Easy Flisat IKEA Hack: DIY Wall Easel for Kids’ Play

Last Updated on June 17, 2026 by La Casa Almodovar

If you’ve been anywhere near Pinterest or TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen a Flisat IKEA hack or two. The IKEA Flisat series is incredibly versatile and stylish, lending itself to various hacks. Most of the hacks involve turning the IKEA Flisat children’s table into a sensory table or adding a Duplo base plate to the IKEA Flisat table to make a DIY LEGO table or a light table. But if you’re tight on space and still want to offer your kids a ready-made activity and art station, take a look at the Flisat bookshelf instead. That’s exactly where this Flisat IKEA hack comes in.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how we turned a discontinued IKEA Flisat bookshelf into a mounted wall easel for our kids. It’s a simple hack with a huge payoff: a permanent art station that encourages big movements, keeps paper neatly in place, and doesn’t eat up floor space.

Whether you’re setting up a hallway art zone or an outdoor art studio, this project is an easy win that just uses some simple IKEA items like a roll of paper that’s the perfect size for young hands.

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En Nuestra Casa

When I worked with preschool-aged kids, I learned about the importance of a full-body motion in painting activities. Sitting at a desk and painting is valuable, sure, but there’s something really unique and meaningful about literally standing up and moving your entire arm (rather than just your wrist) to make a brushstroke. Wall-mounted painting might not be quite as easy cleanup as painting on top of the table, but it makes for great hand-eye coordination and motor skills. And if I do say so myself, this Flisat IKEA hack really is a pretty clever little thing.

I wanted to be able to offer this same opportunity to my kids at home, but it was exhausting having to set up a whole painting station for them every time we wanted it! And, living in a relatively small home, it isn’t practical for us to have even a folding easel, so I dreamed up a way to offer them a painting/coloring station with a minimal footprint. Enter the Flisat IKEA hack that will one day make me famous (but not so famous I can’t sit at home and paint with my kids, ha!).

How This IKEA Flisat Hack Works

The concept is simple but effective. We took the (discontinued) IKEA Flisat bookshelf, turned it upside down, and mounted it to the wall. That repositioning gave us a built-in dowel holder for the IKEA Mala drawing paper roll.

We painted the whole thing white to blend in with our hallway walls. Then, we added two magnetic poster strips. We put one at the top of the paper and one at the bottom. This keeps the craft paper flat and prevents curling or flapping. That little touch really takes it from “cute idea” to “fully functional.”

This bookshelf was never designed to be a paper roll holder, and it’s been fun to watch it transform. Most Flisat IKEA hacks I’ve seen don’t touch the bookshelf at all. They stick to the table instead. They add sensory bins or LED strip lights under an acrylic sheet. But those just weren’t feasible for us with our limited floor space! This is the perfect small space adaptation for offering kids an art station. It’s a great sensory experience for them, and it’s always fascinating for me to see what’s going on in their creative minds.

Why We Love This Creative IKEA Hack

For starters, the vertical setup is ideal for small spaces. It’s mounted right to our hallway wall, tucked beside a sliding door. And bonus: it doesn’t take up any floor space at all. That’s huge when you live in a small apartment.

Second, it’s just plain fun. The kids can scribble, color, and paint standing up. This is great for motor development and just feels more exciting than sitting at the table like they normally do for an art activity.

It’s also accessible. This setup offers a more physical, whole-body way to create. Selfishly, I think it’s nice having something always available without dragging out supplies or rearranging the entire room.

Materials List for This IKEA Flisat Wall Easel

Here’s everything we used for our version of this flisat IKEA hack:

• IKEA Flisat bookshelf (turned upside down)
• IKEA Mala drawing paper roll
• Wooden dowel (came with the bookshelf)
• Magnetic poster strips (top and bottom of paper)
• White paint (for a cleaner, built-in look)
• Screws and anchors to mount the shelf securely
• Screws & screwdriver to mount the poster strips

This simple hack cost us under $40, and it’s brought endless creativity into our hallway.

How This Compares to Other IKEA Flisat Hacks

You’ve heard the word on the street! People love an IKEA lego table hack, a sensory table hack with Trofast storage bins, or even cute seasonal things like mini garden setups with tiny flower pots in the bin inserts. The Flisat table is legendary in the parenting DIY world for a reason.

But this little easel hack? It’s in a league of its own.

Most IKEA Flisat hacks are horizontal, tied to the table, or involve the Trofast bins. We love those too! But adding a vertical art station into the mix gives us even more flexibility. And it looks pretty good too, if I do say so myself.

Next Time You’re Thinking About a ikea Flisat Bookshelf Hack…

…don’t forget to look up. Literally. Walls are underused real estate in most homes, especially small ones.

Are you planning a play table revamp or just scrolling through ideas for your next project? If so, remember that even discontinued pieces like the Flisat bookshelf can have a second life. Look for one on Facebook marketplace! With some paint, a paper roll, and a couple screws, you can create a full tutorial-worthy art station your kids will love.

Summary

This flisat IKEA hack took a forgotten bookshelf and turned it into the most-used creative space in our home. It’s a reminder that the best hacks are the ones that solve a real need. Ours was to give our kids a permanent place to make art—without giving up valuable space or our sanity. Check out our finished product in action here!

Comment below to tell us: What’s your favorite IKEA Flisat hack? Or share this post with a friend who needs a simple hack that brings joy into their home.