Brilliant IKEA Lazy Susan Hacks That Are Worth Trying

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Why are we so obsessed with IKEA? Maybe it's the affordable furniture or unique designs. It could be the maze-like trek through the showroom that leaves you feeling a little disoriented ... or the delicious meatballs that greet you amid that maze. For DIYers, it's often the versatility of the products, like the SNUDDA lazy Susan. It's a popular item that has a surprising number of uses, far beyond the kitchen table. Sure, lazy Susans are a kitchen's best friend, but you don't have to use them for traditional purposes. You can hack wooden lazy Susans into everything from unique lights and wall art to rotating bookshelves and end tables. 

IKEA's rubberwood kitchen turntable measures 15 inches across and holds just over 26 pounds, so it truly is a versatile piece. The light, natural finish makes it easy to paint or refinish to upgrade the look. And, the base that allows the top to rotate is thin, so the piece sits relatively close to the table. All of these features make the SNUDDA perfect as a key component of DIY projects. At just under $20, this lazy Susan is an affordable option. And if you can snag one at the thrift store, your costs are even lower. Let's take the SNUDDA for a spin and see what types of projects are possible with it.

There are IKEA floor lamps that will light up any room with style, but you can also make a wall light using the SNUDDA lazy Susan. Run a strip of LED lights around the base — the base is just high enough to create a gap between the lazy Susan and the wall. When you hang the piece up, the LED lights have a backlighting effect. Leave the wood plain, or paint and embellish it to fit the room decor. Groups of three DIY SNUDDA lights offer a balanced, sculptural look on a wall.

The perfectly round shape and wood construction of IKEA's lazy Susan make for an easy transition into wall decor. Sand the wood slightly before you start embellishing it with paint, vinyl cutouts, or decoupage art. The inspiration project uses a large bird graphic that's decoupaged onto the wood to create a backdrop for a display of other decor pieces. Adding vinyl words or hand-painting a message can turn the piece into inspirational artwork. Hang the finished piece on the wall, or sit it on a counter leaning against the backsplash.

Who knew you could transform IKEA lazy Susans into a functional bookshelf? More than one TikTok creator has done just that with three SNUDDAs and scrap wood. Cut and attach dividers to make a cross shape between the lazy Susans tops to create the shelves. Adjust the height of those pieces based on the size of the books you want to store. Leave the rotating base on the bottom turntable, but remove it from the other two. While you can find similar rotating bookshelves (like this Rotating 2-Tier Bookshelf Tower) on Amazon for roughly the same cost as three SNUDDA turntables, they're not made of solid wood. A solid wood design (like the Toytexx 2 Tier Rotating Bookshelf from Walmart) can run you more than double. 

Transform an ordinary IKEA planter into a trendy end table with a simple DIY using a SNUDDA as the tabletop. The NYPON plant pot from IKEA works well as the support for the pillar base because its sides are relatively straight. You'll also need IKEA's RÖDEBY bamboo armrest trays to create the textured sides of the column, or some pole wrap. Wrap the trays around the pot, using adhesive to hold them in place. Then, glue a lazy Susan along the top edge. Then finish the piece with the stain or paint of your choice.

Here's another creative IKEA hack that turns a lazy Susan into a stylish side table with an airy look. This idea from TikTok creator @annaellens_ uses a BRUNSTA pendant lamp shade as the base. The open, angular metal design of this lamp shade lends a modern or industrial feel to the project. You can leave the lazy Susan in its natural wood tone or paint it. Black gives the piece a cohesive look, or choose a light neutral color to create contrast. Glue the base of the turntable to the top of the pendant, making sure it's centered. 

While some DIY IKEA side tables eliminate the rotation aspect, this idea from YouTube creator @SeppnShelleyDIY maintains it. The original creator used the legs of an old barstool to create the base of this table. Ideal legs for the project are set at an angle and connect to a small plate in the center. Then, you can attach the base of the SNUDDA to the plate for a small rotating table. In the inspiration project, the creator makes a larger wood stop to adhere to the SNUDDA base and also adds furniture rollers for additional support.

Consider this lazy Susan DIY as a hidden storage solution for anywhere in your home. This storage side table uses flower pots for the base — there are plenty of planters at IKEA that you can get on a budget. You want pots with similarly sized bottoms. The inspiration project uses a taller, narrow pot turned upside down with a shorter, wider pot glued right-side-up on top of it. Choose a top planter with an opening that's slightly smaller than the SNUDDA. Put items inside the top planter, and place the lazy Susan on top as a lid.

Yet another DIY side table option using the SNUDDA as the top is this slender pedestal-style table from YouTube creator @MrsDIYness. The base of this table uses IKEA's MOSSLANDA picture ledges to create a sculptural design. Choose from dark and light finishes, including white, to customize your table. (And while you're at it, you may even want to grab a few extra MOSSLANDA picture ledges for this IKEA hack for behind-the-couch storage that doubles as a charging station.) Paint the lazy Susan, and attach it to the top of your picture ledge base.

While lazy Susans are often used in the kitchen for practical purposes, they also create a stunning elevated display for any room. The SNUDDA is a simple design, which makes it easy to embellish. One creator added wooden beads with flat backs along the edge to add visual interest and texture to the sides. You can also add an LED strip light to the base, similar to the wall light, to draw attention to your display. Painting or staining the finish is another customization option.

You'll need a lot of lazy Susans (the Instagram creator @our_bears_home uses 11) to make this sculptural piece, but the stunning results are worth it. You'll use the base and top of each turntable, but you'll need to separate them and remove all of the lazy Susan hardware. That leaves you with several small and large circles (and hardware you can repurpose for something else). Simply stack them, alternating the sizes, and glue the rounds together to create a unique side table or display pedestal.

Whether you want to use the SNUDDA in the kitchen for food organization or simply as a decor piece, this mosaic project elevates the look. In the original, the creator uses sample tiles broken into pieces. You can also use broken plates, stones, gemstones, or other mosaic materials. After adhering the pieces to the lazy Susan, fill in the gaps with grout. A sealing coat is a good idea to protect the grout from stains if you're using it in the kitchen.

If you have a little one, you're likely familiar with the Tonie craze. Keeping track of all the little characters can be a challenge. This IKEA SNUDDA DIY gives each figurine a dedicated spot with the box in the middle. Glue small, round magnets evenly spaced near the outside edge of the SNUDDA. Then, position the box in the center. The figures will hold onto the magnets, so they don't fall off. Your toddler can easily spin the turntable to find just the right character to use.