Shoe Bench from IKEA Entertainment Center

Complete your landing space with a comfy shoe bench with shoe storage space for a few frequently used pairs under the seat. IKEA entertainment units are perfect for this type of hack. While the TV unit used in this hack is no longer in production, the BESTÅ and LACK TV units are good candidates for a shoe bench.

Shoe Bench from IKEA Entertainment Center
Materials: 

  • Ikea TV stand
  • circular saw
  • safety glasses
  • 21×47” OSB
  • foam mattress pad
  • 1.5 yards of fabric
  • staples and stapler
  • carpet grip pad

How to hack a shoe bench from an IKEA entertainment center

1. Gather materials.

Foam – most foam works – I bought a full size 1” foam mattress pad off Amazon for ~$20.

TV Stand – search Craigslist for “IKEA TV stand” or “IKEA entertainment center” – Solid wood units will provide the best strength.

OSB – any board (MDF, OSB, plywood) 1/2” or thicker that matches the dimensions of the TV stand top should be sufficient.

1.5 yards of fabric runs ~$10 (use a coupon!)

2. Cut foam and support board to TV stand top dimension, with scissors and circular saw respectively. Using a straight edge to mark lines with a sharpie help. Check for squareness.

3. Place fabric, foam, and board upside down on top of TV stand. Pull fabric around and cut off any excess fabric that wraps past the edge of the board by 3-4 inches.

4. Add a heavy weight (150lb helper in my case) on top of the board to compress the foam. This will assist in creating a tight/nice looking fabric surface.

5. Staple the fabric every 2-3 inches. Try a few different techniques for folding the corners (think wrapping paper and go from there).

6. Add carpet grip between TV stand and board. Enjoy.

Estimated completion time with right materials/tools: 30-60 minutes

~ Travis Church, United States