Grab A Few IKEA LACK Tables To DIY A Luxe-Looking Concrete Column

It's a double score, psychologically at least: Recreating something that shouldn't be expensive but is, and making it with something that seems like it should be pricey but isn't. In this case, we're talking about TikTok creator @lonefoxhome's DIY concrete column. Real concrete columns can be costly and are extremely heavy, but @lonefoxhome built his with some cheap IKEA side tables and a thin veneer of cement floor-patching material. His project weighs very little but is substantial enough to not tip over when your cat brushes against it.

IKEA LACK hacks are nothing new. We've seen everything from 3D printer enclosures to disco tables made with mirror mosaic tiles constructed with this fan-favorite line. And they don't always keep their basic shape, as seen in the IKEA LACK bench hack. But @lonefoxhome goes further, using three of the smallest (13 ¾-inch-by-13 ¾-inch) LACK side tables as nothing more than a skeleton for his fake concrete mini-tower. He stacks them, then attaches Polywall sheeting as a substrate for Henry 549 Feather Finish. Feather Finish is a cement patch and skimcoat that really brings the cement look without all the weight.

One great thing about this project is its price tag: Polywall ($25.98), Feather Finish ($25), and three IKEA LACK tables ($9.99 each) ring up at $80.95. But if @lonefoxhome's materials don't work for you (and it might not; there is only about one IKEA store per U.S. state at the moment), never fear. The ingenuity of the DIY community never fails. For a cylindrical column, you can take the surprisingly unsurprising step of making your concrete form out of a concrete form. These cardboard cylinders are commonly available in 8, 10, and 12-inch diameters. You can also go wild and use the concrete form tubes as concrete forms if you don't mind the weight of solid concrete. And you're not stuck with Polywall, either. Faux cement will stick to many substrates, from foam poster board to old wallpaper to scrap OSB and other construction leftovers.

As good as it is, Feather Finish isn't the only option either. Depending on the project and the look you're going for, you can fake cement with other patching materials like ready-mixed stucco patch or joint compound. Another option is spray wall texture, and we're pretty sure this is a better use for that particular product. Other inventive DIYers have discovered that combining acrylic paint with baking soda renders a concrete-like finish. Then there is microcement, which is a good option if durability is required. And don't forget that old lawn ornament standby, hypertufa. You already forgot it, didn't you?

If you're still worrying about your column tipping over, consider topping it with a faux concrete vase or planter. If your visitors look askance at a real concrete planter teetering on a fake column, why not go all in on the fake cement? Dress up a cheap plastic pot for a substantial-looking, but substantially less dangerous, falling object. If square isn't your preferred polygon, cylindrical forms can be used for standalone faux columns, legs, and pedestal bases. They're also brilliant for outdoor projects like DIY candle columns; try making a set in different heights. The faux cement look also works great on console tables. Whether you coat an existing table or build a new one, simpler is better since too much detail can undermine the willing suspension of concrete disbelief. Sometimes belief in your faux projects can be more willingly believed than others. This is the case with homely old lamp bases, which somehow take on a sophisticated air when slathered with concrete. Who saw that coming?

We have a few tips for the novice cement faker as well. If your form really is unsteady, heavier materials can add weight to the base. If you want your project to look like it's fallen over a few times, try adding a faux finish. And, finally, if a material like joint compound is too white for belief, you can colorize it with liquid cement color.