If you remember from the bedroom “before” photos, there were initially two sets of identical bunk beds. Each of those bunk beds had a closet at the end. By removing one set of bunk beds (to fit the double bed) we also removed one good sized closet, and replaced it with just the tiny linen closet you see here. This meant less storage, but I has happy to make that compromise for a non-bunk sleeping option.
To add a little extra storage, we hit up Ikea and found this dresser that was the perfect width to fit between the two bedroom doors, it just needed a little something.
In order to keep the dresser from taking up to much visual space I painted the bulk of it white. I also cut about 2″ off of each leg (I wasn’t loving the proportions) and then painted the base pieces with a metallic gold spray paint. After that I just swapped out the wooden knobs for these brass ones (in the “antique brass” finish).
Sometimes all you need is a nice and simple Ikea hack. Have any of you switched up an Ikea piece?
To see all of the previous cabin progress check here.
To see all of the “before” photos check here.
Images by Sarah Sherman Samuel
Product guide: Ikea Tarva Chest // Brass knobs from Menards
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That dresser looks great! I now know what I’m going to do in my bedroom, but with the smaller one. I love the white. Did you paint it with a roller or brush? And oil paint? Thanks for the idea!
Yes, Rebecka, I painted it with a small quality foam roller, but I just used an acrylic based paint. Good luck!
– sarah
this is just so gorgeous. so inspired by how you make simplicity so exquisitely beautiful!
beautiful space!
kw ladies in navy
Ok that is totally gorgeous – before I read the post I thought that was a vintage find! I live for IKEA hacks, though I haven’t really done that many. I’ve painted IVAR shelves white (http://instagram.com/p/PX9juTO-nN/) (is that even a hack?), and covered an IKEA sofa in a different fabric, or switched out the knobs on a dresser, or added different legs to a desk (http://instagram.com/p/QqPzaxu-q-/), but nothing hugely creative like this. Gorgeous!
Hi Kristina, Ha I was thinking the same about mine! Not sure if it counts as a hack if you just basically paint it and switch the knobs but a little goes a long way with these pieces. Great job with yours too!
x sarah
Wow love how that turned out. I so wish we had an IKEA close
I did the same with my hemnes chest! I painted it white, changed the knobs for some brass ones and painted the legs gold! Love how yours turned out, looks amazing!
I have loved following along on your cabin renovation! It looks like such a dreamy place to be. Quick question, not sure if I saw it in the post and sorry to be that person, but do you have a source you can share on the cow hide rug in the last photo?
Hey Stephanie, No worries! I posted about it here. Its from Ikea as well! We also have a cowhide in the living room which we bought from a street vendor in LA.
Oh yes, now I remember. Thanks so much!
That is beautiful! I am totally inspired.
Very nice! The 2″ off the legs makes a huge difference. There is always something just a little off from most ikea designs, the leg length was this dressers problem. Looks like a high end piece now, great hack!
ADORE how you elevated the look of this dresser. Your space constantly inspires me…
Sarah, That looks amazing! Great before and after. Makes me want to make a quick trip to Ikea.
Genius! I’m having storage problems in my new apartment too, and this is a great-looking and (seemingly) easy Ikea hack.
Any tips on how to make sure you’re cutting off the legs evenly? And did you have to sand or prime the dresser before painting?
Hey Miro, I used a miter saw so there is a ruler built in and it is locked into place at a 90 degree angle. Also, I did give it a little light sanding but it didn’t need much, and then I used a paint and primer in one. Hope that helps!
amazing! love it. I have the same dresser still sitting in the box and this is the exact inspiration that I needed!!
Amazing job! What a makeover!
Stunning! I love the white + gold together. 🙂
LOVE IKEA hacks! Seriously I love what you’ve done to this dresser. Awesome vision, Sarah. I wish I could ‘see’ how to transform pieces like this. 🙂
Thinking of doing something very similar for my master bedroom. Lovely!
OMG you’re sooo good!! You cut off 2 inches of the legs, painted it multi-tonal AND swapped out the hardwear?! CREATIVE and looks AWESOME. Well done!
hey! did you have to sand off the surface first? whenever i try to paint wood the surface doesn’t seem to hold the color 🙁
Just came across your site this morning (via Handmade Charlotte I think). What a lovely site you have with so many beautiful images. Great work on the Ikea dresser. I was wondering if you could tell me where you got the mirror above it?
Thanks.
Jordana
Hi Jordana, thank you! The mirror is from Target!
