The $8 Room Makeover Secret

Use the tabletop as the backdrop for a series of shallow floating shelves made from the legs (we used one Lack table in the black-brown finish). We held each leg in place and screwed them in from the back of the tabletop. Try drilling pilot holes to make this process easier, and be sure to check that each shelf is level as you go. Use the existing holes on the back to hang your new shelf over a couple of screws drilled into studs or heavy-duty anchors in the wall. (One $8 table and screws = less than $10.)

Set two tabletops next to each other to create a wide rectangle, then place two legs on either side, staggering them to create a stylized, tiered look. (Note: This will fit a full-sized bed; use three tables to create a queen-sized headboard, and attach two-by-four legs for added stability.) We flipped our design over and laid three 1-inch-by-3-inch boards across them—along the top, the middle and the bottom—and drilled pilot holes through the boards. Once we screwed the boards tightly to the table pieces to hold them together, not only was our headboard secure, but the boards also created a small ledge for hanging it on the wall. (Two tables and boards = less than $30.)

Assemble two tables and have a third tabletop on hand for the base (we used three high-gloss white Lack tables). Use a drill (try a 1/4-inch bit) to make centered holes in the bottom of all eight legs, and insert a 2-inch wooden dowel into each hole (you can pick up eight extra dowels from the Ikea spare parts area or at a craft store). Use the same drill bit to make matching holes in your spare tabletop and in the top of one of the constructed tables (our trick was to drill up through the existing holes Ikea made for the legs to be sure they were perfectly placed). Stack your tables, lining up your dowels with the holes in the tabletops for a secure fit. (Three tables and dowels = less than $45.)

Sherry and John Petersik are the bloggers behind YoungHouseLove.com and the authors of Young House Love (Artisan Books).

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