Kelly Meharg channels her inner Swede with a whole room makeover with IKEA NZ – here’s how she designed (and built, of course) a practical but also chic entranceway.
Capsule x IKEA
When we bought our first home, we hit the jackpot in the sense that 90% of our 50s baby bungalow had just been through a full reno, and my husband and I, being people who, frankly, suck at things like painting, plastering and sanding, were thrilled.
However there was one space that had remained untouched since God knows when – our entranceway or, as my sister-in-law dubbed it upon seeing it, our mudroom (mudroom sounds SO much classier, no?).
What wasn’t classy was how we were treating this dud of a space – as a dumping ground. Boxes, random stuff that needed to be taken to the hospice shop, shoes, jackets… it’s this Virgo’s idea of unorganised hell.
The very unglamorous before
So, off I toddled to IKEA with a dream, fully intending to truly embrace that Swedish/Kiwi DIY spirit, and here’s what happened (TL:DR – outsource, baby!).
Good storage solutions – we all want them, none of us have them
When IKEA first came to Aotearoa they commissioned a study to fully understand the needs of us Kiwis compared to the rest of the world and yeah, turns out we’re a bit weird. The IKEA team were wildly flummoxed that we all use our garages for storage instead of storing cars, and they found that 88% of us have cluttered entryways because of a lack of storage options. I wrote at the time:
Our entryways are crap – Because of the weather and general lack of space, 88% of us have cluttered entryways – filled with shoes, most of all (omg did they come into my house?!). We tend to take our shoes and coats off at the door but then have nowhere to put them. Things like bags, coats, shoes, prams, sports bags and keys are just kind of dumped haphazardly – but we’re also annoyed by this and want more clever storage solutions (luckily, we know a guy!?).
Ok cool, so I don’t change.
This new house is no different – a little West Auckland bungalow with a lovely back deck, but no storage apart from a garage that isn’t weatherproof. The mudroom is our best opportunity to add in some practical storage solutions for the house, but I also wanted it to function as a nice, welcoming entryway into the house. Could I have both?!
IKEA have interior design experts!?
Here’s where it gets cool – turns out, IKEA have a whole host of resources to help you realise your storage dreams (can you imagine my little Virgo soul through this?!).
I sat down with IKEA’s team and chatted through what I was after – functional but stylish, minimal but warm and cosy. The space is little and it’s beat-up – there are chips in the paint, the tiles have marks, there are no power outlets and in a perfect world, it would have a full paint (I hate that blue colour) but you know, cossie livs. I wanted storage that had doors, because I detest clutter on display, and we needed something for our shoes because we just got a puppy and shoes are like Corgi crack. Can miracles happen?
The team, led by interior design expert Clara, listened to my ramblings and followed my enthusiastic and definitely not smooth video tour (“here’s another wall!”) and after a day or two, came back to me with a full PDF document with the room recreated with the measurements provided, and three different configurations to choose from, complete with accessories and furnishings, and a product list and moodboard.
Here they are:
After a couple of weekend sessions building, organising and styling – here it is!
Honestly, I was blown away by all of these, because Clara managed to fit so much more into the space – while also making it look gorgeous – than I could have ever envisioned. A full wardrobe, despite the narrow space, an eight-pair shoe storage cabinet that took up next to no space and a deep bench that doubles as heaps of storage and a place to put on shoes make up the big storage solutions.
And then there are the genius little things that give the room some personality – a coat rack that doubles as an umbrella stand and, in our house, Croc storage, wall hooks for dog leads and caps, a mirror to make sure we’ve removed all the Corgi fluff before we leave the house, and even a lovely photo of us on Mustard’s first day at home.
A sheepskin, squishy pillows and a practical rug give the room some softness, and the genius addition of the paper blinds allows light in but keeps the neighbour’s eyes out. And then, the handy little catch-all bowl for my handbag essentials, and a few pieces of décor for personality – even a rechargeable lamp for some mood lighting, which I didn’t think was possible thanks to the no power point situation. A dream.
At the end of it all I just stood in the room and stared at it all – was this really the same room? I even liked the blue walls! How the hell did that happen? (Full list of products used is at the end of this story.)
The Process – Building a Room from Scratch
I won’t lie, when the boxes all came at once I was… very overwhelmed. But I’m one of those people who likes assembling flat pack stuff. The key is one step at a time – there’s no point in looking at the finished picture and trying to figure out how to get there all at once! Trust the process, make sure all of the panels are facing the right way as you go, and have access to a drill. I didn’t run into any problems at all, apart from the second shoe cabinet not fitting because it turns out I don’t know how to use a tape measure.
