IKEA's new IVAR shelving unit is an instant classic — here's how to use it in every room

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This multi-functional furniture piece will work almost anywhere in your home

IKEA
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

My house is currently going through an IKEA pine wood furniture phase. I just love their pine wood range, mostly because of its affordability, but also, you can customize these pine wood pieces to suit the scheme of your rooms.

New to this collection this year is the IVAR Shelving Unit, which is just $150 and measures more than 48" high.

Designed for use in any room of your home, the IVAR brings an abundance of smart storage to any room — living room, kitchen, home office, or even a laundry room or pantry. The IVAR offers a large rolling storage box that sits at the bottom of the unit. There are also 2 box shelves, with dividers that you can remove to suit your space, and one top shelf.

IKEA IVAR Shelving Unit
IKEA IVAR Shelving Unit: $150 at IKEA

With heaps of space at an affordable price, there are so many ways to use IKEA's latest storage essential.

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1. First, give it a lick of paint, or a stain

Paintbrush and roller with paint pots

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If it'll be going in your living room or bedroom, or any other cozy space, you might want to customize this piece of furniture and paint it the same color as the walls of the room it'll be living inside. This way, it'll blend seamlessly to this space, and it won't stick out like a sore thumb.

There's also the option that you could paint a vertical stripe design on it, which is so on trend right now. Make use of Frog Tape and do this easy hack to make it look double its price tag.

Otherwise, there's also the option of staining this shelving unit, if you'd prefer a better finish or for it to be a darker wood.

2. Use it to organize a laundry room (and your cleaning supplies!)

Should you be lucky enough to have a room dedicated to doing laundry, this shelf unit is the perfect add-on for this space. It'll help keep things ultra organized, while we'd suggest staining it if you're going to use it around anything wet. Otherwise, the box shelves are handy for holding all of your cleaning supplies and laundry must-haves so that you can easily grab and go. Think also, extra toilet rolls and paper towels. Here, you could keep your vacuum cleaner accessories, too, and even your steamer or iron.

Underneath, in its roll-out drawer, you can either: use for your next laundry load, or keep free for all of those extra towels you own, to store when they are clean, instead of in your bathroom.

On its top shelf, put those things that you use daily, to keep them in your eyeline, and to remind you to do those important jobs.

3. Use it for extra pantry storage

IKEA IVAR shelving unit

(Image credit: IKEA)

Got an empty wall in your pantry? There's no need to go drilling any holes or putting any shelves up when this is just $150. A smart way to store and separate foods, the box shelves are great for holding things like bakery items, to keep them in easy reach, as well as your bagged pasta and rice collection.

Underneath, in its removable drawer, you could put all of that extra cookware that's constantly clogging your kitchen cabinets. Or all of those meal prep containers you hate storing away. Truly, the options are endless when this is placed in your kitchen or pantry.

4. In your home office

The only way to store all of those folders, the stationery you're obsessed with but never use and won't get rid of, and anything else that you need for WFH days.

Hide away eyesore items in its rollable drawer, and use the open boxes for neatly organizing your things. On its top shelf, you can spruce up this space with some decor — frames, a small rechargeable light... you get the idea.

5. Place it in the kids' playroom, for extra toy storage

IKEA IVAR shelving unit

(Image credit: IKEA)

Ahh, the playroom. A place you tidy 25 times a day yet it still never looks great. Start using up vertical space and leave more floorspace for them to climb and go crazy. The rolling box can be pulled out by the kids, so here you can store their train set, or another big toy that's often used but that you don't want on the floor all of the time.

Then, make use of the dividers in the open boxes to separate toys by type, e.g. soft, hard plastic, figurines, jigsaws...

Hide anything away on the top that you don't want them to reach, but remember to attach this unit to the wall in a play room, as there's always the chance they will try and climb it and it could tumble over.

6. Large entryway? Let this become center-stage and contain your shoes and more

IKEA IVAR shelving unit

(Image credit: IKEA)

An entryway is a room that quickly gets messy. Mine is tiny, and it's the one part of my home I wish I could change. Having enough shoe storage is a must-have, but everyone always forgets about winter gear — hats, scarves, gloves, umbrellas, the kids' rain suits — and then summer rolls around and there are even more shoes to store. Use this unit for everyone's things. Handbags and resuable shopping bags in one open box, and in the other, the kids' bookbags.

Use the rolling storage, along with some drawer dividers to separate and store your winter items and summer clothing. Or even for all of your shoes, which, let's be honest, will fill this entire large box.

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Annie Collyer
Annie Collyer
Freelance Contributor

Annie is a freelancer at Tom's Guide. She's been an Editor at various home magazines for 7 years — reviewing and writing about everything from cleaning products to air fryers and mattresses. Annie started her career at Real Homes as Deals Editor in 2018 and by 2020 she was the UK Shopping Editor at Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, and Ideal Home. She was in charge of the majority of eCommerce content on these sites, including reviews and buying guides. Now, as a freelancer, she writes features, reviews, and guides for several brands including BBC Good Food, Ideal Home, and Parade Home & Garden.

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