The $20 IKEA Find Shoppers Say Tops Their List of Favorite IKEA Items

For many people, including me, every square foot in a home is precious — and preferably usable. What appears to be a bare corner to some is actually an opportunity for clever vertical storage. This hypersensitivity to many interior-maximizing moments is born from my time spent living in small spaces. It’s as if I’ve developed an internal alarm whenever I see someone else doing something brilliantly space-saving in their home — especially if it doesn’t require any tools and looks stylish. 

When I came across Frida and Petter’s 475-square-foot apartment in Oslo, Norway, I was stunned. The couple transformed what was once initially a blank, builder-grade space into a home with layers. Even though they did a lot of DIY projects in the home, and created their own custom furniture pieces out of wood, they also made some thoughtful furniture purchases to make their small space work smarter.

One such furniture find in Frida and Petter’s apartment is their clever choice for what they use as a nightstand in the bedroom. Instead of prioritizing extra storage with an unconventional nightstand choice, the couple chose a nightstand configuration that can pull double duty in their small home. Three stylishly stacked wooden stools offer a simple bedside table surface and act like a nightstand. The stacked appearance and the choice of wood finish also complements the couple’s casual, Scandinavian-inspired style (and even mimics the stack of books in the room, too).

But perhaps most brilliantly, using three stacked stools as a nightstand isn’t just an aesthetic choice — it’s also a clever way to hide extra seating and side tables for a small home in plain sight!

A quick search on the web will present several options for stackable stools, some higher priced than others, but you can find luxe-looking types that won’t break the bank. For example, IKEA has a similar version that’s under $20. (That’s 15 times cheaper than some higher-end brands.) The IKEA KYYRE is a best-selling product that comes in two colors: birch and off-white. The stool has an almost five-star rating, and one reviewer reported that it’s one of their favorite IKEA purchases. 

“I bought two of these a couple years back to be side tables in my living room,” the shopper continued in their review of the stools. “They are seriously one of my favorite IKEA items, and I have a LOT of things from IKEA. They are super easy to assemble, lightweight, stackable, and very strong. I use them as a step stool all the time. I’m actually considering ordering some for my elementary art classroom to replace some of my standard chairs.”

If you don’t have an IKEA nearby or if, for some reason, the stool sells out online (you never know, as it’s a best seller!), don’t worry. Wayfair is selling a George Oliver stackable stool that comes in a set of four for only $116.99. The chair can hold up to 225 pounds and, like the others, can be used for virtually any need. 

Some products are just perfect for small spaces, and these stools are one of them. Within seconds you can host a dinner party or clear seating space to do an at-home workout. Heck, you can even have a nightstand (or two!). It just makes sense — especially with IKEA’s cheap price tag. 

This article originally published on Apartment Therapy. See it there: IKEA Shoppers Keep Buying Multiples of This $20 Ultimate Double-Duty Small-Space Find