When is a bowl not just a bowl? When it’s everything else! These hacks are the epitome of thinking outside the box, turning a basic IKEA bowl into a lamp, a bird feeder, a table, and so much more. (There’s even a way to measure the wind!)
IKEA’s BLANDA bowl is a simple, glass beauty, but it’s not the only member of the family. You can also choose the stainless steel BLANDA BLANK or lean into a more natural style with the bamboo BLANDA MATT.
But no matter which bowl you pick, these BLANDA hacks prove you can transform it into pretty much anything you can dream up.
Robowl Robot Light
I would not look at this robot light and think, “Ooh, bowls!” But that’s precisely what this cute little guy is. Alejandro Alcázar’s creation uses a bunch of BLANDA bowls, colorful LEDs, and plenty of ingenuity to make a super cool feature piece.
Flying Saucer Lamp
ELI combines two stainless-steel bowls of different sizes, along with lighting, to create a flying saucer-style lamp. The inside of the larger bowl is spray-painted gold to add extra visual interest to the design.
Hanging Planter
A bowl makes a natural hanging planter thanks to its shape. Dorota na przedmiesciach attached leather straps to bowls of different sizes, turning them into modern pots for flowing greenery. You could recreate this same hack with the bamboo BLANDA bowls if you prefer a more natural or rustic look.
Side Table
Cheryl Brown (@cb_loves_interiors_20) decided that four BLANDA MATT bowls made perfect sense as a modern side table, and I couldn’t agree more. Everything comes together beautifully to create one cohesive piece of furniture that looks right at home in a luxe design.
Spherical Speakers
Okay, this hack is one I can honestly say I would never think of in a million years. It is definitely different and ingenious, to say the least! Steve Fisher turned the BLANDA bowls into spherical speakers for his home theater setup.
Pendant Luminaire
Nevena designed and hacked these modern pendant lamps for her friend’s kitchen. The small holes create an interesting pattern on the ceiling and walls, and the stainless steel is the perfect match for the space’s overall design.
Small Sink
A bowl as a sink makes sense, especially when you need a small basin to save space. Manuele Gargamelli devised a quaint setup for their wooden country house using the stainless steel BLANDA BLANK.
Mid-Century Mod Dollhouse Furniture
Lene Dragon turned BLANDA bowls into some truly sophisticated dollhouse furniture with mid-century modern flair. She crafted a piece reminiscent of the iconic bowl chair (make sense, right?) and a small barbecue grill.
Glass Dome
This hack is so simple, yet so elegant. Kiki transformed her BLANDA into a pretty glass dome for cakes, treats, fruits, and more. It creates a nice centerpiece for your table while serving the practical purpose of protecting your food from pests or eager fingers.
Hanging Lamp
Looking through all the different BLANDA hacks, various light fixtures seem to be among the most popular. But even then, there are so many different ways to approach it, like this hanging lampshade from Otto Stockmeier. Otto’s goal was to direct light up to the white ceiling to create a reflective effect that maximizes the light in the room.
Anemometer for Wind Speed
Who would have guessed that there was an IKEA hack to measure wind speed? Well, Caernac for one. They created an anemometer using several BLANDA bowls and PVC pipes to measure the wind. Sure, you could just buy one, but they said they’re usually too small, and besides, where’s the fun in that?
Bird Feeder
This hack turns the BLANDA BLANK bowls into a modern metal bird feeder that’s sure to delight any feathered friend. There are holes in the bottom to improve drainage, and a wooden dowel makes the perfect perch for hungry visitors.
Console Table
Brittany Christina Home (@brittanychristinahome) glued together BLANDA bowls to create a chunky, modern base for a sleek console table. All you need are some heavy-duty adhesive, wood filler, your preferred paint color, and a tabletop. Brittany used the top of a LACK TV unit.
Checkered Coffee Table
This checkered coffee table sits atop, you guessed it, BLANDA bowls! Reddit user Melodic-Vacation8297 turned 8 bowls into four legs for a custom table that’s stylish and fun. Now, as one commenter pointed out, they just need a giant chess set to go with it!
Which of these clever hacks is your favorite? Recreate one for your home, or share your own brilliant BLANDA hack. There’s always room for more ideas!