Turn An Affordable IKEA Metal Shelf Into An Entryway Storage Solution

Your entryway table should do more than just offer up hints about your home's design aesthetic. It should make the transition from outdoors to indoors smoother. To that end, it may have features like drawers, spots to store shoes, and more. Unfortunately, many ready-to-use tables don't come with all the features you need. Fortunately, IKEA's metal HYLLIS indoor/ outdoor shelf units are the furniture equivalent of Minecraft. Whatever you need to make your bespoke table fit its function, this IKEA piece can do. It just needs a few add-ons.

Straight out of the box, the HYLLIS comes with three shelves and is constructed of galvanized steel. You'll dress it up with a board that's cut to fit the unit's top shelf. There's a caveat to this. The measurement for the board may vary. If you need a table that's only the width of one single shelf, it'll be just over 2 feet long. However, if you need a big entryway table, it's more practical to buy two or three of the IKEA pieces and push them together. The board that'll go on top of that will be cut to fit the length of all of those pieces together.

If you're getting industrial design decor vibes from this description, you're spot on. The combination of the metal and the wood fits the aesthetic of neo-industrial decor. If you stain the board, it'll be more traditionally industrial. A painted board, on the other hand, fits the farm decor aesthetic better. You'll want to keep that in mind when you're out shopping for paint brushes and stain or paint for this project.

To start, you'll assemble the shelves according to the IKEA box instructions. If you're putting two or three of the shelves together, you'll need to cut a board that'll fit over the top of all of them. Each unit is about 24 inches long by 11 inches wide by 29 inches tall, so keep that in mind as you're cutting. If you don't have the wherewithal to cut the piece yourself, go to Home Depot and buy the wood. The staff there will then cut the board to fit your specs. Stain it or paint it. If you're concerned about the wooden tabletop sliding off the finished piece, fasten the board to the metal units with some bolts and screws. A drill will help you make the pilot holes for this. Keep in mind that if you do this, it could make the unit more difficult to move because you'll lose the ability to easily take it apart and move each piece separately.

Next, you'll want to customize it. For inspiration, you might want to take a look at some industrial design decor ideas that will work with the piece. Most entryway tables feature drawers. This one doesn't. You can give it drawers by fitting it with add-on IKEA drawers, like those from the FJÄDERHARV collection. Additionally, if you and your family usually remove your shoes when you come in from outside, you may want to add a few IKEA SKOSTALL shoe organizer racks to the bottom shelves to give your shoes a home. Finally, add a decorative bowl to the top for keys and other "droppables," and your task is complete.