The Stunning IKEA HEMNES Upgrade That Disguises Shoe Storage For A Better Look

Organizing all your shoes and keeping them tidy is no small feat. Whether you drop them next to the door on your way inside, toss them on your closet floor, or put them on a cluttered and exposed shoe rack in your home's entryway, it's time for a much needed shoe storage upgrade. The HEMNES shoe cabinet from IKEA with two large compartments and a small drawer (which costs $170) not only keeps your shoes tidy and tucked away but is also functional and efficient to use in small spaces. While its minimalist design is beautiful, you can elevate the piece to better fit your home's organic modern aesthetic like TikToker @hanashappyhome did. To complete this project, you'll cover the exterior with pole wrap and add round sides to the cabinet.

First, head to IKEA and grab your HEMNES cabinet. If you need more than two compartments, you could try using the option with four sections instead that costs $180. Once you have the shoe cabinet, head to your toolbox or your go-to hardware store for a few more items: a drill, table saw, miter saw, pin nailer, jigsaw and fine tooth jigsaw blade, pole wraps (available at Home Depot for $81 each), edge banding, ¾-inch pin nails, sandpaper, wood glue, wood conditioner and stain, wood grain contact paper that matches your stain, drawer handles, a sheet of plywood, and 12 small L-brackets and screws. Don't worry if you don't already own any of the power tools, as Home Depot may be your best bet if you need a tool for a day. You could also have the wood pieces professionally cut for you in-store.

To start, you'll want to remove the cabinet top and hardware. Measure, cut, and sand the pole wrap so it will fit on each of the drawer fronts and on the cabinet frame. Next, glue them down and nail the pieces to secure them. To create the curved sides of the cabinet, the TikToker cut six semicircles of plywood, then attached three to each side of the cabinet (left and right) using small L-brackets. Complete each side panel by stretching the pole wrap from the front to back of the cabinet, directly over the semicircles, and secure them in place with glue and pin nails.

Similarly to many other IKEA furniture items, some parts of the HEMNES shoe cabinet are made from particleboard, including the top panel. If you choose to use the included top panel, just keep in mind it may not be as durable or easy to warp and curve as plywood. The TikTok video shows the DIY-er using plywood to create a curved top that she then sanded down before gluing and nailing it to the frame. Next, prep the cabinet with wood conditioner then stain it with the color of your choice. Finally, add the finishing touches like the edge banding, wood grain contact paper for the cabinet legs, and the cabinet hardware onto each of the drawers. Now that you have a stunning, functional, and designer-grade shoe cabinet, here are a few other ways to achieve the organic modern aesthetic in the rest of your home.