Upgrade An Affordable IKEA Side Table For Added Storage With A Simple DIY

With living room furniture prices increasing, paying under $100 for a new piece is almost unheard of, even for small items like side tables. IKEA is a great place to score deals that don't drain your bank account, but sometimes they're more functional than attractive. That doesn't mean you should write them off though, as DIYers are always sharing game-changing IKEA hacks. In a matter of minutes, you can assemble an attractive side table after a three-item shopping trip to the Swedish home goods giant. Pick up a GLADOM end table for around $15 and two OMBONAD walnut wood trays for just under $40 each. The two trays will morph oh-so-easily into a tabletop and shelf that not only adds another level to the piece, but it also takes it from acceptable to exceptional.

The GLADOM table has a circular tray-style top and two crossing horizontal bars that connect the four legs for support. The 17-inch-diameter OMBONAD trays are just shy of the table's diameter, and they fit perfectly on the GLADOM. Simply, replace the removable tabletop on the table and replace it with one OMBONAD tray. Easily slip the other tray through the legs to sit on the support crossbars. The rich stain of the wood trays and their perfect fit make your final product look as if they were meant to be part of the table all along.

Give your table a twist with a change of color and tray style. The GLADOM comes in black, white, dark gray-beige, and dark gray-green. But it's also a blank slate for a custom color. There's not much surface area on the table's thin legs and framing, so it wouldn't take much spray paint to give it a new, bold coat. Bright colors like vivid neon will attract attention without overpowering the room due to the thinness of the table's frame.

While the OMBONAD tray is a pretty good deal for such beautiful walnut, plunking down nearly $80 for two of them could put you off this project. Virtually any 17-inch disk will do the trick, and there are many possibilities along these lines. If you'd like a more airy piece that shows off the table frame's geometric design and costs less, look for a transparent option like Sibe-R Plastic Supply's Clear Disc.

If you're more concerned about the look of your final product than the price, seek out decorative trays that turn the table into a statement piece. This Round Wood Decorative Tray from the Hanobe Store on Amazon can give it an exotic flair. If you'd like a bit of swivel to your tabletop and shelf, IKEA's SMÅÄTA lazy susan with acacia veneer is the same dimensions as the OMBONAD and costs only $34.99. And for another side table hack, check out how to turn your GLADOM into a boho statement piece.