The Home Decor Hack That Instantly Elevates The Look Of An IKEA KALLAX

IKEA's KALLAX shelves make for incredible storage, and their open shelf units certainly lend themselves to becoming a focal point in their own right. However, there's a way to take that a step further. All you need to do is put an accent wall behind it. 

As seen on @boho_emma's TikTok, the simple addition of wallpaper behind an open-shelved KALLAX makes a massive difference to the space. Suddenly, a room with interesting, though not entirely original, open shelving becomes a showstopper. That said, even though it gives the impression that a celebrity interior designer had a hand in the project, this is a super affordable hack to replicate. 

Assuming you already have your KALLAX (or another open-shelving unit), all you need for this DIY is some wallpaper. With so many peel-and-stick options available on the market, you could get away with spending around $8 for a roll of wallpaper on Amazon. Plus, it's also not permanent and won't damage walls, meaning renters can rest easy that they won't lose their deposit in trying to transform their space from average to luxurious. But, there is one thing to keep in mind when trying the hack at home, renter or not. 

The wide variety of peel-and-stick wallpaper is both a blessing and a curse. After all, the wrong wallpaper can lead to some serious clashing between your furniture and walls. To avoid that, it's wise to pick a wallpaper that pairs well with the color of your KALLAX. 

What makes @boho_emma's project work so well is that the wallpaper pattern is black on white. That means her white KALLAX shelves cover the wall seamlessly while still providing contrast. That's not to say you have to stick to just black and white wallpaper, though. A white KALLAX unit would pair beautifully with a white and sage green wallpaper (starting at $7.99 on Amazon), or even something bolder, like a floral (around $17.50 on Amazon). The key is that the wallpaper includes the color of your KALLAX in a noticeable way. The same logic can be applied to a black KALLAX. Paired with random pastels on a light background, the KALLAX would likely look a little out of place. Paired with pastel flowers on a black background (starting at $9.99 on Amazon), it provides a professional-looking polish. 

Naturally, home design isn't an exact science, so there's always a chance that, even if you match your KALLAX to your wallpaper, it could still look slightly "off." Don't rush to paint your IKEA KALLAX, though. The beauty of peel-and-stick is that you can simply remove the wallpaper if it's too jarring. Low risk, high reward!