Bedside Table Refurbishment AKA Original 'Ikea Hack'

Ever heard of Ikea Hackers?

They’ve got all sorts of clever DIY ideas to make Ikea stuff look even better. I haven’t been game to do an Ikea hack yet because every time I try to go to the store, I’m bombarded by seniors eating cheap meatballs and families standing in the middle of aisles looking confused.

It’s not my happy place.

Seriously, Ikea Hacking is just another fancy term for ‘refurbish’, right? Except you use things from Ikea. Painting a cupboard and putting on new door knobs? It ain’t rocket science.

I’m thankful these people haven’t realised that they can get some cheap furniture items, if not meatballs, at op shops around Perth.

When I found these bedside tables at my local secret op shop location (the same place where I got my $10 telephone table), I immediately felt like grabbing my orbital sander… and a bowl of meatballs.

They cost $25 for the pair. They were in great nick too. I love their old fashion shape, and the practicality of their size.

Orbital sander, liming white varnish, dark grey gloss paint, door knobs, painters tape, screwdriver, door stoppers as feet, brushes.

1 week (mostly waiting for layers of paint to dry).

Under $100 if you have the tools.

Pull it all apart and sand it. Take off all the knobs and broken parts, then sand first with a rough gauge sandpaper. I used 40 grit. Then I moved on to 80, then 100. Then I laid down because my shoulders were sore.

I drilled holes in the base of the tables and set the door stoppers into each corner. This made the tables stand up so I could reach all sides with the paint.

Paint on the liming white, using the layers to build up to the level of white you want. I painted one coat over the whole table to seal it, then three more on the front and side that were remaining white, along with the door and drawer.