Materials: Lack shelving unit, Capita legs, Iris chair pads
Description: This may not be a new idea, but I though I would share the end result!
Instructions: We made the benches before we had the table, only because we had them in storage. I love the look, but as a vertical unit they are not that practical. The benches are Ikea Lack shelving units turned on their side. Please note, their needs to be some attention taken to the amount of weight that the shelves can hold. They are not intended to be benches. We have found that they can easily hold 3 150-180 pounds adults.
We used 6 Capita legs (different heights available), 2 at each end and 2 spot in the middle. Choose the height of the leg depending on the height of your table - we used the 10" size. I chose 5 Iris chair pads as they fit the length and depth of the bench almost perfectly. The cubbyholes can now be sued for baskets or other storage containers for toys, games, table linens. etc
A last trick for rented homes and apartments, hang your own lighting or ask your landlord to do it. If it doesn't require a change to the existing electrical hardware, it is easy to put up and then take down when you leave. And really, it makes such a huge impact. We hung a Kroby light fixture and even installed a dimmer switch
. The switch we'll probably leave for the next tenants - every overhead light should be on a dimmer in my opinion.See more of the Lack shelving bench.
~ Alex T
I didn't realize these things were that strong. Looks nice.
ReplyDeleteI had the same Idea about a year and a half ago, and the expert from Ikea told me that actually the lack shelves were not strong enough to carry more than two people at best, which he considered a very optimistic estimate. Especially considering that people don't just sit still, but move sidewards (this is the most dangerous kind of movement on this lack-bench).
ReplyDeleteHope your guest don't get hurt.
Nice! Have you considered reinforcing the benches at all? If properly reinforced, it would definitely help with the weight distribution on the benches and extend the life of them.
ReplyDeleteI love this you just give me an great project to do.
ReplyDeleteI've been using one as a dining bench for years with no problems at all. I got a 4 inch thick piece of foam custom cut to size and it works great. It's actually my coffee table on large wheels, but it pulls up to the dining table for when there are lots of guests.
ReplyDeleteNice idea! Have you considered putting casters on the benches? It would make the benches more mobile, and would most likely remove some of the side to side and front to back movements on the bench.
ReplyDeleteit looks comfortable and safe specially for the kids. not too high and not too short.. for me this is the dining table that i want.
ReplyDeleteFrom an engineering standpoint, I think you could up the load carrying simply by placing legs under the verticals rather than between them. Screwing a half-inch piece of MDF or plywood to the top would be the belt-and-suspenders step.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, I love bench seating! Would be awesome for extra storage with baskets, like you mentioned. We used 4 Lack side tables pushed together as an extra long coffee table to go with our extra long sectional, and often times the tables would double as extra seating during game nights. Have a couple larger friends that never had a problem.
ReplyDeleteAs a mom, I really love your idea, I love benches and you can use them to store the kids toys, I live in a narrow town house so furniture with storage is perfect for me and my family needs! Love your idea!
ReplyDelete