Alternative Uses For An IKEA LACK Table That Are Brilliant

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There are some IKEA items that nearly everyone has owned at least once in their lives. This is the case with the IKEA LACK side table, an iconic historical piece from the store that has become almost synonymous with the brand. Whether it was in your first apartment, dorm room, or in your current home, you've likely encountered it before. The issue is that, well, it's so common that it's a bit boring. And that's too bad, because the side table is really convenient and incredibly affordable. But don't worry, there are new and exciting ways to get use out of your LACK table that are anything but boring.

With these tables, you can create a laundry organizer, build a concrete column, or a DIY cat tree. You can reuse old LACK tables that you already own, or you can thrift them for very cheap. If you need new ones, they'll cost between $10 and $17 depending on size, so it won't break the bank.

The LACK table is great because of how versatile it is. It exists in several colors and sizes, including the small model that measures less than 14-by-14 inches. If needed, you can go up to a larger square format, which measures close to 22-by-22 inches. Some of the DIYs bellow work best with one specific size, but in most cases, you can adapt based on your needs and preferences.

The 22-inch IKEA LACK table is perfect for anyone looking to build a dedicated system for laundry sorting without breaking the bank. To do this, simply stack two tables on top of each other and use the square openings under the tables to store plastic laundry baskets. You can repeat this several times to use four, six, or more baskets. This is perfect to keep darks, lights, colors, and delicate materials apart. With this DIY, you'll be much less likely to make laundry sorting mistakes and turn your entire load pink.

Concrete columns are high-end and stylish, but they're pricey. Use a few IKEA LACK tables to create your own. Stack three tables and attach them together using L brackets. Then, wrap the structure with Polywall, which is essentially a durable sheet of plastic that you can cut with scissors. Staple the sheets in place and cover them with a coat of Feather Finish (a smoothing compound made of cement) using a trowel. Let it dry, sand it down, and you're done. You can find both Polywall and Feather Finish at Home Depot. 

You can transform the IKEA LACK table into a stunning chrome cube, which can be used as a side table, decorative element, or small shelf. To do this, you'll need five square chrome sheets to glue to the sides and top of the table. The squares should measure exactly the same dimensions as your table's top square in order to fit perfectly on all of its sides. You can also use thin wood sheets for DIYs (which you can easily cut to size with a utility knife), and cover them in Sunbird silver chrome vinyl peel and stick wallpaper.

These DIYs aren't just for us, they're also great for kids! Because these tables are so lightweight and affordable, they make for a perfect kids' room or playroom addition. Use carpet tape to attach four Lego baseplates to the top of your LACK table. You can stop there, or add Lego storage using a TROFAST storage bin ($4) attached to the bottom of the table with drawer slides. 

These small tables are perfect to use as nightstands, but they're a bit basic for stylish interiors. To make them look more expensive and modern, cover the sides with medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which is a lightweight type of DIY-friendly wood sheet. Use a nail gun or some wood glue to attach them, and cover the sheets in primer and paint. Once dry, use some painter's tape to create a guide or stencil, and paint patterns and stripes all over your newly formed cube. No one will ever guess this is the famous IKEA LACK table. 

This affordable IKEA side table is a perfect way to make your home a cat-friendly oasis. To turn one into a DIY cat tree, you'll need a bit of jute cord, hot glue, scissors, a utility knife, and a doormat. To turn the legs into scratchers, wrap each leg with jute cord using hot glue to keep it all in place. To make the tabletop comfier for cats, cut your doormat to match its size and dimensions. Glue it on top of the table with some hot glue, and let it dry.

Another clever way to use this basic IKEA table is to create a wheeled cart to move around your house as needed. For this, purchase two IKEA tables, but you'll only use one in full. From the second one, you'll only need the tabletop, not the legs. Build out the first table, and screw the second tabletop square on the bottom of the legs, to create a sort of cube. Then, screw on four wheels in the bottom corners of the cube. 

An IKEA side table isn't strong enough to be used as a stool or chair, but it can be turned into an ottoman, as long as you remember not to put too much weight on it. To do this, cut a square of foam at the same dimensions as your table. Lay your fabric of choice on the ground (account for an extra foot on all sides), topped with the foam square, and the table top (facing down). Fold the edges of the fabric over, and secure them to the bottom of the tabletop with a stapler.