DIY Ikea Hack Side Table — Elevate your living space with DIY Ikea Hack Side Tables (that cost us $35 each to make)!
I seriously have yet to solve the mystery of why nightstands are so expensive.
I get that they are relatively important for both hoarders and neat freaks alike.
But eighty plus dollars worth for any kind of decent design is kind of crazy! Let’s be real. It gets pricey when you have to double that number by two for the other side of the bed.
Coming from a girl on a budget, I try to be as guilt free as possible on my furniture choices without skimping on uniqueness (like this DIY project I had a few weeks ago).
These Ikea hack DIY side tables that I made for my guest bedroom only cost me $35 each to make. And they’re pretty much one of a kind!
I say that because I seriously doubt that anyone else has a side table in their guest room that refused to take the time to measure and mark where the legs go and they just winged it.
If you happen to be one of the people that can say you’ve done that, please email me so we can be best friends.
IKEA Side Table Hack | Materials and Tools Needed to Make a DIY IKEA Accent Table
Ikea Expedit Shelving Unit — The Ikea Kallax Shelf is also a great alternative.
Wooden table legs — We purchased 4″ Waddell wooden table legs from Ace Hardware. There also lots of other wooden leg options or modern leg options or minimalist legs online.
How to Make a DIY Ikea Hack Side Table
Honestly, the most time consuming part of this entire project is actually building the Ikea shelf.
Not that we’re surprised, but I thought I’d go ahead and throw it out there.
1 — Once your shelf is assembled, choose which side you want to be the bottom. Then, mark where the legs should go in all four corners.
2 — Use the drill to create holes on the markings just big enough for the legs to screw into while being snug.
3 — Twist each leg in.
And you’re finished! Easy peasy.
Lastly, I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting to take DIY photos with my cowhide Flor rug tiles in them.
Seriously, I’m obsessed. And for once, it’s not something pink, polka dots, or stripes (although I wanted that one too).
For more DIY projects like the DIY IKEA hack nightstand, check out a few of our favorite from the archives —
- Ikea Hack Retro DIY Sideboard
- DIY Ikea Hack Dresser And Prepping For Guests
- Distressed Wooden Shelves – DIY Ikea Hack
- How to Hack A Rattan Ikea TV Unit
DIY Ikea Hack Side Table
Equipment
- Drill and drill bit
Materials
- 1 Ikea Expedit shelving unit The Ikea Kallax Shelf is also a great alternative.
- 4 Wooden table leg There also lots of other wooden leg options or modern leg options or minimalist legs online.
Instructions
- Once your shelf is assembled, choose which side you want to be the bottom. Then, mark where the legs should go in all four corners.
- Use the drill to create holes on the markings just big enough for the legs to screw into while being snug.
- Twist each leg in. And you’re finished! Easy peasy.
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Ikea dont to stock this cube anymore! Pintrest suggests a lack cube but that comes on roller wheels! Any ideas/hacks?
Most craft stores sell basic wooden boxes/squares that you could create the same concept from!
Wow, these are some of great hacks. Thanks for sharing.
Of course, Jessica! Glad you enjoyed them :)
Really cool design! One thing I would change though is putting the flat end on top instead of on the sides of the table. That way the top wouldn’t have any edges.
I just moved out on my own for the first time and I was thinking of painting my current night-tables but I came across your post on Pinterest and I fell in love with this Ikea hack. Thank you for this post!
can you send me the link to where you bought the shelving unit. i can not find it anywhere!
I looked around and found a similar cube (without the open back) at Home Depot. I bet you could just not attach the back when you build it. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Way-Basics-zBoard-Eco-12-8-in-x-13-4-in-White-Stackable-Storage-Cube-Organizer-BS-285-340-320-WE/204401620?N=5yc1vZc899
Yes, again same question as Tippy.
Which shelving unit is this? Searching for Expedit brings up Kallax now on the Ikea site.
Anyway this can still be done? Plzzz help!
Which shelving unit did you use? Your link only comes to the Ikea main frame. I searched ‘Shelving Units’ and didn’t see any individual ones for the $19 price. Great post followed by the headboard (really wanna make that one!). Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks for an awesome blog.
This is perfect for my stepson’s room! There’s already a larger Expedit shelf on one end of the room so I could make little matching nightstands just like you did!
This looks great!! This is one of the best IKEA hacks I’ve seen. Lauren, your bed looks nice too in the pictures, though only a little bit of it is shown. Could you do a blog post about your bed and beddings? I am looking forwards to seeing it.
LOVE IT! I’m totally doing this this weekend. Did you have to cut down the length of your legs? I’ll have to source them locally because I’m in Canada, but I’ve never done anything like this before so I have no idea! Thanks!
Hey Lauren, I found the same ones online at Lowe’s in Toronto. They’re listed as being 3.5 inches.
I checked with my local Ace in BC and if its on the American website they’ll order it in for you.
Hey class ideas, can I ask about the drill bit is is it the flat one with a spike or a regular bit?
Thanks
it’s a spiraled drill bit with a pointed end, hope that helps at all!
Yes that perfect thank you, and the legs? some of these online stores seem very, very tres expensive for the feet/legs which kind of makes it counter-productive don’t you think or where where yours sourced?
You can order them for store delivery from Ace Hardware for about $3.50 each!
Yes perfect on cordless drill x
I’m in uk every where I check online want £15/20 – $30/50 so is pointless hope I find something. Similar x
Love this hack! I’ve been slowly uncovering some awesome ikea hacks and i really do love this one – top stuff!
We share the same sentiments. I do not like purchasing pieces of furniture which are way overpriced based on the look and materials used. You did a great job with this piece of furniture. Not a lot of people would think about adding a leg to that shelving unit.
this is perfect !! thank you :) just the right amount of space for a couple of books and a pair of glasses at the end of the day!
You are so right on about the ridiculous prices for end tables and if you need two(which we all think we do) well, the dollar amount just went sky high…not only are your tables reasonably priced but beautiful with clean lines beating anything I see in the stores… love them!!!
That looks great! I love that something simple like adding different legs can make it look amazing!
-Becca
Ladyface Blog