In this article, I want to take you on a tour through the wonderland that is my sewing room – or I should say, rooms. That’s right, I’ve got not one, but TWO whole bedrooms dedicated to my obsession with fabric and sewing machines.
Now, you might be thinking, “Surely, two rooms is overkill for a hobby that only requires a needle, thread, and some fabric, right?” Well, that might have been true 100 years ago when our great-great-grandmas were darning socks by candlelight. But in this glorious age of crafting, we need ALL THE THINGS!
Enter IKEA Kallax units – a game-changer for my creative spaces. They aren’t just storage – they’re a canvas for my creative Kallax styling ideas.

These units line my walls from floor to ceiling, protecting my fabric collection from the judgy eyes of minimalists. And let me tell you, every single compartment is stuffed. Empty space? In my sewing room? That’s about as likely as me actually finishing all my WIPs (Works In Progress, for the uninitiated).
Should I start listing all the things a modern sewist “needs”? Well, grab a snack and get comfortable, because we might be here a while. The list is practically endless, much like life itself – except with more sequins and less existential dread.
From fancy cutting tools to every type of fabric known to mankind, from bins full of notions to every size of scissors, my Kallax units have seen it all. And don’t even get me started on my collection of Burda Style magazines – they’ve got their own zip code at this point.
I am 100% sure it’s not hoarding if it’s organized in cute Swedish furniture, right?
Kallax Craft Room
When we moved to Florida, I finally had the opportunity to organize my sewing space. I knew I needed a system that could handle the chaos of sewing supplies while still looking neat and stylish.
With the kids grown up and out of the house, I was able to transform one of the bedrooms into my very first sewing room. It felt like such a luxury to have a dedicated space for my hobby, but as time went on, my love for sewing (and my fabric collection) grew. Before I knew it, I had created a second sewing room to accommodate everything.
IKEA Kallax units have become the backbone of my organization. They don’t just store my materials; they make my entire sewing process smoother and more enjoyable.
In my pink sewing room, I’ve set up two 2×4 Kallax units with two 2×2 units stacked on top. My husband added pink legs, also from IKEA, to elevate the smaller units and give the room a stylish, tiered look.

The most important step was connecting the Kallax units to the wall for safety. Anchoring them ensures they’re stable, which is crucial when you’re working with tall storage.
The pink Kallax units go beautifully with the light pink walls I painted. So I have a cheerful and inviting space where I love to spend time.
✅ Related tutorial: 23 Sewing Room Decor Ideas That Combine Style and Organization
My second sewing room has a completely different style. It features Kallax units in a natural wood finish that stretch across an entire wall. This setup provides so much storage and keeps everything neat and uniform. These units are also securely attached to the wall for added stability.

In this room, I have a setup of four 4×4 Kallax units which cover perfectly one wall of the room. My rooms are a little taller than usual so if you decide to follow my experience you might need to use other sizes.
Luckily, the units are available in various sizes and it will probably be possible to design the storage to fit your actual space. They come as 1×2, 2×2, 1×4, 2×4, 3×4, 4×4 and 5×5 allowing you to mix them as needed.
What I love most about my Kallax units is their versatility. The doors and inserts are amazing for keeping my fabrics protected from sunlight and my threads free of dust. I’ve found they hold a surprising amount of materials – from fabric and patterns to tools and finished projects. They make organizing my supplies easy, while the color options allow me to tailor the look to each room.
That said, there is one drawback. The open compartments without doors, drawers, or bins tend to collect dust quickly. Between sewing, cutting, and ironing, there’s always dust floating around, so I find myself cleaning those shelves more often than I’d like.
✅ Related tutorial: IKEA Sewing Room Ideas for small spaces
Even with this small inconvenience, I couldn’t imagine my sewing spaces without Kallax. They’ve transformed my craft rooms into organized, functional, and inspiring places where I can focus on creating. Plus, having everything so well-organized means I actually use the supplies I have, instead of forgetting about them in the back of a closet.
Kallax Storage Ideas
One of the biggest advantages of Kallax is the variety of storage options available. I use numbered bins to categorize and store my supplies – silk fabrics in one, ribbons and trims in another, my finished projects (yes, I do actually finish things… occasionally) and so on.
I like the flexibility of Kallax doors, drawers, and inserts.
While some of my compartments are open for quick access, I’ve added doors to protect my fabrics from sunlight and my supplies from dust.

While doors are great for keeping supplies hidden and dust-free, not everything fits neatly behind them. Bulky items like my cutting machines, stabilizer rolls, and large storage boxes simply don’t fit in a closed compartment. That’s why I made sure to leave some units open – they provide a solution for housing these larger items. These open spaces balance the design, giving me a mix of concealed and visible storage.
✅ Related tutorial: How To Store Fabric: Fabric Storage Ideas For A Sewing Room
One of the features I love about my Kallax units is the drawer inserts. Each unit can fit two drawers in one cube, which is perfect for keeping my smaller sewing supplies organized and within easy reach. I’ve used these drawers in many of my Kallax compartments.
In my drawers, I keep different types of threads (serger threads, polyester embroidery threads, rayon embroidery threads, cotton threads, etc.) so I can find the right thread without digging through a mess. Other drawers hold zippers, ribbons, vinyl rolls, elastic, etc.

