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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.