The IKEA Hack That'll Turn Two Nightstands Into Your Favorite Outdoor Bar

An outdoor entertaining set-up can be a wonderful way to use exterior spaces and create an additional room that can be enjoyed often through the seasons that allow it. What better addition than a chic outdoor bar that allows room for a few bottles, glassware, an ice bucket, and accessories? Design bloggers Alice & Lois recently posted a hack for creating a great little bar surface and storage from inexpensive but durable nightstands from Ikea, which costs around $50 to set up. Placed together and covered with some peel-and-stick vinyl wallpaper, the results are a low-slung bar perfect for resting against an exterior wall between two lounge chairs or serving as a coffee table in front of an outdoor settee.

Better yet, not only is this DIY solid and weather-friendly, but you can customize it to fit the design style of your outdoor space with paint or various designs of wallpaper. You can even use more than two for a larger bar surface if needed.  The bar is also light and portable enough to move wherever you may need it ore stow away easily in colder months.

The design hack makes use of two Ikea sleek and modern KNARREVIK nightstands, each of which are available under $20. Their metal construction makes them both long-lasting and easy to assemble. Place the two nightstands together to create a long surface wherever you'd like to install your bar. Vinyl peel-and-stick wallpaper, available in a variety of designs for around $10 per roll, is where you can get creative. Choose a fun summer pattern perfect for parties or a paper that matches other outdoor decor. Measure, trim, then simply apply the vinyl paper to the top and shelves of the nightstands for a cohesive look.

The final step is to spray the entire surface of your nightstands, including the paper, with a can of Rust-Oleum clear gloss or matte rust-proofing spray, which will protect both metal and paper from moisture. The removable paper is wipeable but also easy to replace if it suffers stains or rips. Or can be switched out easily if you'd like to customize it for certain seasons or changing design tastes.

The end results belie the tiny price tag and make a great alternative to trying to find a durable outdoor-friendly bar cart, which can easily cost over $100. You can also add more nightstands if you find you want a longer surface area. The shorter height allows a great low surface with ample storage for bottles and glassware underneath, within easy reach from casual outdoor seating like lawn and lounge chairs, while the shade of the lower shelf keeps things out of direct sun if needed.

Other great inexpensive Ikea nightstands that will work perfectly for this hack include LIXHULT and IKEA PS metal cabinets, which while a bit more expensive, provide ample enclosed space for storage. For a round option that is perfect for a small space, try the LINDVED nightstand or Amazon's TOOLF design, which has a versatile shelf underneath for storing a smaller collection of bottles and looks perfect indoors or out.