IKEA Kallax Bench Hack: Turn This Bookshelf Into Seating

You can turn an IKEA Kallax bookshelf into a comfortable bench by making this easy DIY Kallax bench cushion.

IKEA Kallax shelving unit can be used vertically or horizontally and adds a ton of extra storage to a space. But, by adding a cushion to the top of the shelf, you can create comfortable seating along with functional storage.

IKEA kallax bench tutorial with how to make a kallax cushion
IKEA Shelf Bench

This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated in 2024 with more detailed instructions and product changes.

This post contains affiliate links. Feel free to read my full disclosure policy for details.

Materials Needed:

  • KALLAX shelves (available in 1, 2, 3, or 4 storage openings)
  • 3/8″ thick plywood (sizes listed below dependent on Kallax shelf size)
  • 1″-3″ thick high-density foam (The thicker, the comfier! I used 2″ foam on mine.)
  • Polyester batting (optional)
  • Fabric – outdoor fabric works well for easy cleaning!
  • Staple gun with 3/8″ staples
  • Heavy-duty Velcro
  • Circular saw (a Kreg Rip Cut Jig is my favorite tool for making long, straight cuts in plywood panels)

IKEA Kallax Shelf Options

When I first made my DIY IKEA bench, I used the EXPEDIT bookshelves. However, I created this bench over ten years ago, and IKEA furniture has replaced EXPEDIT shelves with KALLAX. The design of the two shelves is almost identical.

The dimensions and steps in this post apply to how to make a bench using IKEA Kallax units.

Kallax bookshelves come in four sizes: one cubby, two cubbies, three cubbies or four. (You can see from the image in this post that Expedit shelving had five cubbies, but this is not an option with Kallax.) You can easily make a bench from any of the four sizes of Kallax shelves.

Kallax is made of particleboard and covered with a laminate finish. It’s very strong when turned on its side.

Unfortunately, IKEA has not published a specified max load for the shelf when turned on its side. Our bench supports three adults sitting on it at once with absolutely no issue. It’s held up for over ten years. Honestly, I have had zero concerns with the maximum weight of the bench.

How to Make a Kallax Bench Cushion

This bench cushion requires no sewing and instead uses staples to secure foam and fabric to a wood panel.

Sizes of Plywood to Purchase

  • 1 cubby hole shelf: 2’x2′ plywood panel (3/8″ thick)
  • 2 cubby hole shelf: 2’x4′ plywood panel (3/8″ thick)
  • 3 cubby hole shelf: 2’x4′ plywood panel (3/8″ thick)
  • 4 cubby hole shelf: 4’x4′ plywood panel (3/8″ thick)

When shopping for plywood, you’ll notice there are different grades of wood available in some sizes of plywood panels. OSB stranded plywood is one of the cheapest options and will work just fine for this project.

Sanded plywood will be more expensive, higher grades (B/C) will be even more expensive, and oak veneer will be even more expensive.

You don’t need to buy the most expensive panels for this project, because it won’t even be visible at all. All we need is wood for the foam to sit on and to staple the fabric to!

Tip: Home Depot will rip down a large piece of plywood for you. If you are purchasing plywood for the largest Kallax shelf (8’x4′ panel), have an employee rip down the sheet of plywood (long ways) at 16.5″. (So you’ll have two 8′ long pieces after this cut is made. One will be the exact depth of the bench and the other will be the excess piece to use on another project!)

The two panels will fit MUCH better in a van or SUV. Then, when you get home you can cut that 16.5″ piece to the correct length of the bench (57-7/8″ long).

Assemble the Cushion

  1. Cut down the piece of plywood to match the dimensions of the top of your bench.
  2. Use a sharp knife or an electric knife to cut your piece of high-density foam to the exact same size.
  3. Lay your fabric right side down on the floor.
  4. Lay a piece of polyester batting on top of the fabric. (This is optional, but I find batting to add a little more lift. Plus, it helps to give a more finished look to the edges.)
  5. Place the piece of foam on top of the batting.
  6. Finally, lay the plywood piece on top of the foam.
  7. Fold one side of the fabric and batting over the wood. Staple every two to three inches through the fabric and into the wood.
  8. Fold the opposite side of fabric over and staple.
  9. For the corners, imagine that you are wrapping the end of a present to form crisp lines.
  10. Staple the remaining two ends of the cushion, holding the fabric taught.

