It’s hard to tell in photos and wondering if they will match our white doors and other trim.
Hi Christine, I would say they are a true white for sure!
Ive read that the shelves are not adjustable. In the wallpaper photo you have no shelves at all. Can I use one or two shelves only?
Hi Justine, yes I installed our shelves later and we have 3. You can adjust them & add however many you like!
hello 🙂 what collor did you use on the wall ?
Hi the color is Alabaster!