Give Your Basic IKEA Coffee Table A Modern White Velvet Upgrade

Who doesn't have an old LACK side table sitting around their home somewhere? The IKEA staple is so ubiquitous that the internet abounds with DIY projects that will take your IKEA LACK table from boring to statement piece. Some are, of course, better looking, affordable, and easier to do than others, and this contemporary makeover falls firmly into that category. No sewing machine or even an upholstery stapler required! Glue cardboard to the top and two sides of the table, cover further strips of cardboard with cushion filler and white crushed velvet upholstery fabric, and glue these across the cardboard covering, giving you a reeded, padded top. Fill the open sides with fabric and cardboard panels and you're done!

With its soft upholstered top, this is, essentially, more of an ottoman than a coffee table. As such, it's more showpiece than practical. For one, the white velvet will need lots of care and regular gentle cleaning to keep it clean in most homes. Plan to use it in a secluded part of your house, like your home office or reading nook. This coffee table would serve as the perfect place to rest your Alexa or similar smart device, pillows, sturdy decor, a stack of coffee table books, or a few fluffy blankets. Given its fluted, squishy surface, you'll need to top it with a tray if you want to perch your cup of mint tea there while you read. Use it as a comfy footstool or even a place for your lazy house cat to stretch out on — so long as you don't mind carefully vacuuming up fur afterwards.

First, you'll need to gather all the bits and pieces you need to turn this idea into reality, starting with the side table itself. You can, of course, buy your LACK from IKEA for $12.99. In our opinion, that price is cheap enough to justify the effort this DIY requires. But since this is such a ubiquitous furniture item, you're just as likely to find it for cheap on the second hand market — Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, etc. A Buy Nothing group is the perfect way to furnish your home on a budget, too. Also, likely free is the sturdy cardboard you need for this DIY. If you don't already have a stash of big cardboard boxes out in the garage, ask neighbors, friends, and family. Sometimes, department stores, grocery stores, and offices give away boxes.

While all-white home decor may be going out of style, snow-hued feature furniture pieces are timeless classics. Embrace the trend with Ice Fabrics Stretch Crushed Velvet Upholstery Fabric in White. Buying 2 yards at about $24 is safe since this project requires just over a yard (or 3.3 feet) of fabric. You'll need fabric lining — 3 yards of Craftido 100% Cotton Medium Weight Fabric costs almost $23 — and Woanger Polyfill Stuffing — 2.2 pounds for a bit under $30. Finally, put together a project tool kit with fabric scissors, a measuring tape, and a tailor's pencil, marker, or chalk. You'll also need a heavy-duty glue gun and sticks to ensure a secure bond between the table, cardboard, and fabric.

Measure one side and the top of the table. Cut out five pieces of cardboard: one tabletop and four sides. Set aside two side pieces — you'll use those later — and glue the rest onto the table. Glue 2 inch or so thick strips of cardboard across the bottom of the legs on the sides you covered. You may need to fill them with ribbons of cardboard for strength. Measure the table from the bottom of one side, across the top, and down the other side. Divide the width into five and cut five strips that match. Lay these strips on your fabric, mark where you need to make cuts, and cut. Cover the strips with the fabric using your glue gun, then glue them to the cardboard covered section of the table. Line the two remaining cardboard panels with the fabric liner, then your velvet fabric, and glue them into the two open sides of the table.

Want a shorter piece of furniture? Cut down the legs as your first step. Measure carefully, place masking tape over the spot where you'll cut, and cut with a mitre box and hacksaw. Want to give this project more Scandi vibes? Cover the two open ends with wood paneling in place of the fabric. Cut channels in the legs to slide interlocking planks into. Or, if you want to use the space inside the LACK for storage, measure out enough fabric to cover the open ends with a skirt — you'll need a sewing machine for this — instead of something solid.