ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

Ever since I saw Kim Johnson’s Ikea hacked kitty shelf I’ve wanted to make one of my own. The clever mod cuts an Ikea diaper changing table in half to create two wall shelves affixed to the wall.

With an Ikea gift card given as a wedding gift, I set out to make my own. Along the way, with the help of my sculptor father (who is a crafty carpenter, plumber, and general genius on the side), I made some adjustments to Kim’s original schematics. After the jump, how to make my version of Kim’s clever hack.

What You’ll Need:

-Ikea Sniglar
-Styrofoam
-Batting
-Fabric of your choice
-1″-by-1″ scrap wood cut into 6-inch sections (x8)
-1″-by-2″ scrapwood cut into 6 inch sections (x4)
-1-5/8″ wood and drywall screws
-1″ wood screws
-primer
-paint(s) of choice
-paint that matches your wall
-drill
-table saw
-sand paper

Building the Shelves:

1. Using a table saw, cut the particleboard shelf tops in half, lengthwise.
2. Cut the two (shorter) sides of each shelf frame in half.
3. Sand the cut ends so they’re relatively smooth.

4. Paint the frame pieces with primer.
5. Once dry, brush on a layer of the color of your choice. I chose to paint the shelf frames a light blue (Ace Hardware, Timeless, B41-3) and the frame’s legs a darker blue (Ace Hardware, Water Flow, A40-4). Let dry and then do another layer.

6. Once dry, put each half of the diaper table together.
7. Prime the scrap wood.
8. For every 1″-by-1″ piece of scrap wood, use a drill bit to bore pilot holes towards the middle of each 6-inch section.
9. For each half of the diaper table, flip it upside down, line up a piece of scrap wood on either side of the back of the frame so that the screw hole is underneath the shelf top and the scrap wood doesn’t pass the outer edge of the shelf. Use your drill to create pilot holes through the scrap wood and into the back corner of the frame’s underside.

This photo was taken before I realized I should sand and prime before I attach everything.

10. Drill a 1″ wood screw through the new holes to attach the two pieces together.
11. Do the same for each back end corner of the top and bottom shelves.
12. If you’re working with drywall, use a stud finder to locate a stud on the wall you’d like your shelf to be on.
13. Place the shelf so that one of the attached pieces of scrap wood can be screwed into the stud.
14. Use a 1-5/8″ wood screw to affix the shelf to the stud.

15. Affix the other scrap wood to the wall using either drywall screws or wood, depending on where the scrap wood meets with the wall.
16. Bore two holes into the 1″-by-2″ pieces of scrap wood, roughly an inch in from each end.

17. Place each piece directly below each shelf top and attach to the wall using either drywall or wood screws (again, depending on what kind of wall you’re dealing with). These pieces will help the shelf top from sagging from the weight put on the shelf.

18. Paint all the scrap wood the same color as your wall.

Create the Cat Pillow:

1. Cut Styrofoam and batting to the size and shape of one of the shelves.
2. Upholster the padding with your fabric.
3. Tuck the newly covered pad into one of the shelves, sprinkle on some catnip and watch your kitties climb aboard!

Tags: cat shelf, ikea, ikea hack, wall shelf