The IKEA MOSSLANDA picture ledge might be meant for displaying art – but these 5 hacks use it for so much more

You could say that IKEA is a never-ending treasure trove filled with affordable pieces that might be simple at first glance – but really, they are full of potential. Take the budget-friendly MOSSLANDA picture ledge. The primary and intended use might be displaying art – but there are many other IKEA picture ledge hacks that make even better use of the design.

The perfect material for various IKEA hacks, the £4 IKEA MOSSLANDA picture ledge can be found in many households adorning a wall as a floating shelf - or as a display of a few - bearing framed photos, art prints or children’s art. And while there is nothing wrong with using it that way, it’s always good to know how you can easily elevate your home, using something you already own and expand your horizons a little.

‘The MOSSLANDA picture ledge is ideally suited for more than displaying photographs,’ says Alex Stubbs, Flitch interior stylist. ‘Its unassuming design makes it a versatile choice for enhancing functionality in compact spaces.’

IKEA MOSSLANDA picture ledge hacks

If you don’t already own an IKEA MOSSLANDA picture ledge but would like to try some of these easy DIY jobs, you can always bag one or two on your next IKEA trip. Or if you’re doing a shop in Dunelm, Argos or Next in the near future, these retailers also stock very similar designs to the IKEA one.

1. Display your children’s books instead

If you’re after some children’s room ideas, using the picture ledge to display your little ones’ books is the perfect way to adorn the walls and peak their interest in reading. This one might not be the most ground-breaking of the MOSSLANDA hacks but it’s an effective one.

‘For a playful touch, I like to stagger MOSSLANDA ledges in kids’ rooms to organise and display books,’ says Sam Sutherland, Flitch interior stylist. ‘It’s visually appealing and makes reading more accessible to the little ones.’

And if you know how to paint IKEA furniture - which we whole-heartedly recommend learning - then adding a fun paint shade to this library will make it even better for your little ones.

2. Turn the shelves into a side table

When setting out to find how to repurpose our MOSSLANDA shelves, we never thought we’d find a way to use it as a base of a side table. But we did, all thanks to Marjolein Veenstra Wolff of @bijonsop_n10.

‘As for the idea behind the project, it actually came to me quite spontaneously,’ Marjolein says. ‘After removing the picture ledges from the wall, I placed them on the floor and suddenly realised they could work as a table leg. From there, it was just a matter of assembling them in a way that was both sturdy and stylish. The DIY itself was quite simple and required minimal effort, but the result looks surprisingly sleek!’

3. Add a decorative trim

If you’re set on keeping your MOSSLANDA ledge on the wall - whether that’s to display art, books or other decorative objects - why not make it a little more playful and fun by adding with the use of a decorative trim? Waves and curves are one of the biggest home decor trends of the moment – and the wavy trim looks so pretty on Kelly Fordon’s (@thepacificstandard) picture ledges.

‘I was inspired to design this after falling in love with a similar high-end piece that was out of my price range. Adding trim and a fresh coat of paint can achieve a high-end look on a budget. This beginner-friendly project requires only a basic tool set, perfect for anyone looking to elevate their space with a unique, modern touch,’ Kelly says of her upcycling project perfect for beginners.

4. Create a headboard with secret storage

There are several different IKEA bed hacks that you could employ in your bedroom. But one of our favourites must be the unexpected headboard design using a set of IKEA MOSSLANDA picture ledges to add secret storage and keep clutter at bay.

All you need to do is affix a couple of the MOSSLANDA ledges to the back of your headboard and fill it with books, magazines or anything else that fits.

5. Make an elevated alcove display

You don’t have to look at your IKEA MOSSLANDA shelves as isolated objects – instead, you can make them into a larger scheme and use them in something like an alcove idea. The project designed by Ashley Rack, content creator of @east_shore_home, is the perfect example of this approach.

‘I had been wondering for some time, what to do with the alcove space in my living room as I felt it was a little bland. The shelves I had originally put up were too shallow to display anything other than prints and I had some spare left over 3D wall panels from Orac. I started brainstorming how I could utilise them. I nipped to my local IKEA and picked up some MOSSLANDA shelves.’

Ashley continues, ‘I filled in the original holes designed to hang the shelves with some wood filler and drilled two new holes on each shelf on the shorter lip. I then decided to add some led cob lights under the shelves to create an illuminated display. Again this was fairly easy using some extension connector cables and clips purchased from Amazon. I used the Orac 3D wall panels to conceal the wires behind and then primed and painted the lot. The shelves and panels create visual interest and have totally elevated this space. No longer bland or boring.’

Always remember that you don’t have to settle for the current look of a piece of furniture – whether you’re in need of IKEA BILLY bookcase hacks or want to update a different corner of your home, there’s always a way to make it your own.