DIY Lego Table- IKEA Hack

I’ve been wanting to create a Lego table for Don. His favorite toy to play with are Lego so I figured a proper set-up would be ideal! Now he has a dedicated space and- major bonus- there are WAY less bricks spread across the room! Plus I think it looks cute. Here’s how to make a DIY Lego table Ikea hack. 

how to make a lego table- ikea hack

SUPPLIES

• Drop Leaf Table
• 6 Lego base plates
• 20″ of Green Felt
• 2’x4′ Hardboard cut to 30 1/8″x 20 1/6″
• Construction Adhesive
• Clamps
• Sea Glass Chalk Paint
• Slick Stick Primer
• Paint Brush

step 1

Start by cutting a piece of hardboard to size. Since I wanted to use 6 base plates for my table, I cut the board to 30 1/8″x 20 1/6″ with a table saw. A circular saw or jigsaw would work too. 

Set-up the drop leaf table according to the IKEA directions.

step 2

Next apply construction adhesive to the back of the hardboard. I used a paint brush to smooth out the glue so it wouldn’t seep through. Then, I put a piece of felt on top of the glue.

The felt is to protect the table from getting scratched up. For my table, I wanted the base plates to be moveable. I like that this gives me more flexibility. The top can be moved around the house which makes it so the table can have multiple purposes. If you don’t want it to be movable, skip this step. 

Flip the board over and cut the felt down to size. You could cut it before applying, but I think this gives the most flawless finished product. Plus it’s super easy to do!

step 3

And now, flip the board over again so the felt is facing down. Once again, apply construction adhesive to the board making sure to get close to the edges. Then, place the base plates over the glue. While drying, I used clamps to hold the base plates to the hardboard. I also placed a bunch of books on top to help with the glueing process.

step 4- paint the base

To further customize the table, I decided to paint the base of the table. 

PREP

• Clean the furniture. Mix 2 Tablespoons of White Lightning or TSP in 1 gallon of hot water. Use a rag dipped in the solution to clean the entire surface of the furniture you’ll be painting. Wipe the piece clean with a damp rag to remove any White Lightning residue. Let dry prior to painting. 
• Lay a drop cloth on the floor. Put a towel or drop cloth or piece of cardboard on the floor underneath the furniture you’re about paint. This will protect your flooring from paint drips.
• Since the finish was slick, I primed. I used one coat of Slick Stick to prime the piece. I let that dry throughly before continuing to paint.

PAINT

• Spritz your brush. With chalk paint, you always want to start with a damp brush. Continue to spray the brush and furniture piece with water while painting. 
• Start painting. Dip the paintbrush in the chalk paint and apply it thinly on the furniture. Brush in the direction on the wood grain until you’ve covered the entire piece. Note, you WON’T get full coverage with the first coat. If it’s streaky, don’t panic! I used Dixie Belle’s Sea Glass for this project.
• Let the paint dry. Usually you only need to wait 20 minutes between coats. While it’s drying, wrap your paint brush in a wet rag or plastic bag so the brush won’t dry out between coats. If you’re painting a big piece, you might be able to begin the second coat immediately without waiting since it’s probably been 20 minutes since you first started painting. 
• Paint a second coat. Repeat the instructions for the first coat of paint. This time though, you should get full coverage. If you don’t (which can happen if you’re covering dark wood with a light cover) continue with a 3rd coat of chalk paint.
• Wash out the paint brush. Usually tap water will remove all wet paint. If needed, also use mild soap. Rinse the brush until the water runs clear.
• Seal the furniture. If you’re using a clear coat, apply it with a paint brush thinly to all surfaces. If you’re using wax, apply it with a lint free rag or applicator pad all over the furniture. Buff it in with the rag after. I like to use Easy Peasy Wax Spray for sealing furniture.

after

And here’s Don’s new Lego table! The leaves come up so he has a TON of play space. He choose the colors of the base plates- blue for water and green for grass. 

The second everything was dry enough, I let Don start putting everything on the table. He was so excited to try it out! We’ve had the table for a few weeks (we only added the Lego top yesterday) and it’s gotten lots of play time!

Don is growing out of little kit play tables so I thought this would be nice. He can comfortable stand at it (which he frequently does). Or he can sit in one of the thrifted chairs I got a few months ago (and re-covered the seat). I love the idea of using a standard sized table in a kids room- it grows with the child and it’s comfortable for adults to sit at as well. 

So, what do you think of my DIY Lego table- IKEA hack? I’m super happy with it! From the touch of blue on the base to how nice it fits in this table, to how much Don loves it- it’s definitely a win in my book!

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