Customize Your IKEA HOL Storage Table With This Stunning Cross Stitch DIY

If you're looking to upgrade the simplistic design of your IKEA HOL storage table but don't know where to start, then a DIY by TikTok user @dalia.ea can help. Her design trick? Using cross-stitching techniques to create a unique look that is perfect for creating a cozy feel in any space — what more could you ask for? Of course, it's also an easy way to achieve a look without splashing the cash on a brand-new product, which could be more expensive. However, you may simply love getting creative, which is perfectly fine, too!

All you'll need is some white and brown wool roving, which is available off Amazon for $7.99 for 3.5 ounces, as well as dark walnut wood stain, Minwax polyacrylic crystal clear top coat, and a small paintbrush. You can get the wood stain from Michaels for $10.99 if you don't have some already and the Minwax from Amazon for $12.98. If you don't have the table but want to try this out, you can grab it from IKEA for £60 in the U.K. and $129 from Australian IKEA. However, it's not currently available in the U.S., so you may need to look for the HOL table in secondhand marketplaces if you're stateside.

To prep your table for the embroidery, begin by disassembling it and adding a coat of wood stain and polyacrylic to the entire thing before allowing it to dry. This should take around a day. Afterward, piece it back together and feed the wool roving through each hole using a cross-stitching method to create your desired pattern. If you're unsure of the exact design you want, find inspiration online or alternate colors between rows to keep it simple. Fill in the rest of the gaps with brown wool to cover the entirety of your HOL storage, and voila! 

Now, you should have a stunning embroidered piece you can place virtually anywhere around your home, like your living room, hallway, bedroom, or a nook where you can continue to use it as storage. You may even want to stage it like a coffee table. If you're unsure about the cross-stitching method, take some excess roving you don't mind throwing away and practice the technique in a couple of holes. If it goes wrong, snip or coax it out and start again.

While this embroidered IKEA HOL certainly looks great, it may be tricky to fully utilize as a table due to the thick wool threaded through the openings. To overcome this, take this DIY a step further and install a wooden or glass top for a sturdier result. Be sure you get the correct measurements first. If you're using wood, you should be able to drill it on, but for the glass option, you may need to opt for a pre-drilled or custom piece to make sure it stays put. After you're done, you should end up with a pretty unique coffee table. 

Another way to customize this DIY is to switch up the colors of the yarn and use something other than brown and white. You could even use several colors to create a rainbow effect that will produce an incredibly striking result. However, try your best to keep it clean, as any spillages onto the yarn could be difficult to remove.