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DIY Cat Condo Using Ikea Tables

This tutorial shares my DIY cat condo using Ikea tables—and no power tools!

How to make a DIY cat condo using Ikea tables!

We have two very spoiled kitties named Henry and Blanche. Henry is almost 2 years old and Blanche just turned 1 a few months ago. They’re both rescues and are very active.

They love to run around and chase each other, and they are not de-clawed, so we need to make sure they have plenty of entertainment and scratching posts. We have two cat trees with scratching posts and lounging spots, but both trees are pretty ugly and falling apart.

Unfortunately cat trees can also be pretty expensive, so I’ve been researching ideas for an aesthetically pleasing DIY cat tree. This idea really sparked my interest, especially since I already had one of the tables I’d need, paint, and a staple gun.

homemade cat condo made using Ikea Lack tables

Supplies I used…

(Affiliate links below; read more about those here)

And here’s how I made a cat condo using Ikea Lack tables!

Step 1: Apply faux fur sections

To get started, I made sure both were disassembled so the legs weren’t in the way. I had eight legs, two tops (square and rectangle), and the coffee table’s bottom shelf. First I worked with the top of the smaller table and the shelf on the larger table because I was adding some faux fur to them.

I laid the top of the smaller table and the larger table’s bottom shelf on the back of my furry fabric. Then I cut pieces that were just big enough to wrap around the entire table top and table shelf. Using the staple gun, I stapled the fabric over like I was upholstering a chair cushion.

Henry loved the fabric and enjoyed helping me cut it out—this these spots have definitely been some of his favorite places to lay since he got his new condo! If you want to be able to remove the fabric to wash, I recommend cutting pieces just large enough to cover a surface area.

Then you can attach them using velcro pieces glued to the back of the fabric and the top of the surface area you’re covering. You could spot treat and vacuum attached fabric, though.

pretty kitty laying on fabric

Step 2: Create scratching posts

I created the scratching posts using sisal rope. But I decided to wrap only two and a half of the side table’s legs. I bought two 50-foot rolls of 3/8-inch sisal and used it all. Mostly I just didn’t want to buy any more, so I used what I had.

To wrap the sisal around each leg, I ran strong super glue up and down the table legs. Then I began wrapping the sisal tightly around each leg, stapling every few inches using my staple gun as I wrapped. The goal of the staples was to hold everything in place while the glue dried.

After the glue dries, you can remove the staples with pliers. If you keep the staples in, you do run the risk of your kitty’s claws getting stuck in one. You could mitigate this risk by putting the staples on the back-side of a post, but it’s easiest to just remove them and not have to think about it!

diy cat condo scratching posts made using sisal rope and glue

Step 3: Paint pieces

At this point, I had seven pieces that I hadn’t touched: six table legs and the coffee table’s top. I decided to paint these pieces using some leftover paint I had in the closet. I mixed a few colors from the DecoArt Americana Decor Chalky Finish line and ended up with a purple. Paint is optional for this project.

This paint sticks to anything, meaning it sticks just fine to the slick Ikea furniture finish. I used a matte finish because I wanted the piece to look polished, but I didn’t want it to look shiny. This paint held up really well, too.

painting the table and legs purple

Step 4: Assemble all pieces

When the paint was dry, I assembled the pieces. First I assembled the coffee table by screwing all four legs on and setting the furry shelf in. Then, I assembled the side table by screwing its legs into the bottom of the table. If the faux fur fabric is getting in the way, just snip a bit off.

diy cat condo scratching posts

Step 5: Glue cat condo tables together

Before I attached the two tables to one another, I needed to decide how I wanted the finished piece to look. I wanted the higher side of the piece to back into the corner of our living room wall, so I positioned the side table so that the scratching post legs were not against the wall.

When I was happy with the arrangement, I dabbed some strong glue onto the bottom of each of the four side table’s legs. Then I carefully put the side table on top of the coffee table and placed a few heavy books on top of the side table to ensure the glue got a firm bond. You can use clamps if you happen to have them, but random heavy objects work well, too.

If you like this project, check out my indoor cat house build plans, my raised pet feeder for cats and a sleek feeder for dogs, my easy cat scratching post, and my DIY cat tree using real branches.

Step 6: Adorn with toys

I stuck a small hook eye into the bottom of the side table so that I could hang one of their toys from. I also glued one of those door knob scratchers that they never used onto the top of the coffee table. All the work adding toys and scratching objects, though, and they still prefer to just sleep on the furry levels. 🙂

a collage with pictures of the toys and a fake plant

And that’s my DIY cat condo!

As you can see, this is a really easy homemade cat condo made with inexpensive Ikea tables. It doesn’t require any power tools, and you can easily customize it. I’m so pleased with how it looks, and my the cats love it!

cute kitty sitting on a DIY cat condo
diy cat condo scratching post
homemade cat condo made using Ikea Lack tables
cats on a homemade cat condo
cat on a homemade cat condo
cat sitting on a homemade cat condo

DIY Cat Condo Using No Power Tools

make a homemade cat condo

Making a homemade cat condo is a great way to create a beautiful piece of furniture that your cats will love to play and lounge on. My DIY cat condo uses no power tools and tables from Ikea to keep this an easy, affordable project!

