A designer transformed a $179 Ikea table for $15, and the upgrade looks shockingly similar to an iconic, $4,000, mid-century table

• Lisa Herland upgraded a $179 Ikea Docksta table, and it looks like a $4,000 marble Saarinen table.
• For the mid-century modern table dupe, Herland used spray paint and contact paper.
• The tulip-shaped Ikea table hack can be completed in nine steps, and materials cost $15.

When Lisa Herland stumbled upon an Ikea Docksta table, which retails for $179, at a thrift store, she was sold.

The self-taught designer and blogger brought the table home and realized it needed some love and updating.

Using contact paper and spray paint, Herland spent $15 to transform the table into one that looks shockingly similar to a Saarinen table, which are mid-century modern marble tables that retail for upwards of $4,000.

The Saarinen tables were designed by the Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, who "vowed to eliminate the 'slum of legs,'" according to the table producer and American design firm Knoll.

They sell for thousands of dollars due to the brand and luxury materials, like white Carrara marble, used to create each table.

For many mid-century modern fans, the tables are out-of-budget, but this tulip-shaped Ikea table hack is one way to get the look for less.

What you need for the hack

Herland decided she wanted the table to have a modern, simple finish that would fit the rest of her home.

So she purchased black spray paint, which cost $6 on Amazon. She said she chose a dark color that would hide all the scuffs and give the table's leg a sleek finish.

Since the table was plastic, Herland used Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint in a satin finish, which works for all types of surfaces.

For the top of the table, she chose to use contact paper, which is an adhesive paper that sticks to surfaces. Herland chose a marble pattern, which can be found for $9 on Amazon, that looks similar to the marble found on the iconic Saarinen table.

How to do it yourself

Now that Herland had all her materials, she was ready to transform the table into the marble dupe.

Step 1. Herland started by cleaning the entire table.

Step 2. Then, she separated the top and the bottom of the table.

Step 3. After the table was disassembled, she spray-painted the base of the table.

Step 4. Once the spray paint was dry, she rebuilt the table.

Step 5. Next, she lined up the contact paper's marble pattern against the table.

Step 6. Once the pattern was lined up, she trimmed down the excess contact paper.

Step 7. Using a flat edge, she slowly peeled off the adhesive contact paper and stuck it to the table.

Step 8. Herland then used a flat edge to get rid of any bubbles.

Step 9. Finally, Herland used a hairdryer to shrink the contact paper around the table's edge. This created a smooth edge.

Herland also shared the step-by-step instructions in an Instagram video, which you can watch below.

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The designer said she loved the simple transformation and shared how contact paper and paint can upgrade other furniture pieces like nightstands and dressers.

"Just adding contact paper and spray painting the base elevated the whole look of the table," she told Insider.