If you've walked into a Dollarama store lately, you may have noticed the aisles aren't just stocked with snacks and cleaning supplies anymore. Over the past few years, the discount retailer has quietly expanded its product selection to include everything from kitchen gadgets to name-brand toiletries — and now, they've officially entered the furniture game.
If you're looking for an even more budget-friendly alternative to IKEA for compact home essentials, Dollarama might actually surprise you. But how good are these ultra-low-cost pieces, really? To find out, Narcity Quebec Managing Editor Izabelle Bee picked up a minimalist-style side table for $5 and put it to the test.
The small, $5 table recently started popping up in select Dollarama stores across Canada and quickly gained traction online. According to Izabelle, it comes flat-packed in a compact box and includes almost everything needed for assembly: a dark faux-wood tabletop, matte black metal frame pieces, two crossbars for support, a bag of screws, and a small Allen key.
The instructions are purely visual — no text or part labels — which may be confusing at first glance.
The $5 side table in its packaging.@iza.bee | Narcity Québec
Izabelle admitted she wasn't exactly excited to build it. "I hate assembling furniture," she said, via Narcity Quebec. "And the instructions didn't make it look any easier."
Still, the build turned out to be surprisingly straightforward. She says the screw holes are well-placed, everything lines up neatly, and the only extra tool you'll need is a Phillips screwdriver, which isn't included.
The side table prior to assembly.@iza.bee | Narcity Québec
She had the entire thing assembled in under seven minutes, with no issues. "It's honestly super simple. No tools or skills required," she said.
Once built, the table is definitely on the small side — about 14.6 inches tall. So, it's not going to replace your coffee table, but it works well as a side table, nightstand alternative, or plant stand.
You'll need a Phillips screwdriver to assemble this table.@iza.bee | Narcity Québec
The design is clean and modern enough to blend in with most decor styles, and Izabelle says the build is surprisingly stable considering the ultra cheap price point.
Izabelle also pointed out that she's seen people online buy multiple tables and stack them to create low-cost shelving or extra storage. "It's actually a smart little hack," she noted. "The design makes it easy to get creative."
The side table once assembled.@iza.bee | Narcity Québec
Izabelle found hers at a store in Quebec, but stock will vary from one store to another. If you spot one in your area, you might want to grab it while you can.
At the end of the day, it's not designer furniture — but for $5, it's a solid budget-friendly find that's easy to build and functional in small spaces.
This story was adapted from the article “Dollarama vend maintenant des tables d'appoint à 5 $: je l'ai achetée pour la tester(PHOTOS)” which was originally published on Narcity Quebec by Izabelle Bee.
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
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