But it’s all part of the experience, right – and any frustrations you have are more than eclipsed by the sense of achievement you have when you’re finished (and also, you have 365 days to return stuff if it’s unopened, so no dramas!). I’m kind of sad it’s over, to be honest.
Now, visitors walk into a welcoming space, with room to take off their shoes and pop their bags down. I have a space where I can store a whole lot more household stuff, and the clever use of space and colour has meant my urge to repaint the room has gone away for now.
But finally, my home feels like… a home.
Building the Whole Room with IKEA… How You Can Have This Experience Too
Right, you’ve read all this and you’re thinking, nice for some. But if you’re like me and you’re wanting to transform an entire space, you can 100% do what I did, and here’s the process – and great news, a lot of it’s free!
- IKEA In-Store or Virtual Planning Services: If you’re wanting help planning your kitchen, wardrobe, laundry or living room, you can book a free 60-minute appointment with one of IKEA’s specialists who can walk you through options and give you the best solutions for your needs.
- IKEA Interior Design Service: Potentially the best $169 you’ll spend, one of IKEA’s interior designers will come through with a fully-designed room for you, just like I had. They’ll provide you with personalised tips and ideas, a mood board with products, colours and finishes, room layouts and options, 3D drawings, a shopping list and a 30-minute follow-up meeting so you can ask any questions. (This is only for IKEA Family members, but it’s free to join).
- PAX/ BILLY Planning Tools: If you’re going to go down a true DIY route, this handy little feature on the website is going to be your new best friend and have you feeling like you’re in an adult version of The Sims: You can customise your wardrobes or shelves with the planning tool, adding on doors, extra frames and corner units depending on your space, as well as customising colours, handles and all of the inside stuff (they even have ready-made configurations if you don’t know where to start). This is a godsend because IKEA’s stuff is so customisable, it can be a bit overwhelming without a bit of inspiration and direction. You can also save your planning if you’re like me and you have four different projects on the go for the future (I now have grand plans for the home office, the outside deck and even a built-in shelving unit for the living room – pray for my husband).
- IKEA Kreativ: You can scan your room in the IKEA app and drop 3D IKEA products into it to see if the size and vibes are right before you buy.
PRODUCT LIST:
Storage and furniture
· STÄLL shoe cabinet with 4 compartments, white, 96x17x90cm – $229.00
· PAX wardrobe frame, white, 50x35x201cm – $240.00
· GULLABERG door, white, 50x195cm – $130.00
· SMÅSTAD bench with toy storage, white/white, 90x52x48cm – $165.00
· KOMPLEMENT pull-out multi-use hanger, white, 35cm – $15.00
· KOMPLEMENT clothes rail, white, 50x35cm – $20.00
· KOMPLEMENT shelf, white, 50x35cm – $20.00
· KOMPLEMENT soft closing hinge – $30.00
· BAGGANÄS handle, black, 335mm – $25.00
· VARIERA cover cap, white – $3.00
· ÄLGANÄS hat and coat stand, black, 173x33cm – $49.99
Soft furnishings and styling
· RIDSTIG rug, flatwoven, grey/off-white, 80x180cm – $49.99
· STOPP FILT rug underlay with anti-slip, 123x185cm – $14.99
· SANELA cushion cover, dark blue, 40x58cm – $11.99
· ÅSVEIG cushion cover, grey-brown, 50x50cm – $14.99
· FJÄDRAR cushion pad, off-white, 50x50cm – $15.00
· FJÄDRAR cushion pad, grey, 40x58cm – $15.00
· NISSEDAL mirror, black, 40x150cm – $59.99
· SANNAHED frame, black, 50x50cm – $34.99
· STOCKHOLM 2025 candlestick/tealight holder, black, 6cm – $39.99
· PELARKAKTUS bowl, green, 16cm – $4.99
· JUVELTRAST scented candle in glass, vanilla light yellow $12.99
· FLÅDIS basket, seagrass 25cm – $19.99
· ULLERSLEV sheepskin, off white – $75.99
Plants and greenery
· FEJKA artificial potted plant, Golden Pothos/hanging, 12cm – $14.99
· FEJKA artificial potted plant, in/outdoor/hanging, 9cm – $11.99 x2 ($23.98)
· KLYNNON plant pot, handmade bamboo, 12cm – $9.99
· KNIPSA basket, seagrass, 32x33x32cm – $39.99
· CHILISTRÅN hanging planter, in/outdoor, white, 12cm – $29.99
Window
· SCHOTTIS Pleated blind, white, 90×190 cm x 2 – $7.99 ($15.98)
Lighting and power
· NÖDMAST LED portable lamp, battery operated, white/black, 26cm – $29.99
· KÖLVATTEN LED lighting with sensor, white/battery-operated, 30cm – $19.99
TOTAL: $1482.78
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