IKEA Hack: Malmback Plant Shelf
IKEA DIY projects are hugely popular with avid craftspeople, as most IKEA products are accessibly priced, and we've seen creativity surge as a result, with a boom in the IKEA hacks community. One trend taking the community by storm is the DIY Malmback plant shelf, which can be adjusted to size and placed almost anywhere inside, or outside, the home.
About the Malmback shelf
The Malmback shelf is a floating shelf for decorative objects and picture frames, 12cm deep. Intended for small decorative items, it's popular with artists and craftspeople storing paints, tools and components, but IKEA hackers are finding a new use for it, turning the shelf into a decorative piece in its own right. We've seen a boom in real and faux plants in the home, with people bringing touches of the outdoors indoors, and where space is short, the Malmback shelf can be adapted to house plants. Some have created an entire foliage shelf, using the supporting ledge on the front to hold greenery in place.
Making a faux plant shelf
To create your own, you'll need a multipurpose adhesive, plenty of faux plants, and a foam block base to secure them. Pick plants with strong stems that can be pierced into the foam, and choose a very high-density polyurethane foam ordered via our cut to size tool, or a rigid polyethylene foam for heavier foliage. Then:
- Order a block around 10cm deep, 57cm long and 10cm high for the whole shelf (or smaller pieces to suit your design), and check it against your shelf ledge.
- Apply adhesive to the bottom and rear so it glues to two solid edges, leaving a gap at the front upturn of the ledge, and leave to dry for at least 24 hours.
- Pierce the stems into the front, side and top edges until the block is covered, keeping heavier foliage towards the bottom, and hide any visible foam with greenery or thin fairy lights.
For more on foam in floral arrangements, see our guide to foam for funerals, and for living plants, foam for horticulture. For another IKEA project, try our foam bench hack.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make an IKEA plant shelf with foam?
Glue a high-density foam block to the shelf along two solid edges, leave it to dry, then pierce the strong stems of faux plants into the front, side and top of the foam until it's completely covered.
What foam holds faux plants in place?
A very high-density polyurethane foam works well, as its dense structure grips the stems. For heavier foliage and decorations, a rigid polyethylene foam gives more effective support.
What size foam fits a Malmback shelf?
For the whole shelf, we recommend a foam block around 10cm deep, 57cm long and 10cm high, cut to size. You can also use smaller pieces depending on your design.