I keep telling myself I’ll label the outside of each drawer to make finding things easier, but, well… life gets busy, and it just hasn’t happened yet. Every time I open the wrong drawer looking for something, I think, “This is the day I finally label these!” But then I get distracted by sewing or reorganizing something else, and the labels remain on my to-do list. One of these days, I’ll get to it – hopefully before I forget what’s in half the drawers!
I’ve also seen other useful inserts in IKEA. There are shelf inserts that divide a single cube into multiple smaller compartments, perfect for organizing ribbons or patterns. There are inserts with wine rack-like dividers, which would work beautifully for storing rolls of vinyl or interfacing. Some inserts even have their own mini drawers, which are handy for keeping small tools like seam rippers or marking pens neatly tucked away.

Kallax Decor Ideas
Kallax units aren’t just functional – they’re also an opportunity to make your craft room look stylish and inviting. For me, Kallax styling is all about combining practicality with charm. I’ve used colors, bins, baskets, and even a few DIY touches to give my sewing rooms a personal feel.
In my pink sewing room, the light pink Kallax units are a perfect match for the walls, which I painted a soft pink. Pink is my favorite color, so this cheerful space feels uniquely mine.

I added decorative bins with polka-dot patterns, which keep my supplies hidden.
For the open space between the units, I’ve used woven baskets in soft pink shades to store small items while maintaining a coordinated look. Maybe there’s a bit too much pink in my sewing room? Well, I like it.
The beige Kallax units in my second sewing room have a completely different vibe. The natural wood finish gives the room a warm and earthy feel. I’ve paired these units with numbered fabric bins.
Speaking of the numbered bins – let’s talk about the ones at the very top of my Kallax units. I can’t even reach those without a ladder! That’s where I stash things I don’t need every day, like old clothes for upcycling projects (which I always plan to do but somehow never have the time for) or some nice clothes waiting for alterations.

By the way, I made the numbers for these bins with my Cricut. It’s so much fun to cut out custom designs.
The Kallax doors have also played a big role in my styling. I chose doors for many compartments to protect my supplies from dust and sunlight, but I also took care to match them to the room’s aesthetic.

Recently, I visited IKEA and was amazed at the variety of doors they now offer. The selection of doors for Kallax units is truly impressive.
They have everything from sleek mirror doors that can make a room feel larger and more open, to modern glass doors that allow you to display beautiful fabrics or decorative items while keeping them protected from dust.

The pegboard doors are a unique and functional option, perfect for hanging small tools or accessories right on the door itself.

And for those who love a pop of color, there are playful options like pink and light green, along with blue and neutral tones that can seamlessly blend into any décor.


Another door that caught my eye during my recent visit to IKEA had a cat silhouette cut into it. The cutout added such a fun touch while also letting you peek inside the unit.

It’s a pity they didn’t have all these options back when I first set up my sewing rooms!
Each door style brings its own character, allowing you to customize your storage to match your personal style while serving a practical purpose.
As for DIY touches, I haven’t done anything too complex, just small tweaks. In my pink sewing room, my husband helped elevate the 2×2 Kallax units by placing them on pink legs from IKEA, stacking them above the 2×4 units. This simple modification not only added visual interest but also made the most of the vertical space in the room.
For me, the beauty of Kallax units lies in their ability to transform an ordinary room into an organized and visually pleasing space. Whether it’s the soft pink tones, the numbered bins, or the functional doors, every element adds up to a craft room that feels like a reflection of my personality. The best part? Kallax styling makes it easy to hide the clutter while keeping everything I need close at hand.
Kallax Desk Ideas
The versatility of Kallax doesn’t end with storage and organization – it’s also the foundation of my crafting desks.
In my sewing rooms, I paired sturdy IKEA table tops with Kallax units to create multi-functional workspaces that I use every day. These desks are perfect for cutting fabric, sewing, and even working on my computer as I create sewing tutorials for my site.
One of my desks features a large cutting mat, and it’s the perfect height for comfortably cutting fabric. I love having all my tools and supplies within arm’s reach, thanks to the Kallax units beneath the table.

They’re also sturdy enough to hold my heavy sewing machine. I’ll admit, when I first set it up, I worried the table might vibrate too much during embroidery. While there’s a small amount of vibration, it’s nothing major, and I’ve gotten so used to it that I hardly notice anymore.

My desks are securely connected to the Kallax units, which keeps them stable.


This setup is especially handy since my pink sewing room doubles as my office. Whether I’m working on patterns or typing up new tutorials, the desks are comfortable and practical for whatever I’m doing.
✅ Related tutorial: IKEA Sewing Table Reviews: Which One is Right for You?
And then there’s my dog, who thinks this entire setup was made just for him. He’s always nearby, usually stretched out under the desk while I work. I like to think he’s my biggest fan – or maybe he just enjoys napping in the coziest spot in the house.

One final though: Kallax units (and related accessories) can sometimes be found on Amazon (here is a link if interested) and Walmart, sold usually by third party sellers. However I recommend buying directly from Ikea because the items sold on other sites are much, much more expensive. Moreover, Ikea also has a delivery service which might just be the solution for you. Here is a link about delivery options in the US, but similar services are offered in other countries where Ikea has stores (62 countries as of January 2025).
Liked this guide? Don’t forget to save this pin to your sewing or home decor Pinterest board for future reference! This way, you can easily return to this guide on IKEA Kallax decor ideas whenever you’re ready to upgrade your craft room. For more creative sewing tips, tutorials, and daily doses of inspiration, make sure to follow me on Pinterest.

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