Style & Shopping

This $10 IKEA Find Will Transform Everyone’s Favorite Storage Solution

published Nov 17, 2023
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HÖGSMA bamboo Cutting board on top of RÅSKOG Utility cart
Credit: IKEA

Look up “dorm inspo” on Pinterest, and you’ll see just how many photos feature IKEA’s RÅSKOG cart. Most often used as a nightstand or side table in dorm rooms, the cart is ubiquitous for a reason — it’s multifunctional, budget-friendly, and, most importantly, a way to provide lots of storage in a small space. It’s a fan-favorite college decor sidekick, if you will. What many people don’t know, however, is that the beloved RÅSKOG has a sidekick of its own: the HÖGSMA

The HÖGSMA is listed on IKEA’s website as a cutting board, but it’s actually so, so much more. This $10 bamboo beauty was designed to fit perfectly on top of the RÅSKOG cart, forming an enclosed space on the cart’s highest tier, as well as an additional surface for storing and displaying items.

I bought my own RÅSKOG when I moved into my first dorm room in New York City, and it served me well as a bedside storage piece for several semesters. But once I found out about the HÖGSMA and purchased it for my first college apartment, I was able to transform my RÅSKOG from a utility piece into an actual nightstand, using the wooden surface to hold a lamp (goodbye, clip-on reading lights!) and a charging station for my phone.

Credit: Emma Dangel

Now two years post-grad, my RÅSKOG with my HÖGSMA on top serves a dual purpose as a side table and crafting cart next to my couch in my living room, and I can easily roll it out whenever I need it. I use the top shelf (hidden by the HÖGSMA) to store TV remotes, lighters for my candles, and all my crochet accessories, while the bottom two shelves contain and display my yarn. (And I have lots of yarn … such is post-grad life.) Thanks to the HÖGSMA, I’m able to style the top of the cart with coasters, candles, and a plant, just like a real side table. 

Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Prop Stylist: Sophie Strangio

For under $50 total, I’ve found this set to be well worth the cost. Its possibilities seem endless: My friend uses hers as a kitchen cart, creating an extra-flexible work space for cooking. HÖGSMA acts as a built-in cutting board, and the bottom two shelves work as storage for her spices and pantry items. You could also use a RÅSKOG/HÖGSMA combo as a rolling plant stand, as it’s easy to move into and out of the sunlight and has room for all your gardening tools. For someone with a bit more bathroom space than I have, it would make an excellent toilet paper holder, cleaning supply storage unit, or even a beauty-product organizer.

For all these reasons, the RÅSKOG and HÖGSMA duo is always number one on my recommended shopping list for any new student or recent grad looking for small-space solutions — and TBH, who isn’t?

Emma Dangel

Contributor

Emma Dangel is a recent graduate of New York University, Class of ’21. She studied Media, Culture & Communication with a minor in English Literature. Emma now works at Apartment Therapy Media and loves her job as the Marketing & Brand Partnerships Coordinator. In her free time, Emma likes to crochet, write, and spend time with friends. She now lives in the East Village of Manhattan in a one-bed apartment with her cat, Phoebe.

Get to know Emma Dangel
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