This $15 IKEA Product Is Your Answer To Working From The Couch

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Gülcan Öztürk, a creator who works from home, found herself in a familiar dilemma—her phone or laptop running low on battery when she’s working from her sofa in the living room.

“I wanted to chill and relax while working without always stretching for a power plug. This was an easy and perfect solution,” she says.

Her solution? A clever IKEA hack that brings power to where it’s needed most.

She mentions she has seen this idea several times on social media but wanted to recreate it her way. Her solution struck a chord, with her reel on Instagram garnering over 146,000 views at the time of writing.

The IKEA MOSSLANDA picture ledge is a simple, unassuming piece of furniture—a narrow shelf designed to display pictures and other small items. However, Gülcan saw it as the foundation for her behind-the-couch charging ledge.

Power Behind The Couch

Gülcan’s clever behind-the-couch charging ledge is an easy DIY project perfect for most beginners. As long as you’re comfortable making straight cuts and installing a shelf, this hack is a breeze. Here’s how she transformed it:

Supplies – IKEA Picture Ledge

MOSSLANDA picture ledges are most often used to display photo frames and artwork. Made from fiberboard with a foil finish, they come in lengths of 45 inches and 21 inches. This budget-friendly shelf boasts a special groove at the front, perfect for keeping smaller picture frames angled for optimal viewing. But its uses extend far beyond pictures, and IKEA hackers have found other uses for the nifty IKEA picture ledge, as Gülcan did.

Supplies – Recessed Power Strip

The key to this hack is a recessed power strip. Unlike standard strips, its unique design features a wider front panel than the back. This allows the strip to sit flush against the ledge for a clean and integrated look.

Measure:

Gülcan measured the space behind her couch and determined the length of the MOSSLANDA shelf she would need. She opted for the 45″ picture ledge. Next, measure the dimensions of the recessed power strip – the boxed part that juts out from the front. This section will sit inside the ledge, held up by the front panel.

Mark

Flip the MOSSLANDA picture ledge upside down. Using a pencil, mark the cutting lines on the underside of the ledge.

Cutting:

Drill a hole in the inside corner of the cutting line. Then, insert the blade of the jigsaw and cut the shelf, following the cutting lines. You can tape the ledge with masking tape first to ensure a clean cut.

Install Power Strip:

Next, clean the cut hole on the shelf of splinters, if any. Then, insert the base of the power strip and cord into the hole.

Installing:

Using a cordless screwdriver, attach the power strip to the shelf with screws.

Check For Level

Securely mount the modified shelf to the wall behind the couch, using wall fixings suitable for your wall. It’s important to ensure that the shelf is level and firmly attached to support the weight of the devices.

Charging:

Finally, plug the power strip into the nearby socket and power up!

Customization Options

Gülcan loves her new setup and adds, “We absolutely like it this way.” But she also acknowledges that there are customization options for those looking to replicate her hack.

• Dust Covers: For those concerned about dust collecting in the sockets or on the cables, installing outlets with covers can be a practical addition.
• Extended Shelving: If the couch spans a longer wall, using two or three MOSSLANDA shelves end-to-end could provide a continuous ledge for multiple seating areas.
• Personal Touches: The ledge can be painted or decorated to match the room’s decor, making it an even more integrated part of the home.

Cautions

Placing drinks on the ledge might lead to spills reaching the power strip. Gülcan says, “Be careful with the drinks. Our outlet bar has an on/off button” to reduce such risks.

Why We Love This IKEA Hack

There are several reasons why Gülcan’s MOSSLANDA hack is a winner:

• Convenience: No more scrambling for outlets or wrestling with tangled cords. Simply place your device on the ledge and let it charge.
• Aesthetics: The ledge seamlessly blends into your living space, eliminating the clutter of extension cords.
• Customization: The IKEA picture ledge comes in various sizes, so you can customize it to the length of your sofa.

Let us know if you’ve hacked your IKEA, and you could be featured next.