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Ideal Home
Kezia Reynolds

IKEA’s cult KALLAX unit has just received a stylish new update – this one luxe change makes it look so expensive

IKEA brown red KALLAX unit in modern living room.

IKEA’s cult KALLAX cube unit has just received a stylish new update, and its sultry new colourway taps into one of the year’s biggest colour trends.

Despite being a simple cube storage solution, there is no shortage of brilliant IKEA KALLAX hacks to transform your home into an organised yet stylish space. However, this stunning new update is so good that you won’t even want to hack it!

If you’ve been a fan of all the rich, dark red tones that have dominated this year’s colour palette, you’ll be a huge fan of the cult furniture buyer's sleek update. Drenched in a rich, red-brown, this retro update has breathed new life into the flatpack classic.

I don’t know many people who haven’t owned a KALLAX unit at one point, or at the very least opted for a similar KALLAX alternative. I love mine. It's a great living room storage idea, where I can keep my items tucked away, whilst allowing for some cubes to display photographs and other trinkets.

But having spotted the stunning dark red KALLAX, I’m thinking about trading in my white flatpack for an upgrade. Dark, rich red hues have dominated 2026 as we shift towards moody, intimate interiors. Red is a timeless choice, and dark reds are full of warmth and character.

IKEA describes its red KALLAX as a ‘brown-red’, and with what looks like a matte finish, the unit has a gorgeous retro look that looks way more expensive than its £70 price tag. It also has a different design to the original KALLAX, with spaces in different sizes that you can personalise with inserts in boxes. It certainly looks more ‘high-end’ than the original; it offers more opportunity to make it unique to your tastes.

(Image credit: IKEA)

You can even purchase the new design with an underframe for an even more elevated look. Choose from a vertical KALLAX with underframe for £85 or a horizontal KALLAX with underframe for £90. If you already have a KALLAX unit, you can purchase the underframe separately for £20. The underframe really adds to the luxe look of the unit, and if I didn’t already know it was IKEA, I wouldn’t believe it was just £85.

I’m not the only one impressed with the KALLAX’s stunning new colourway; it’s earned quite a few words of praise online, too.

‘Easy to assemble and looks really good in a moody space’, said one review.

‘We waited a long time for it to come back in stock in our country, and we finally managed to buy it. It’s a mini library for my son’s books and a display case for his LEGO creations. I love the colour - that’s what drew me to it. I’d love to see more colourful Kallax units! 🤩’ said another.

I can imagine this KALLAX will be pretty popular, and if you find your local IKEA is lacking in stock, don’t worry, as I’ve rounded up a few more affordable options you can shop online.

This bookshelf is a gorgeous rich red shade, and is perfect for adding some warmth to your living room.

If you're a fan of the classic KALLAX boxy cube, why not try this retro style instead?

Go off kilter with this geometric shelving unit. It's bold and visually interesting for the maximalists amongst us.

IKEA’s moody, red KALLAX takes the classic storage unit and makes it look effortlessly stylish and expensive. It looks so good, your guests will never believe it’s flatpack!

IKEA Kallax Shelving Unit - Brown-Red 147x39x77 Cm IKEA Kallax Shelving Unit With Underframe - Brown-Red/black 147x39x94 Cm IKEA Kallax Shelving Unit With Underframe - Brown-Red/black 77x39x164 Cm Cabinet Bits Palazzi Bookcase H97 W89 D25cm - Red Urbn-Living 9 Cube Oak Wooden Bookcase Shelving Unit With 5 Collapsible Fabric Drawers Red Decorotika Decorotika Labrina Geometric Design Bookcase Red
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