Woman Transforms Simple IKEA Kitchen Finds Into A Functional Piece Of Furniture

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Not every IKEA hack is about saving money. Sometimes the crafty transformations are about making something so unique that your guests immediately ask where you bought it. DIYer Tina Dehnfjeld did exactly that when she combined some simple IKEA kitchen finds into a functional piece of furniture for her bedroom. By layering several cork trivets and coasters together, Dehnfjeld created a small side table with an earthy, organic look and plenty of structural stability and heft.

Admittedly, there are so many new IKEA finds to check out in 2026 that making your own side table may not be the first thing that comes to mind during your next trip wandering the store's labyrinthian aisles. And truth be told, thanks to popular options like the $17 LACK side table, there are much cheaper ways to add some of IKEA's signature Scandinavian minimalism next to your own bed or couch. This DIY side table calls for at least nine sets of the 7-inch HEAT Trivets, which come in 3-packs for $6 each and 10 of the larger 11-inch HEAT Trivets, which are $9 each. Along with a tube of No More Nails Adhesive, transforming these simple IKEA finds into a side table will cost around $162.

That said, what you'll spend on supplies you'll save on effort because this is one of the easiest IKEA hacks we've seen in a minute. The process is extremely simple. It involves nothing more than gluing three small coasters together before sandwiching each stack of them in between the larger trivets using even more glue.

Making sure form meets function is one of the easiest ways to make your IKEA hacks look super professional. To make this functional furniture on a budget, it's imperative that you use a large trivet for both the bottom and top of your side table to ensure you end up with a stable base and large enough tabletop space for a warm drink, stack of books, or other items. For added balance, it's also a good idea to incorporate the larger trivets equidistantly between the smaller cork stacks.

However, you don't need to feel limited to the original HEAT trivets since this clever side table idea will work with several different IKEA kitchen finds. For more color, consider incorporating a few of the limited edition Heat patterned cork trivets or placing the colorful KNORRHAJ Pot Stands on top of the table. If you're completely sold on the neutral look, another IKEA hack hiding in plain sight is to set your completed side table on top of an ÅKERBÄR Plant stand. The galvanized steel find measures just under 13 inches, which should perfectly accommodate your table base. Meanwhile, its small caster wheels would make it easy to move your side table wherever you need it most.