IKEA is the default furniture store for Canadian apartment renters for good reason — it’s designed for small spaces, available across Canada, and priced for people who might move in two years. But not everything works in a small apartment. These 15 ideas use IKEA products in smart configurations that solve real problems, with no cutting, no major modifications, and no need for a drill. CMHC data shows that rental affordability is a persistent challenge across Canadian cities, which makes budget-conscious furniture choices more important than ever.
I’ve tested most of these in my own 510 sq ft Toronto apartment — the NORDLI bed and the LACK floating nightstands are the two I’d recommend to anyone starting from scratch.
In a hurry? Buy the KALLAX — it’s the most versatile piece at IKEA, working as a room divider, entryway bench, TV console, or home office. Then look at the NORDLI storage bed (replaces a dresser entirely), ceiling-height BILLY bookcases (maximum vertical storage in a 28 cm footprint), and LACK shelves on Command strips for floating nightstands that free floor space completely.
How Do You Use KALLAX as a Room Divider in a Studio?
Place the KALLAX 2×4 vertically between the sleeping and living zones in a studio apartment. It creates a visual divider without blocking all the light, and both sides of the bookcase can be used for storage and display.
A KALLAX 2×4 unit costs about $159 CAD and, placed vertically between sleep and living zones, divides a studio without the light-blocking effect of a full wall.
Add plants on top of the divider to make the transition feel designed, not improvised. For more storage ideas across the rest of the apartment, see storage ideas for small places.
Cost: KALLAX 2×4 ~$159 CAD.
Can a PAX Wardrobe Replace an Inadequate Closet?
Many older Toronto and Montreal apartments have tiny wardrobes or hall closets that don’t function as a proper bedroom closet. A PAX wardrobe frame (50 cm deep, 201 cm tall) positioned against the bedroom wall creates a real wardrobe.
A PAX wardrobe frame starts around $179 CAD, but a full configuration with doors and interior organizers typically runs $400 to $800 CAD — still often cheaper than a custom closet build-out in an older Toronto or Montreal rental.
Add internal organizers: KOMPLEMENT pull-out trays, JONAXEL shelf units, and a mirror door to make the bedroom feel significantly larger.
Cost: PAX frame starts at ~$179 CAD. Full configuration with doors and interior organizers: ~$400–$800 CAD.
NORDLI Storage Bed to Eliminate the Dresser
The NORDLI bed frame has two large drawers on each side that hold as much as a full dresser — built into the bed itself. In a small bedroom, this removes the need for a separate dresser entirely and frees significant floor space.
A NORDLI Queen bed frame runs $399 to $699 CAD depending on configuration, but its built-in drawers hold as much as a full separate dresser, which is what actually frees up floor space in a small bedroom.
Cost: NORDLI Queen ~$399–$699 CAD depending on configuration.
How Do You Take a BILLY Bookcase to the Ceiling?
The standard BILLY bookcase is 202 cm tall. Add the GNEDBY extension (40 cm) on top to take it to 242 cm — close to standard ceiling height. This gives you floor-to-ceiling storage in a 28 cm deep footprint.
Adding the $39 CAD GNEDBY extension takes a standard 202 cm BILLY bookcase to 242 cm, filling nearly the full ceiling height in a 28 cm deep footprint.
Anchor to the wall with the included anti-tip strap. In a rental, this requires one small screw in the wall — minimal damage and worth it for safety.
Cost: BILLY 80 cm wide ~$79–$99 CAD. GNEDBY extension ~$39 CAD.
Can a LACK Shelf Work as a Floating Nightstand?
The IKEA LACK shelf (30 × 26 cm, ~$15 CAD) is small enough to mount at nightstand height on Command strips, eliminating the floor footprint of a bedside table entirely. It holds a lamp, phone, water, and a book — everything a nightstand needs.
Two LACK shelves, one on each side of the bed, creates a symmetrical bedroom layout without consuming any floor space.
Cost: LACK small shelf ~$15 CAD. Command Large Strips ~$12–$15 CAD.
Can KALLAX Double as Entryway Storage and a Bench?
Lay the 1×4 KALLAX horizontally at entry height (about 45 cm off the floor), top it with a $20–30 CAD bench cushion, and fill each cube with shoe and bag storage — it turns a $79 CAD bookcase into a functional mudroom-style entry bench. Add hooks on the wall above for coats.
This creates a proper mudroom-style entry in the smallest apartments.
Cost: KALLAX 1×4 ~$79 CAD. Bench pad or cushion ~$20–$30 CAD.
Is RASKOG Worth It as a Kitchen or Bathroom Cart?
The RASKOG cart costs about $39 CAD and works as a rolling kitchen or bathroom cart, which matters most in apartments where a single room has to serve more than one purpose.
The RASKOG 3-tier cart (~$39 CAD) works beautifully as a kitchen cart that rolls out during cooking for extra counter space, then tucks away. In the bathroom it holds towels, toiletries, and a small plant — see small apartment bathroom storage ideas for more no-drill options in the same price range. If you can’t find the RASKOG in stock, Amazon.ca carries several nearly identical rolling carts at the same price point, and Wayfair Canada has a wider selection of kitchen carts if you want something with a more finished look.
