Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Parents Magazine. All opinions are my own.
I have been bursting at the seams to share this fun project with you for a couple of months now, and the day is finally here! I’ve partnered with Parents Magazine for a fun blogger challenge, and I am thrilled to share that this project will appear in their May issue (on stands this month)!
Parents Magazine sent a few bloggers (myself included) an IKEA changing table and told us to transform it into something completely different. The catch? We could only spend $50 on materials (not including basic supplies most people would already have on-hand in their toolkit).
Well, you know I love a good challenge, so here’s what I came up with! It’s something we’ve desperately needed for quite some time: A DIY Lego Table.
PROJECT SUPPLIES:
- IKEA Gulliver Changing Table (white)
- Saw (I used a circular saw, but a hand saw will do.)
- Brad Nailer or Hammer and Nails
- Wood Glue
- Putty Knife
- Drill/Screwdriver
- Wood Filler
- Sandpaper
- Utility knife
Purchased:
- 2 Sample Pots Behr “White” paint with primer ($3.38 at The Home Depot)
- 1 Sample Pot Behr “December Eve” paint ($3.38 – The Home Depot)
- 1- inch Painter’s Tape ($2.00 – Amazon)
- 4 White Robe Hooks ($1.45 each – Amazon)
- 4 Metal Buckets ($1/each – Target dollar spot. Could also find them at the dollar store.)
- Paint Brush ($1.85 on Amazon)
- (6) – 10×10 Lego base plates. (Base plates can be found on eBay or Amazon for approx. $30 total if you shop around, otherwise they are $8 each at Toys R Us). I did not permanently attach these, so they can be removed if the kids want to use the table for other activities.
Total Spent: $49.44
DIY LEGO TABLE INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Cut each changing table side support piece (the large pieces with the spindles) in half with a saw. (A circular saw works great for this, but a hand saw will suffice.)
Step 2
Create the main tabletop by inserting one of the large, white rectangular panels into the slots of two of the 1×4 boards (for the longer sides) and two of the 1×2 pieces (for the shorter ends).
The boards will form a border around the rectangular panel. Attach all of the border pieces to each other with wood glue and brad nails (or hammer and nails).
(Note: I recommend using multiple thin nails, as this wood cracks easily. Screws may also crack it, so attach the pieces carefully.)
Step 3
The bottom half of each of the side supports which were cut in half will become the table legs. Attach these to each end of the table with wood glue and nails.
Step 4
Use a putty knife and wood filler to patch all nail holes.
Step 5
Sand over the dried wood filler to smooth it, and lightly sand the entire piece (except for the main table top).
Step 6
Apply 2 thin coats of white paint/primer (I did not paint the main tabletop panel though). Although the table is already white, this is necessary to camouflage the wood filler and make sure the entire piece is a uniform shade.
Step 7
(Optional if you want the table to have striped legs.) Tape off 1 inch stripes on each leg, up to the point where the spindles start.
Step 8
Paint the legs navy blue. (3 thin coats, allowing each coat to thoroughly dry first.) Peel tape off while the last coat of paint is damp, revealing stripes.
Step 9
Attach a robe hook to the ends of the table (one per corner).
Step 10
Hang buckets from the robe hooks.
Step 11
Optional: Cut lego base plates to size by scoring with a utility knife and snapping excess off. Lay base plates onto table top. (You can glue them down if you’d like them to be permanently attached.)
Fill with Legos and set your kiddos loose to enjoy it!
My boys have really been enjoying the new Lego table. They spend a lot of time playing on it. I’d love to know—are your kids as Lego-obsessed as mine are? Leave a comment and let me know! Be sure to CLICK HERE and check out the slideshow of all of the bloggers’ projects from this challenge.
If you like this project, I would absolutely love it if you would pin it on Pinterest or share it on Facebook! (Or anywhere else you’d like to share it.) Thank you!
- IKEA TARVA Hack
- DIY Kid’s Art Table
- Interactive Chalkboard Gallery Wall
- The 20 Toy Rule: How We Decluttered Our Playroom & Simplified Our Life
- or check out my project gallery here!
You can also connect with me here:
SheilaG- PlumDoodles says
Wow, the Lego table looks great- what an ingenius idea. Love the accent of the striped legs.
Erin Spain says
Thanks so much, Sheila!
medina grillo says
Wow this is awesome! I’m in love with it!
Erin Spain says
Thank you, Medina!
Kim Vallee says
Nicely done. It looks great and would be practical for your little boy.
Erin Spain says
Thank you, Kim!
Mary- the boondocks blog says
Great Hack Erin! Very creative and original on your part! I’m sure your son loves it. And this way there’ll be fewer legos on the floor …ouch!
Vineta @ The Handyman's Daughter says
What a great IKEA hack. My son would love that Lego table!
Erin Spain says
Thanks, Vineta! My boys have been putting it to good use.
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins says
This is awesome Erin!! I love how it turned out and definitely pinning this for the baby furniture that I will soon have no use for…..awwwwwwww little tear.
Erin Spain says
Thank you, Stephanie! Isn’t it sad how quickly the baby phase goes? They grow too fast!
Cleaning Please says
Thank you, Erin. That is an excellent idea. I have never thought about it. Kids will love it!
Erin Spain says
Thank you!