My first apartment out of college basically looked like an IKEA showroom. Like most people in their early 20s, I didn't have much money to throw around, but I wanted to strike out on my own.
By the time my apartment was fully furnished, I was somewhat of a haggling expert, and Craigslist became much less intimidating. For anything I couldn't find online, I turned to IKEA.
And now that I'm moving on from this old furniture, instead of tossing these items out, I've turned to the trusty internet for upcycling ideas. It turns out there are whole Pinterest boards dedicated to taking old IKEA furniture from drab to fab with a few simple steps.
Scroll down to find out what one clever DIY-er decided to do with an old stool and chair from IKEA, and let us know what you think of his cool project in the comments below!
[H/T: Imgur]
The DIY-er used two old stools that his neighbor planned on throwing away for his project.
Instead of tossing them in the trash, he decided to upcycle them into a wine table to match his outdoor furniture.
He began by removing the legs of the birch stool.
Next, he drew out his plans with pencil on the flat surfaces of the former seat.
Using a drill and a jigsaw, he cut the appropriate-size holes into the seats of the stools.
These spaces would eventually hold wine glasses and wine bottles.
After cutting down the legs and rounding them with a belt sander, he reattached them to the top piece.
Next, he moved on to the brown stool.
The rest of the legs were aligned to the base so he could screw it to the glass holder.
It was hard to see its shape before, but after assembling the pieces together, you can see how this wine holder works!
The little legs on top fit into the little holes of the base. He used smaller pieces of wood to fill in any gaps.
Since IKEA stools are made from very thin layers of wood, it's hard to sand down and keep a consistent look.
Instead, he painted it a beautiful apple red color.
With just a few simple steps, this DIY-er turned some old IKEA furniture into a classy little wine holder for outdoor get-togethers.
Have you ever upcycled old furniture? Let us know how you did it in the comments, and don't forget to SHARE this project with anyone who's been thinking of doing some redecorating!
