Turn A Trendy IKEA Lamp Into A Futuristic Minimalist Nightstand

The FADO table lamp from IKEA already offers a soft ambience that's perfect for reading or winding down before bed. But what if you could bring it up a level? Or rather, down a level. With this easy DIY project, you can incorporate the FADO lamp into your nightstand itself for a fascinating furniture piece that brings an elegant glow to your bedroom. To build this DIY nightstand, the basic materials you'll need are a FADO table lamp, plywood, and a jigsaw. Depending on how you plant to construct the nightstand, you may also want to add wood glue, a drill, screws, a sander, and paint or stain to your list.

If you haven't built furniture from plywood before, ½-inch plywood is generally the bare minimum thickness you could choose for a lightweight nightstand design, but ¾-inch plywood will be sturdier. (The ¾-inch Sande Plywood from Home Depot is a perfect choice.) Besides looking effortlessly cool, DIY minimalist nightstands are cost-efficient and simple to make. The total estimated cost for this project should be less than $100 when you factor in $29.99 for the FADO lamp and about $65 for a sheet of ¾-inch plywood. Of course, you can alter the basic blueprint to make this built-in FADO nightstand as budget-friendly or as complex and creative as you'd like. 

Start by determining the right height for your nightstand and marking the distance on the plywood. The FADO lamp has a 10-inch diameter, so trace a 10-inch circle on the plywood. From opposite sides of the circle, draw two lines straight down to the edge of the plywood, creating an arch shape. Repeat this process again so you have two arches traced out. Using a jigsaw, carefully cut along the arched lines, then cut straight lines around them to pop out two "U" shapes. Cut notches in the tops of these arched pieces so they can intersect, forming a four-legged table. For the final piece of plywood, cut a square or round table top with at least a 10-inch diameter. 

Sand and stain or paint the wood pieces, then use wood glue to adhere the arches together. (Dowel rods can add more support.) Flip the arches upside down so the open end of the table is up, then slide in the FADO lamp and set it straight. You can use adhesive dots to secure the lamp in the legs without affixing it permanently. Finally, attach the table top.

Plug in your FADO lamp and set the nightstand beside your bed or repeat this process to have two matching nightstands on either side of the room. Because the light is near the floor and the switch is located on the cord, this nightstand design will work best for low beds. However, you can swap out the ordinary bulb and try this IKEA lighting hack to wirelessly control the lamp's power, brightness, and color.