4 Stunning DIY Makeovers of Bargain Finds from IKEA’s As-Is Section

It only takes one unstructured trip to IKEA to realize this universal truth: If you don’t go in with a plan, then you can very well spend a whole day shopping there. For design enthusiasts and DIYers who visit this big-box store frequently, a game plan is often essential to keep the to-do list from becoming a never-ending wish list. And frequently, that game plan includes a quick run through IKEA’s as-is section. 

“I always stop by the as-is section before checking out, and most of the time I can find like-new items of what I already have in my cart,” says content creator and interior designer Megan Zietz. “One of my favorite finds was a round mirror in perfect condition for $25!”

When you’re sticking to a budget and want to potentially put your own spin on an item, the as-is section is an easy way to do both. “It’s a great way to get custom, designer-inspired results without spending designer prices,” says NataLee Callahan, content creator and owner at Designed to the Nines. “It’s incredibly satisfying to see how far a small investment and some creativity can go.”

Below, three DIYers share the best transformations they ever made using finds from IKEA’s as-is section. Let their ingenuity inspire you to make an extra stop on your next IKEA trip.

Zietz found a basic round mirror similar to LINDBYN for $25, and hung it in her home as-is for a year before deciding to do an afternoon DIY that transformed its look. “I glued on wooden balls and spray-painted it black to give it a little bit more character,” she says of the project.

Zietz recommends using one-and-a-half-inch round wooden balls and placing them three inches apart on the edge of the mirror with a glue gun. Be sure to spray-paint the entire surface after covering the mirror, and you’ll have a mainstay — with more personality, too. 

DIYer Trisha Sprouse jokes that by the time she reaches the as-is section at IKEA, she’s usually tired of walking. But on one occasion, she came across a steal: a NISSEDAL floor mirror. “It was in near mint condition, too — just a few barely noticeable scratches on the frame,” she says. “I had actually been looking for a pier mirror for ages and could never find one that was within my budget.” 

Sprouse found an ornate applique for the center, corbels for the sides, and decorative onlays for the bottom on Amazon, and applied them using Liquid Nails. “One coat of gold Rub ‘n Buff transformed the whole thing into a gilded beauty, and voila! I finally have a pier mirror that looks right at home with the rest of my antique decor,” she says. 

Callahan also found a RAMEBO mirror in good shape in the as-is section — the issue was that it looked a little unimpressive to start. Callahan aimed to make it look more high-end, so she lined the perimeter with half-round wood beads she spotted on Amazon, and then used Gold Leaf Rub ‘n Buff to blend them in. “The final piece looks far more expensive and elegant,” she says. 

Callahan also recommends keeping an eye out for any RAST nightstands in the as-is section, as she used one for a different DIY. In this case, she kept the base the same and swapped out the hardware for vintage-inspired pulls.

“Then I built a bookcase frame directly onto the top using leftover wood from my shop,” she says. She painted the top and bottom portions in the same taupe shade, and made the back of the bookcase stand out more with a beadboard detail finished in white. “It turned into a unique, functional piece that adds height, storage, and serious style,” Callahan adds. “Power tools are our friends!”