It is both exciting and scary. But whether you are just moving into your first apartment after college or starting over in a new city, furnishing your home from scratch can be quite a daunting task. The mistake that people keep on doing when furnishing an apartment from the ground up is wanting everything to be done at once. And then leaving big purchases the last minute.

Thankfully, there exists a road map for decorating your first apartment from scratch. And in that road, we’ll be picking up 11 IKEA hacks that are chic, stylish, and budget-friendly.

1. IKEA ALEX drawer

The ALEX is a very versatile drawer unit. It can be used alone, with castors, or it can be used as a platform for a work table. This makes it a good one for your first apartment. It can be many things all at once.

2. IKEA KALLAX

The KALLAX comes in many shapes and sizes. This one can be made into a console, a wall shelf that’s partitioned, or just leave it as a plain shelf. The KALLAX is completely hackable that it will be a great piece in that new apartment of yours.

3. IKEA MOSSLANDA

The MOSSLANDA picture ledge is mainly used to display memories and mementos. But it can also be hacked as a bedside shelf with a soft light to put important things near you when you sleep. And then find them at once when you have awaken.

4. IKEA SKURAR

An old fashioned lantern for block candles, apparently, can be taught new tricks. It can now be oriented upside-down, and serve as a lantern. But this time for light bulbs which are much newer technology compared to candles.

5. IKEA FROSTA

If you feel that the FROSTA is too boring as it is, that’s because it was made with hacking in mind. You can, quite literally, hack its legs and make it as a laptop stand. Or a Boho-style hanging storage. Or in its simplest form, paint it and have a stylish stool or side table.

6. IKEA MALM drawers

The MALM is full of smart ideas, like under the bed storage and a chest of drawers that works as a bedside table. Or, like the ALEX above, it can also be hacked to be a drawer unit for a work table.

7. IKEA VITTSJO laptop table

This plain old laptop table can be made more exciting. The tabletop can be wrapped in vinyl to mimic marble, or maybe granite. Then it won’t be a plain laptop table anymore.

8. IKEA RAST

The RAST looks like it came from an earlier generation. Which makes it cool and retro. But if for some reason you want to hack it, then it will most certainly look better with new knobs and some paint.

9. IKEA KALLAX...again

There is just no denying the versatility of the KALLAX. This particular shelf does not only do shelving duties, it was also hacked to be a bench.Good for kids’ rooms so they can always get their box of toys without reaching high. Or a TV bench with legs.

10. IKEA ALGOT

Not really a very hackable piece of furniture. But because of how it looks, the ALGOT wall upright is a hack in organization and minimalism in itself.

11. IKEA BEKVAM

Much like the FROSTA, the BEKVAM step stool can be painted - and tooled - to match your personality. And this is quite important in your very first apartment: It’s not enough that you made it yours, but you have to make it you.