Introduction: DIY Nightstand: IKEA LACK Table Hack

About: Part MacGyver, part Martha, creator, host and producer of Engineer Your Space, an award winning DIY home design show dedicated to clever, affordable and stylish solutions for common challenges faced by renters…

On one of my very frequent trips to IKEA, I found inexpensive LACK tables that were the perfect color to work as nightstands in my bedroom . The only problem was that they were too low for my bed. At $13 each, it was worth trying to find a way to make them work. My solution? Cut the legs of one table and stalk another table on top it!

This is a very simple project - all you need are 2 LACK tables, a miter box and hack saw, a speed square, some masking tape and "Liquid Nails" glue.

You can see how I did this project in the video (starts at 3:28 mins) but I'll walk you through the steps for the nightstands here as well.

Step 1: Mark the Legs for Cutting

Put masking tape around the legs of the bottom table, where you want to make your cut (make sure you measure from the top of the leg down). The tape helps protect the finish where you cut the leg. I made my bottom legs 4" tall. Using a speed square, mark the exact measurement on each side of the leg.

Step 2: Cut the Legs

The legs are hallow so they are easy to cut with a miter box and hack saw (you'll want to use a fine tooth saw to minimize tearing of the finish). I found that cutting one side at a time helps to get a straighter cut.

Step 3: Level the Legs If Necessary

Check that all the legs are exactly the same height. You can use sandpaper stapled to a piece of wood to make any minor adjustments.

Step 4: Attach the 2 Tables Together

I screwed the legs into the bottom table and then used liquid nails to secure the legs from the top table to the top of the bottom table.

Step 5: Enjoy the Nightstands!

And just like that, I was able to have my nightstands that are the prefect height and colorful for my bedroom.

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