This IKEA Planter Hack Is One of the Smartest I’ve Ever Seen (The After Is Unrecognizable!)

There are a handful of IKEA staples that devoted IKEA hackers know and love: the BILLY bookshelf, the HEMNES dresser, the IVAR cabinets. But don’t discount IKEA’s seasonal offerings! The summertime-exclusive products can be the start of some seriously inspired DIY projects. One of my favorites I’ve seen recently? A brilliant hack that transformed a flower box into a gorgeous scalloped ottoman.

This project is the brainchild of TikToker Dalia Aly (@dalia.ea), who began her DIY using the ASHOLMEN flower box. “I’ve been so into the look of scalloped furniture and when I saw the flower box I just knew it would give that perfect vibe,” Aly says in her video.

To turn the wood planter into a luxe-looking piece of indoor furniture, Aly started by sanding off the existing finish. Then she followed with a pre-stain conditioner and a darker stain (her favorite color, Minwax’s Dark Walnut, which she says “makes everything look so much richer”). 

Aly used some spare wood to line the inside of her ottoman, using the same walnut stain to help it blend in. She finished the whole thing with Polycrylic sealer.

What makes the ottoman extra special is the upholstered top. For that, Dalia used some more spare wood to create a base. She covered it with foam and then stapled on a gorgeous velvet fabric that she says shifts color in the light — it’s a little green, a little gold, a little brown.

The end product is a gorgeous upholstered ottoman with very on-trend scallop details, but that’s not even the best part! When Aly pops off the cushion top, she reveals that the inside of the former flower box is now supremely handy hidden storage.

Want to copy the look? Grab the ASKHOLMEN while it’s on sale this summer, then pick your favorite fabric to use for the top. Might I recommend some of IKEA’s groovy new designs?