Whether you’re gutting a house or simply giving your family room a much-needed refresh, one of the biggest budget busters is your finishes—items like hardware, lighting, and millwork. If you’re not careful, even seemingly affordable products can add up, sending your bottom line skyrocketing. 

But there are some really clever solutions that can help you achieve a high-end aesthetic without spending beyond your means. Take IKEA cabinets with Semihandmade fronts, for example. This match made in heaven makes it possible to get custom builtins in nearly any room of the house, from the living room to the bedroom, for a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional millworker. Here’s proof: 

Living Room Unit

When you have a tall, angled ceiling, this living room unit designed by Sam Gluck proves you don’t need to take your media unit all the way up. Thanks to a fresh white that blends in and Semihandmade Supermatte White Shaker Fronts, this storage piece looks like a built-in rather than a standalone unit. 

Tiny Cabin Inset

Make great use of a little extra space with a small storage cabinet under a set of floating shelves. Here, designer Keri MacLellan, finished the cupboard, which is ripe for anything from media to glassware, with attractive SSS Desert Grey Beaded fronts and brass hardware for the perfect contrast to the creamy walls in the Ontario home. 

Modern Full Wall Unit

Kelsey Johnston maintains a clean, cozy aesthetic with a set of DIY built-ins that meets all four corners of the wall. The Supermatte White Slab doors keep things looking sleek, while the contrasting Impression Tahoe fronts bring a touch of texture to add visual interest. 

Side Cabinets

Designer Brooke Bundy Designs uses small media cabinets to flank a stone fireplace, making the room feel more finished and adding much-needed storage space for books, media, and other extras. The SSS Desert Grey Beaded fronts have a contemporary vibe that pairs expertly with the streamlined shelves. 

Built-in Media Center

This built-in media center, designed by Velinda Hellen Design, comes together with the help of IKEA Besta Units and Semihandmade DIY Slab Fronts. A combination of a creamy Dunn Edwards color called White Picket Fence, natural wood, and brass sconces perfectly play into the Scandinavian minimalism-meets farmhouse aesthetic. 

Set Back Cabinets

Designer Heidi Parrish filled the empty space on either side of a tall stone fireplace with base cabinets finished with Semihandmade DIY Shaker fronts and natural wood floating shelves. We love how the gray-green hue pairs with the cool tones and mixed patterns in the room.