In a world where Kallax and Billy are household names, how can you make functional furniture feel one-of-a-kind? Look no further for inspiration than Georgina Smith's (@_itstartedwithacushion) Ikea Besta bench hack, where she transformed a set of white cabinets into a cosy pink banquette with storage underneath. Winning Best Decorating Hack in House Beautiful’s Real Style Awards 2026, take a deep-dive into the low-lift DIY tricks in her home.
Your decorating style in three words
Tailored, colourful and cosy.
The DIY lesson
They say measure twice, cut once, but I’d say measure three or four times! Drawing the project out first helps you check that your measurements will work. You don’t have to do it to scale; it’s a visual guide and something to refer to along the way. Mistakes happen, so we always buy a bit extra on the timber. There’s a reason that Polyfilla and caulk were invented!
The go-to advice for DIYing furniture
Consider the finishing touches such as paint and trims. They make all the difference to the end result. We used simple pine moulding and architrave but it makes it feel more bespoke. And get your paint products right. Primer is the most essential for a long-lasting finish, and then be brave with colour to make your hard work stand out.
The hiccup that meant a mid-project shop run
We have an old house and it’s wonky! It’s always challenging getting things to line up as you’d like so it can take a bit longer. It was also frustrating not to have everything we needed when we needed it – for instance, we forgot to buy the right screws and then had to take time out to pop to the shop.
The make-do-and-mend moment
We didn’t measure the MDF sheets for the top correctly. We had a small gap where they were meant to join but we used some filler and a smaller off-cut of wood to patch it in. It’s not perfect but I always remind ourselves that we aren’t professionals – and we’re the only ones who will notice the mistakes.
What to Read Next
The DIY shortcut
I am a big Ikea hack fan; their products give you such a good place to start. I’ve done six Ikeas hacks in our house now. One of my favourites is a bookcase in my daughter’s bedroom where I added scallop trim, wallpaper and butter yellow paint.
The savvy way to cut costs
By doing the project ourselves we saved around £,1500, at least. I’m a big fan of keeping off-cuts of timber from previous projects as they always come in handy for the next. I also shop my own shed for paint colours I’ve already used, and try to find items on Facebook Marketplace where I can. We don’t have all the high-end tools, so using cutting services from B&Q, especially for sheets of MDF, means you don’t need to invest in lots of tools.
The decorating stage she loves — and the one she dreads
I do dread the mess that comes with doing projects yourself, especially with cutting timber. I’m so impatient and like to start and finish a job within the time we have allocated to it but that doesn’t always work out. But I’m very much doing my happy dance when I’ve got the paint out – that’s when the vision really starts coming to life and I’m like, wow, I made this!
What 'home' really means
Home is the backdrop to all of life’s moments. It’s a place where so many memories are made and I always want them to be in colour. It’s a feeling you can create with the personal touches and colours you use.
