How I Created My Dream DIY Coffee Bar with an Epic IKEA Hack

As a coffee lover and DIYer, I’d been dreaming of a beautiful, functional coffee bar that would not only serve our caffeine needs but also add style and coziness to our home. My current setup? A cluttered old dresser overloaded with coffee makers, syrups, and mugs… it wasn’t pretty! So, I decided to tackle a full-on coffee station makeover, transforming that messy corner into a built-in, high-end look DIY coffee bar using IKEA HAVSTA cabinets. Let me take you step-by-step through this project that added so much style and function to our dining room!

The BEFORE (Yikes!)

Here’s what our coffee area in our dining room looked like before. Yikes! It’s an old dresser I’ve had for over 20 years, piled high with all our coffee and drink essentials. I knew I needed to create something that looked better, and included lots of storage.

The Inspiration: High-End Coffee Station Vibes

Like most of my DIY projects, this makeover started with inspiration. I spent hours scrolling through Pinterest, gathering ideas for coffee bars that felt cozy yet sophisticated. What really stood out to me were coffee bars with classic white cabinetry combined with warm wood accents. These were clean, timeless, and cozy—the perfect vibe for our home. But I didn’t want to spend a fortune on custom cabinetry, so I opted for IKEA’s HAVSTA cabinets, which are budget-friendly, durable, and real wood (pine!). They’re perfect for a small space like this because they’re only 18 inches deep. And with some customization, I knew I could make them look truly unique. I was hoping I could make these look like a built-in and timeless piece of furniture that would last for years to come!

Designing My Coffee Bar: The Mockup

Before starting my DIY coffee bar project, I created a mockup on Canva using photos of the IKEA HAVSTA cabinets. I wanted three base units to span the width of our dining room wall, with an open shelf feature in the middle for warmth and style. With this setup, I’d have two glass-door cabinets on either side for display and storage, along with space in the center for a mini fridge. HAVSTA cabinets are shallow, which kept the coffee bar sleek and unobtrusive. I loved this mockup and decided it was time to order everything and get started!

The IKEA Haul: HAVSTA Cabinets and a Cute Mini Fridge

I went with three HAVSTA base cabinets with solid doors and two upper cabinets with glass doors. The width was perfect for our almost 10-foot wall, leaving space for the cutest retro-style mini fridge in the center. I ordered the fridge from Amazon, and it’s not only adorable but functional, keeping milk, ice, and drinks cold for when we entertain. This fridge would nestle perfectly under the counter of my DIY coffee station, making the space not just for coffee, but for drinks, too!

With my plan in place, I donated the old dresser, cleared out the space, removed the board and batten trim on the back wall, and got ready for some DIY action.

Step 1: Assembling the HAVSTA Cabinets

Once the IKEA boxes arrived, the assembly party began! IKEA instructions are straightforward, and I enjoyed putting these together. All you need to assemble most IKEA pieces is a good playlist, a great drill, and some patience! I positioned the three base units along the wall, leaving a small gap on either side for trim to give it that built-in look. These cabinets were light enough to move around easily, and once assembled, they were sturdy. I secured the base units to the wall to ensure they’d be solid, especially with all the coffee gear they’d be holding!

Step 2: Countertop Time

For the countertop, I was able to use leftover IKEA EKBACKEN laminate, which mimics white marble. We had just the right amount leftover from a kitchen countertop job to piece together for this coffee bar cabinet. My husband, Sean, helped me cut it down to fit perfectly on top of the cabinets. Once we pieced everything together, I screwed it in from underneath. This countertop added a lovely, clean look and brought a touch of luxury to the setup. Plus, it’s easy to clean, which is perfect for a coffee bar where spills are bound to happen.

Step 3: Adding the Upper Cabinets

With the base units and countertop in place, it was time to install the upper cabinets. Sean and I lifted these into place, securing them to the wall for safety. We left a gap in the middle for a wood feature, which would bring in warmth and make the space feel even cozier. These upper cabinets with glass doors were the ideal spot to showcase our favorite mugs and glasses, adding style and personality to the coffee bar.

Step 4: Trimming Out the Cabinets

To make the coffee bar look built-in, I added some 1×2 pine trim to either side using wood glue and brad nails.

Then, I bridged the two upper cabinets with a piece of pine board. I added a 1×6 pine board to the top of the entire piece to give it some height. This was installed this using blocks behind it, wood glue and finishing nails.

To hide the seam, I added a narrow piece of trim where the pine board met the top of the HAVSTA cabinets.

To give the coffee bar a custom, high-end look, we added crown molding on top. This was a game-changer! The molding wrapped around the entire dining room, making the space feel cohesive and elegant. Sean’s expertise really came in handy here; he helped me measure, cut, and install each piece. This touch made the coffee bar feel like it was always meant to be a part of the room.

For a cohesive look, I caulked all of the seams with paintable latex caulk. Then, I went to Home Depot with one of the HAVSTA shelves and purchased some colour-matched Behr paint. I used this to paint all of the added pine pieces, and the colour match was perfect! This was the key to make this unit look like an expensive built-in piece.

