Last Updated on April 2, 2021 by teamobn
Take a $9.99 table, a craft knife and a little imagination and you can have a different coffee or side table – or both – every day of the year! The ever present Ikea brand Lack side table costs little more than a take-away pizza, yet it’s surprisingly sturdy and longlasting. The only thing wrong with it is that it looks the same day in, month out, year after year! Here’s a great way to personalise it and you can change the look along with your mood or the occasion!
Don’t have an Ikea store nearby? Not a problem – since this manufacturing technique is very common you shouldn’t have to look too far for something comparable. Better still, with new delivery options like MeeMeep, you can get the original home delivered!
These tables are just a thin veneer over strong and durable honeycomb cardboard. They’re light, very robust yet easy to modify with the most basic of tools.
The key to great design is imagination and we’re sure you’ve got heaps of that! Read on for
Materials:
- LACK Side Table from Ikea
- Square Plastic Containers
Tools:
- Measuring Tape
- Pencil
- Drill
- Saw
- Ruler
Steps:
The size of the opening on the table top was determined by the size of the plastic container I was planning to use as an insert.
With a measuring tape mark the centre point on the table.
Place the plastic container in the centre and mark around around it where to cut.
I have a shortage of decent power tools at home so to cut out the part of the table top I had to drill holes at the corners and used a hand saw to cut the rest (unfortunately leaving some rough and uneven edges).
Once your remove the part of the table top, there is a cardboard honey comb that needs to be cut out as well. Keep the top piece that you cut out, it can be used.
Sand the edges smooth and check that the plastic container fits.
Assemble the legs of the table if you haven’t done so already.
My plastic container was deeper than the hole I made so I had to trim off the top part so that it was flush with the top of the table. I bought several of these and cut them to size so that it was easier to change up.
Since I planned to add a fountain and lights I needed to cut a hole through the bottom of the table to put the electrical plug through.
Succulents:
I wanted to plant some succulents in my LACK since they are hardy and seem quite capable of growing anywhere, plus they look really nice too.
- Succulents
- Plastic container
- Potting soil
Place potting soil into the container.
Arrange the succulents in the container, give them enough room to spread. Make sure the table is placed in a spot with enough light.
Fountain:
A fountain is a nice way to add soothing sound and movement to your living space and this way it doesn’t take up a lot of room.
What you will need:
- small waterpump
- plastic container from step 2
- small rocks/pebbles
- larger rocks/bamboo or other centre piece
I had a store-bought fountain from which I used the parts to make this one .
I slid the plug from the pump through the hole at the bottom of the table.
Centred the pump in the container. Added rocks and the main centre piece of the fountain over the pump.
Then added water.
Grass:
You can grow wheat grass for juicing or to add some greenery to your decor. However if you don’t want your cat climbing all over your furniture this is not a good idea.
What you will need:
- Wheat grass seeds
- Potting soil
- Plastic container
Tile Mosaic:
A tile mosaic insert is a great way to personalize your Lack end table.
What you will need:
- Ceramic or glass tiles
- Tile cutters, glue and grout
- Cardboard supports
Start with the pattern you want and transfer it to the piece of the table top that you cut out.
Start breaking up the tile pieces and glue it to the board according to the pattern.
When the pieces are glued on cover it in grout.
Wipe off the excess grout from the surface. Once the grout has dried you can put the cardboard supports in the hole and place the mosaic over top.
Whiteboard:
You can turn your table into a handy message centre by adding a whiteboard. Simply cut a piece of glass and white paper to fit in the opening on the tabletop. Use the cardboard supports in the hole, put the white paper on the supports and place the glass over top.
You can write on the glass with a dry erase marker and it can be wiped off easily.
Lights:
Add a string of Christmas lights to brighten up your table. Place the lights in the table and run the plug through the hole at the bottom. Add the cardboard supports and place a piece of frosted glass over top or you can use the white paper and clear glass.
Here are a couple more ideas…
What other possibilites can you think of? 🙂
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