Ikea Hacker – Ikea has many advantages; it is affordable, doesn’t require a moving company as most products and assembly kits fit into a medium sized family car. In addition, the assembly itself is rather simple and often is also fun. It’s kind of like Lego for grownups. On the other hand, there is a big disadvantage to Ikea:  what you see is what you get. You can’t request a different color, different size or different design.

Ikea Hacker refuses to come to terms with these restrictions and displays many examples of how people have modified what they bought from Ikea into something else that’s more creative and rewarding. Some of these DIY projects seem bizarre, I’ll admit, but for the most part, they are practical and inspiring. Below are before and after pictures of the hack that impressed me the most. For more hacks check out Ikea Hacker’s top picks for 2007, 2008 and 2009.