Materials

  • Ikea LACK Coffee Table
  • Ikea LACK Side Table
  • Sisal rope
  • Hand-held staple gun
  • Gorilla Glue
  • Faux fur fabric
  • Paint
  • Small hook eye
  • Various toys

Instructions

  1. Ensure both Lack tables are disassembled. Use a staple fun to wrap faux fur fabric around the top of the small table. Repeat on the bottom shelf piece that comes with the larger table.
  2. Create scratching posts by wrapping sisal rope around the legs. Hold the rope in place with strong glue and a staple gun; remove the staples once the glue dries so they do not catch your kitty's nails.
  3. Paint pieces if you'd like. Then assemble the tables by screwing the legs into the bottoms of the tabletops and adding the bottom shelf pieces on the larger table.
  4. Glue the smaller table on top of the larger table using strong glue. Set something heavy like a bunch of textbooks on top of the smaller table to apply pressure while the glue dries.
  5. Add a toy using a hanging hook screwed into the bottom of the table top. Add additional toys as you wish. Enjoy!!

Notes

If you use Gorilla Glue, remember that it expands as it dries, so don't use too much.

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collage that says how to make a cat condo using ikea lack tables with pictures of the project

Brittany Goldwyn
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  1. Jeni says:

    We used your idea to build a kitty condo to put by our bedroom window. I wanted something that matched the rest of our furniture and this completely worked, so thank you so much for the idea!

    I wish I could post a pic for you, it turned out great!

  2. Kristi Labrenz says:

    Hi – I LOVE what you have done here! I am going to modify the idea a bit to fit in a tight corner. I was thinking of using maybe a combo of the LACK side table with several EKET cubes. I was wondering – how is it holding up with just Gorilla Glue? I was thinking I would reinforce with brackets, but all the other hackers I have seen are using only glue. Does the glue really keep it all together? We have 2 kittens that will be getting bigger and bigger everyday – needless to say they are wild monkeys right now, flying off everything. Can Gorilla Glue withstand crazy kittens/teenagers?

    Looking forward to your feedback!

    Purrs & Love

  3. Jacquie Blair says:

    Awesome! The cats must love it! Pretty and useful…two in one!…always great.

  4. Jillynn Markle says:

    I made this yesterday with my daughter and my cats LOVE it. Even my cat who hides all day long came out after it was made and she has been using it ever since. This has been a god send!

  5. Gigi says:

    AMAZING SO FAB THANKS IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL

  6. Megan says:

    OMG!!!! You are a genius!! I just ordered both the tables online from ikea…. thank goodness I could order it online, ikea is an hour away! I just got 2 new kittens and I cannot wait to make this for them!! Eeeee…. I am so giddy. I’ve been searching for the perfect cat ‘play house’ and everything in the stores is either way too expensive or way too boring! You are a life saver, only wish I could tell you in person. THANK YOU!!!!
    -xoxoxo

  7. Leslie says:

    You’ve got a Lotta time huh? I like it.

  8. Tami Novak says:

    Thank you! I just happen to have an old coffee table and an unused side table. After pricing out cat trees, this DIY will be quite a life saver! Awesome job!

  9. Molly Reese says:

    I love the end results! Fabulous idea! Would you mind telling me the cost of this project?

    • Hi, Molly! Thanks! It’s hard to say what the exact final cost was because I had some of the materials already. I already had the smaller of the two tables and repurposed it for this project, but it was $10 when I bought it. The bigger table is $25. I used about $10 worth of sisal rope for the scratchers, and I already had the staple gun, which was under $10 new. The paint I used is ~8.50/can (it’s the Americana Decor Chalky Finish brand, but I mixed two colors), and the fabric was a faux fur from Jo-Ann that was ~8.99 (always search for a coupon before shopping at Jo-Ann!). I think Gorilla Glue is about $5. So if you’re starting from scratch, you’re looking at ~$80. If you want to keep it cheaper, you could always do two of the $10 tables stacked on top of one another and not paint it. I didn’t originally plan to paint it, but I had some paint already, so I went for it.

  10. Madison says:

    So cute! Love that it’s easy to do and very customizable. Do you have any measurements for how tall the finished piece is? Just rescued a kitty and want to make her something she can relax on while watching out the window πŸ™‚

    • Hi, thank you! The total height is 36 inches. If you want to go the Ikea route and that isn’t the height you want, they have lots of other affordable options for tables with different height options. Enjoy your new kitty.

  11. Megan Sjoquist says:

    This is a fabulous idea and we’ll definitely do something like it when our current scratching post/perch starts to disintegrate πŸ™‚

    • You could always make it now…I’m sure they wouldn’t complain! Our living room has three cat trees in it. I felt bad for them because they are indoor kitties cooped up in an apartment, so they need plenty of entertainment. πŸ™‚

  12. This is super lovely!! Well done! πŸ™‚ xox

  13. Elena says:

    LOVE! Told my hubby we are making this for our two cats πŸ™‚

  14. Rose Hill says:

    Finally a cool looking cat condo idea that doesn’t have you buy 2×4 lumber – LOVE! This would work with a thrift store table too. I might try a skinnier – taller version for our newest addition, Wolfie, who showed up in the yard one day, skin and bones and super skittish. Now he feels at home and the addition of a cat condo would be the icing on the cake – and keep him from clawing at the carpet and rugs. Purrfect!

    • Aww, welcome home, Wolfie! Henry isn’t a big scratcher, but Blanche is (the smaller one). She loves stretching up from the floor and clawing the outermost post. I had thought about doing a thrift store table as well, but I couldn’t find something, and my impatience got the best of me.

  15. Ariana says:

    Love this! We are in the market for a new cat tree, and prefer a DIY route. How clever! Lucky cats πŸ™‚

    • They love it! And there are so many good DIY options out there. I wanted to find some good secondhand furniture, but I liked how easy the Ikea tables were to work with. Good luck πŸ™‚

  16. bj says:

    like the condo… been thinking of something like this for my hubby’s cats

  17. PenelopePitstop says:

    FABULOUS!

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