Not wanting to start a stampede to the utopia of Swedish design, but you’re going to want to go start the car. Yes Babyologists, we’re going to Ikea with this post, turning all the things from ho-hum to epic with brilliantly clever DIY hacks. And yes, you’re going to want one of everything. Ready to follow the arrows? Like so many others, I adore Ikea. After all, their kitchen spatulas are second to none and don’t get me started on the Kallax. But holy Swedish meatballs, a Pinterest search has brought to light just how clever some Ikea fans are in taking the handy, budget friendly Scandinavian pieces to the next level – and then four levels above that – to reach pure brilliance. There’s the kids Duktig Play Kitchen ($199), likely to be the jewel in the DIYer’s crown. I’ve seen so many of these little gems with stunning makeovers, I’m sure I need at least four or five. We adore Design Evolving‘s fresh white and subway tile take on it. Little Village‘s sweet vintage wallpaper look (pictured top) is also a winner in our book.

It’s frankly hard to believe you can buy the Lätt children’s table and chairs set for $40. But then you can completely kit it out with paint, a chalkboard top and all the bells and whistles to create the ultimate crafting station. Head to Style Your Senses for the full run down on how to make your own. I don’t care if paint dipping is so 2014, I still love it all the same and I’m sure I can make some room for Style Me Pretty’s DIY Dipped Stools. We don’t have the Skogsta stools here in Australia, but you can use the Flisat ($25) or the Frosta ($15) for a similar look. Cheap as chips and pretty to boot! Even the simple Bekväm step stool ($18) gets a complete new look. This Little Street shows us how a lick of paint and some funky wallpaper off-cuts can transform this plain Jane. A bedside table with the double act of a dolls house? You can have all of that as seen here on the Ikea blog, using the Stuva storage unit ($125). Ruby’s bedroom tour over at Apartment Therapy shows us an Ikea Mosslanda picture rail ($15) makes for a fantastic shelving option to display a library of picture books.

The Skubb hanging shoe storage ($6) is perfect for sorting and storing Barbie and her pals. victoria ghost chair saleThe crew will never be caught in a hair tangled mess again with this easy peasy storage idea from Chatelaine.used office chairs detroit When is a bed more than a bed? clear desk chair targetWhen the Kura reversible bed ($299) gets a magical makeover from The Divine Living Space. when to buy the pushchair I love the Ekorre rocking moose ($69) so much so we had one for our little guy. ski lift chair furniture

But boy, I’m positively swooning having seen it transformed into a sheep, Sarah Sherman Samuel style!fabric office chairs melbourne The go-to place for DIY Lego storage, Ikea has some seriously wonderful storage solutions. used electric leather recliner chairs for saleThat Crafty Juls shows us the Trofast frame ($99) is a neat piece, providing ample surface area on top for base plates. wedding chair covers rental torontoColour code your Lego pieces using the Trofast drawers ($4 each).retro salon chairs for sale May the force be with you DIYers, from flat pack to full hack!The Boori received the most votes in the cot category.

Cots have very much become a style statement in the nursery. No longer just a bed for the first years of baby's life, many now transform into larger beds which last much longer and even become other pieces of furniture down the track. When new parents are seeking a cot for their babies, they first look at their budget then think about what style they would like and whether it's important that the cot last through several children or more. Our winning brand this year is a long-time favourite over many years in the baby industry, with many parents now with teens having purchased this trusted brand of cot for their first children. Boori incorporates the very best in contemporary trends and classic heritage, drawing on the best influences from around the world. It's a trusted brand which creates its products with versatility and longevity of use in mind, to make family life easier and deliver great long term value. Boori has won this category two years in a row, indicating long-term loyalty from our readers.

(See more of the Boori range.) Read what our members love about Boori cot: Easy to drop side and bub will continue to use as a toddler. Sleek, simple and stylish. Converts to toddler bed so suitable to 5 years. Easy drop down side. Solid, great quality - lasts through the kids and still looks stylish!! Love that it can be converted into a double bed, it's expensive but will last till they're in primary school! Grotime designs embrace classic, modern and contemporary styles with its four-in-one cots providing a lifetime of gorgeous furniture for your home. Grotime furniture expands from bassinet to cot to junior bed, and then day bed/sofa, giving parents phenomenal value for money. (See more of the Grotime range.) Read what our members love about Grotime furniture: All in one cot that converts to a daybed then a toddler bed, comes with change table attached that converts to side drawers. Drawers are great for hidden storage. Teething guards on railing, easy to drop side, storage drawer can be attached underneath the cot.

Easy to assemble, affordable kit which caters from.birth with a bassinet, to the older years as it turns into a full sized single bed. Sturdy, collapsible sides, teething bars, turns into a toddler bed. With twins this means we don't have to pay out another lot of money for bigger beds when they outgrow their cot.   IKEA has become the first choice of many Australian parents who can choose from a range of bright, safe and sturdy cribs at great prices. Flat pack furniture is affordable, transportable and can be constructed and taken apart easily, making this a favourite cot brand with Essential Baby readers. (See more of the IKEA cot range.) Read what our members love about IKEA cots: We wanted a cot that was white, simple design and wasn't going to be the feature of the room. Also it was a great price! Has everything you need without the large price and converts to a toddler bed. Ikea's cot is the best in the business, giving my baby the space to dream, without giving me any stress as a new Mum!

This cot is very inexpensive but doesn't look or feel cheap. The quality has gotten a lot better over the years and I think IKEA has now developed very good quality flat pack furniture. Tasman Eco makes a wide range of popular baby furniture. The cots are not only stringently tested for safety and quality, they also convert to junior beds and are stylishly designed to suit contemporary parents. (See more of the Tasman Eco range.) Read what our members love about Tasman Eco cot: Lovely simple & classic design. Great quality product, easy to drop down side gate and wood is soft for those inevitable trips in the sleeping bag! The ends of cot are more solid than basic slats.  It is bigger size and mattress is so soft.  My bubs just sleeps in it most of time as so comfortable. It's big, it's solid, it came with a lifetime warranty. We damaged the drop bar twice (my husband had installation issues) and they replaced it both times no charge and also helped us set it up when required.