Step 5: A Beautiful Marble Backsplash

As a surprise addition, Sean had a scrap piece of marble panel leftover from a previous job. With a little trimming, it was the perfect size for a backsplash, and the subtle marble pattern added a chic touch. He even added backlighting behind it, creating a soft glow that highlighted the centerpiece of the coffee bar. This little bit of ambient light makes the whole area feel cozy, especially in the evenings.

Step 6: The Wood Feature & Shelving

The centerpiece of my design was an open shelf feature with stained pine. At first, I used wider pine shiplap, but after testing it, I decided to switch to narrower pine tongue and groove boards for a more refined look. I stained them in “Special Walnut,” a warm shade that added a beautiful contrast to the white cabinets. Applying wood conditioner before staining ensured the color went on evenly. I also stained a couple of 1×8 pine boards in the same way, cut to size to use as shelves.

I installed the first shelf above the marble backsplash, using screws to attach it to the sides of the upper cabinets.

Then, I added the stained pine tongue & groove boards in the center using wood glue and brad nails. This wood feature was exactly what I envisioned, bringing in warmth and depth that complemented the white cabinetry.

I installed a second shelf after adding the first row of tongue & groove, then added a final row of tongue & groove to complete the feature. These shelves are perfect for seasonal decor, syrups, and coffee accessories.

(For those interested, the marble backsplash is 19 inches high, there’s 14 inches between the two shelves, and the top section is 19 inches high. This made the area look nice and symmetrical!)

To elevate the look of my DIY coffee bar, I installed a brass picture light above the shelves for a cozy, inviting glow.

And I couldn’t resist adding brass tipping rails to the shelves, echoing the style in my kitchen and adding elegance to the bar. I also installed some brass cup hooks under the lower shelf to hang coffee mugs.

Step 7: Final Touches and Decor

With the woodwork and major installations complete, it was time to bring it all together with decor! I re-installed the board and batten on the walls beside the coffee bar, painted everything in Whisper White by Behr to match the rest of the trim in the dining room, and finished up some final caulking and sanding. I also hung up new floral curtains from Amazon, which added softness and a touch of pattern to the room.

Meanwhile, Sean cut a hole into the corner of the countertop so we could run an extension cord into the cabinet where I cut out a hole for the outlet. That way, I could plug in all my coffee machines (and the extension cord even has a USB charging port)!

The shelves were so fun to style! I brought out my favorite mugs, pretty glasses, and some seasonal decor to create a cozy fall vibe. The center of the coffee bar now holds my espresso machine, coffee syrups, and a few cute accessories that make our coffee rituals even more enjoyable.

The Finished DIY Coffee Bar

Looking back at how cluttered and messy this space was, I can’t believe how far it’s come. This coffee bar now feels like a high-end, custom-built feature, even though it’s built with affordable IKEA pieces!

The mix of open shelving, glass doors, and solid storage in my cozy DIY coffee bar gives me plenty of space for all our coffee essentials. I’m using the open shelving for cute items like books, canisters for coffee beans and pods, art & decor. The glass cabinets are perfect for glassware, mugs and special dishware.

The counter space is the perfect size for my espresso machine, Nespresso coffee maker, a tray for spoons, and some different flavors of syrup in pretty dispenser jars. In the closed lower cabinets, I have my less aesthetically pleasing items like boxes of pods, extra syrup bottles, and baskets of seasonal decor. And the retro mini fridge is adorable and practical! In that, I have pop, juice, cream & milk for our drinks.

I’m So In Love with this DIY!

I think this DIY coffee bar looks amazing in our dining room, and truly matches the style of our home. It’s such a great use of space. Whether we’re entertaining guests or enjoying a quiet morning coffee, this space is a joy to use. Every morning now feels so special as I enjoy my very own coffee bar where I can brew up my daily cup of joe.

This coffee bar makeover was one of my favourite projects yet. I loved transforming affordable materials and IKEA products into something that feels unique, custom, and perfectly suited to our home’s style. So, what do you think? Would you ever try a built-in IKEA hack like this in your home? Let me know in the comments! And if you’re inspired to create your own coffee station, check out the product links below and tag me in your projects. I’d love to see what you create!

Product Links:

Some of these are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you buy anything using these links at no extra cost to you.

• IKEA HAVSTA Cabinets
• Retro Mini Fridge
• Brass Picture Light
• Coffee Syrup Dispensers
• Floral Curtains
• Brass Tipping Rail
• EKBACKEN Countertop
• Pine Tongue & Groove Boards
• Linear Chandelier

Update 18 Months Later

18 months after I installed this DIY IKEA hack coffee station, I’m still as obsessed with it as ever. It’s been so much fun to decorate for each season, and I think it looks even better against the floral wallpaper I installed in the dining room last year. Everything’s been holding up well, and my whole family loves this area for making their favourite fancy drinks. I’m sure we’ll continue enjoying it for years to come!

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