In a small apartment where rooms serve multiple purposes, the rollability is actually the feature.
SKADIS Pegboard to Clear Counter Space
A SKADIS pegboard on the kitchen wall (or behind the desk) keeps tools and supplies accessible without consuming any counter or desk surface. It works with SKADIS-compatible hooks, containers, and clips.
A SKADIS pegboard costs about $15 CAD, and a basic accessory pack of hooks and containers adds another $5 to $15 CAD — enough to clear most loose tools off a kitchen or desk surface.
Cost: SKADIS 56 × 56 cm ~$15 CAD. Accessory pack (hooks + containers) ~$5–$15 CAD.
How Do You Combine MICKE Desk and KALLAX for a Home Office?
KALLAX 2×2 placed beside the MICKE desk creates a corner home office setup with twice the storage. The KALLAX handles books, office supplies, and equipment that won’t fit on the desk.
A MICKE desk paired with a 2×2 KALLAX totals about $178 CAD, doubling the storage of a desk-only setup in the same corner footprint.
Cost: MICKE desk ~$99 CAD. KALLAX 2×2 ~$79 CAD. Total: ~$178 CAD.
IVAR Shelving Units as a Wardrobe System
The IVAR system is IKEA’s most flexible storage system — it expands, reconfigures, and can be returned to a simple shelving unit if needed. In a bedroom, it creates a custom wardrobe system. In the kitchen or living room, it becomes a pantry or display unit.
IVAR sections start around $35 CAD each, with a full wardrobe configuration typically landing between $150 and $300 CAD — reconfigurable later if the room’s needs change.
Cost: IVAR starting at ~$35 CAD per section. Full wardrobe configuration ~$150–$300 CAD.
Does the HOVET Mirror Really Expand a Small Bedroom?
The HOVET full-length mirror (~$279 CAD) leans against the wall (no installation) and immediately makes any small bedroom feel significantly larger. It reflects light from the window and creates the illusion of a second doorway.
The HOVET mirror costs about $279 CAD and needs no installation, since it simply leans against the wall while still creating the illusion of a second doorway.
FRIHETEN as a Guest Bed for Studio Apartments
If you live in a studio and sometimes have overnight guests, the FRIHETEN sofa bed (~$999 CAD) solves both the “sofa” and “guest bed” problems in one piece. The storage chaise adds significant storage capacity.
The FRIHETEN sofa bed costs about $999 CAD, which is more than most single-purpose IKEA pieces on this list, but it replaces both a sofa and a guest bed in a studio apartment.
How Does the SKUBB Under-Bed Storage System Work?
SKUBB under-bed bags (~$14 for 2) are flat, zip closed, and designed to slide under an IKEA bed frame. Store off-season clothing, extra bedding, or anything needed only twice a year.
SKUBB under-bed bags cost about $14 CAD for a pack of 2 and are the standard flat-storage option for anything only needed twice a year, like off-season clothing.
If combined with NORDLI or MALM bed risers, you can add even more under-bed clearance.
TJUSIG Bench + Hooks as a Complete Entry System
The TJUSIG bench ($59 CAD) with shoe storage underneath, combined with TJUSIG or ENUDDEN wall hooks above ($15–$25 CAD), creates a functional entry station for a fraction of a custom mudroom.
A TJUSIG bench costs about $59 CAD, and adding wall hooks for another $15 to $25 CAD creates a full entry station for well under $100 CAD total.
Is JONAXEL Good as a Freestanding Wardrobe System?
The JONAXEL system is designed to stand freely without wall attachment — ideal for renters who can’t drill. It functions as a full wardrobe: hanging space, shelves, and optional mesh bins.
A full JONAXEL wardrobe configuration runs $150 to $250 CAD depending on setup, and because it’s freestanding, it works for renters who can’t drill into walls at all.
Cost: JONAXEL frame + hanging rod + shelf ~$150–$250 CAD depending on configuration.
For a more specific look at budget-conscious organization, small apartment organization ideas on a budget pairs well with this list — it covers what to buy first when you’re starting from scratch.
The Essential IKEA Small Apartment Shopping List
Starting from zero in a small Canadian apartment, this order makes the most sense:
| Item | Purpose | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| NORDLI storage bed | Sleep + storage | $399–$699 |
| KALLAX 2×2 or 4×2 | Living room anchor | $79–$159 |
| BILLY bookcase (narrow) | Vertical storage | $79–$99 |
| LACK shelves (2) | Floating nightstands | ~$30 |
| SKUBB under-bed bags | Seasonal storage | ~$14 |
| RASKOG cart | Mobile storage | ~$39 |
Total for the essentials: ~$650–$1,050 CAD — a complete small apartment storage system.
These IKEA picks have been tested in real Canadian apartments and they hold up. Start with whatever solves your biggest problem — the NORDLI if storage is the issue, the KALLAX if you need a living room anchor, the BILLY if you’re drowning in books. Get one piece working before adding the next.
→ Want the full room-by-room storage roundup beyond IKEA-specific pieces? Storage ideas for small places covers every room with exact setup instructions and CAD costs.
→ Is your entryway the first thing that gets cluttered when you walk in? Small entryway and hallway storage ideas covers a matching no-drill setup for the space right by your door.