Pre-Made IKEA Kallax Cushions

There are some Etsy sellers that make cushions that fit Kallax bookshelves perfectly. You can select the size and fabric, and also order straps to attach the cushion to the shelf so it doesn’t slide around.

Another option is to have a custom cushion made for your Kallax shelf. Simply enter the dimensions of the top of the shelf and this Etsy shop will make a tufted cushion in that size.

Note: If you purchase a cushion from either of the sellers linked above, you will receive a cushion different than the DIY version I described above. These cushions are not made with wood like my version.

Attach the Cushion to the Bench’s Top

The tops of these Kallax shelves are slippery, so it’s important to keep them in place to prevent sliding of the cushion. Velcro strips are an easy way to keep the cushion more secure.

attach velcro to bottom of IKEA bench cushion to prevent slipping

I added two large pieces of heavy duty Velcro to the bottom of my cushion and the top of the bench. This keeps the cushion in place without the need for drilling holes in to the shelf. This way, I can easily turn it back into a bookshelf if I ever need to!

Customize the Storage Cubes

When I purchased my shelf, there were far less options of storage crates for this product. I ended up using these milk crates from Land of Nod outlet because they fit perfectly in the opening.

use a kallax shelf as a diy storage bench for playroom

There’s not a chance these milk crates are still available, but IKEA has so many options to fully customize this as a storage unit.

I hope you enjoyed this IKEA Kallax hack to create an easy seating bench! The options for its use are endless – make it into extra seating in the dining room, create a organized craft or office space, or use it in the playroom as a place for adults to sit. You can see from the photos that’s how we used it!

I’ve also seen it used as a simple TV bench. When turned on its side, a larger TV can sit on top and span the width of the shelf.

Or, it can be used as banquette seating or a window seating area. If you’ve turned a Kallax shelf into a bench, I’d love to hear about it!

IKEA kallax bench tutorial with how to make a kallax bench cushion DIY storage or playroom idea

Fun Fact: This was one of the very first projects I posted on my site over ten years ago! I apologize for the lack of step by step photos. I’ve since improved in showing important visuals in my posts about my DIY projects.

Jenny at Refresh Living (dev.refreshliving.com)

Post by Jenny Leads

Jenny is the voice behind Refresh Living. She has a passion for helping people to create a home they love without spending a lot of money.

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16 Comments

  1. I love this idea and it turned out great! Where did you get the tall storage bins and shelves on either side of the bench from?

      1. Do you know the name or what these are called? Ikea’s website is overwhelming with so many shelving options. So far I can’t find these, and I love them!

        1. Hi Colleen! These were EXPEDIT shelves, but last time I looked they didn’t make them anymore. I think the KALLAX is the same and would work well for a bench like this.

  2. I would like to use these kallax to in my classroom. Are they strong enough for 3 or 4 children to sit on?

    1. Hi Karen! Yes, in my opinion, I really think they would be strong enough. I used EXPEDIT shelving (which I know they don’t carry anymore, but I know that KALLAX is comparable). There’s been 3-4 adults sitting on ours at once many different times, and we’ve had no issues. I hope this helps!

  3. I would love to see some more pictures of your finished playroom/basement. I am doing the same thing to my house right now and would love some more ideas.

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kate! I linked to the chalkboard, sensory tree, and media center play kitchen, but that’s about all that’s in the small space! I thought I would decorate it, but I never really got around to it, and now it’s a kid-loved mess. 😉

  4. Thanks I’ve been thinking about placing a bench at the end of my bed but haven’t found any at all fair price with decent storage. Can’t wait to try this

  5. This is a super cute idea! I have started making this for my classroom. However, I would love to have the two pieces on each end. I saw in another post that you purchased them at IKEA. I could not find them on the website. Can you give more information on those? Thank you!

  6. Can you please let me know what time of material you used to cover the board for the bench? Is it durable, and can it be wiped clean? I am looking for suggestions on that type of material. I am hoping to do this in my classroom for first grade.

    1. Hi Mary. I used upholstery fabric for mine, which can be wiped clean, but if you wanted it to be very durable, I would use outdoor fabric. I teach 6th graders, and although their hands aren’t the same type of dirty as 1st graders, they are still dirty, and outdoor fabric cleans up the best. 🙂