[…] yet stunning is the result with this IKEA Tarva dresser makeover at Smitten […]
So inspiring! I have the same question Maddie asked – did you sand the dresser before priming? I have an IKEA Rast that I’d like to paint over. Also any advice & tips for someone about to embark on their first IKEA transformation that involves paint? Thx!
oh yes… Maddie & Nora, I have done it both ways. (with and without sanding before painting). The unfinished pieces, like the Rast & Tarva, take the paint pretty well without sanding. However if you want it to be really smooth I would recommend just going over it lightly with at least a 220 grit sandpaper to smooth out any roughness.
Lovely dresser! My first thought when looking at the Ikea photo is that the proportion wasn’t right, but for some reason, I don’t progress from there to – cut the legs off. So glad Kate introduced you in BOTB. I look forward to seeing more of your blog.
I just found your blog today. I love what you did with the dresser, it looks great!! I read in your comments that you used a paint with primer. Which brand and sheen did you use? Have you painted other IKEA products, like the Billy Bookcases? I was just wondering if you would use the same technique or if it would require additional sanding and a different type of paint. Sorry for all the questions. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!!
I just bought this dresser, and then saw your website! I am planning on painting mine red, and have some fun blue antique glass knobs. Thanks for all the helpful tips!
Gorgeous. I have the most plain and awful dresser in my bedroom that could really benefit from a makeover like this. I’ve been thinking of way more complicated projects, but some white paint and gold accents is probably the way to go. It looks amazing.
If any of you are planning to paint a piece which is raw wood…you will ALWAYS need to paint it with a primer. If you don’t, the natural resin in the woods fiber can come through any paint you apply. Ask me how I know…after a few years knots were starting to show and this was after two coats of flat paint but without any primer. However, most pieces will have some type of clear coating on it but you will need to be sure of that. During the sanding process, some of that clear coat was removed so I’d still go for priming.
[…] came across this IKEA hack at Smitten Studio and had to give it a try! The IKEA TARVA dresser was painted white, […]
I love this!! I just bought this and was looking for some inspiration and came across this. Quick question for you: I saw the you said to use 220 grain sandpaper. Would 120 work?
[…] Touch of Brass Dresser – Smitten Studio […]
Sarah, apologies if I missed it, but can you call out which paint (brand/color/etc) you used on the legs? I’m looking for a good one and, if it matches the knobs well, that’s just the tone I’m going for. Appreciate it!
This is fantastic!
I really want to do something similar, but my living room is dark wood with grey, purple and silver accents so I am wondering if I can do it in black-brown and gunmetal knobs instead…
Thanks for the inspiration! Yours turned out absolutely amazing!
[…] Sarah Sherman Samuel of Smitten Studio is kind enough to pull the TARVA dresser aside, pull it in close, and tell it, “I think […]
HNY Sarah! I had the same question as “Tracy” on October 8 but an added one too, what color/brand was the white that you used? One word can describe your site and your work, “Beautiful”!
I am wondering the same question. What color white and finish did you use? Also did you paint the inside drawers white too? Thanks sarah, I love your style:)
Hi Tracy, Tonia, & Amanda, I used the same color paint as our walls which is whisper gray by Dutch Boy. The finish I used was egg-shell. I didn’t paint the inside of the drawers, I left them natural. Hope that helps! x
Love this! I’m not keen on the fiberboard IKEA dressers, but this looks awesome. Are the drawer bottoms holding clothing okay?
What color spray paint did you use for the legs and how many coats did it take? Thanks for posting!
[…] This IKEA dresser hack from Smitten […]
Hi there – what was the original length/height of the legs?
Hello,
Do you mind letting me know what spray paint you used? This looks amazing and I’d like to replicate.
Thanks!
Hi Sarah, I used this spray paint. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Specialty-11-oz-Metallic-Gold-Spray-Paint-1910830/100155951#
After many years’ thinking of how to modernize my ho-hum bedroom, eureka! A pair of these could replace my grand-but-tired American Empire chest. I clicked the Ikea link you included but they only give one dimension! Sarah, would you mind awfully sharing the dimensions of the top of the dresser? And thank you for sharing every itty-bitty detail on your sources. A great job!
[…] you’re looking for a simple Ikea hack, this DIY Ikea dresser was dressed up with gold for a bit of glamour…Let’s face it, we don’t usually […]
Great Ikea hack! I was cursing the internet for some budget design ideas and this is great!
[…] This brilliant IKEA hack idea was the brainchild of this blogger. […]
[…] I turned to Google image search for ideas. And I never in a million years would have guessed the first image I pulled up would be the exact look I was looking for. Which you can see by clicking here […]
[…] via smitten studio […]
[…] necessarily bad, by the way, but it doesn’t knock your socks off? Well, this one’s a slam-dunk. Couldn’t you see something like this at […]
[…] Another IKEA dresser gone DIY wonderful, via […]
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[…] before we got married, and we haven’t done much with it since. I recently stumbled across this dresser makeover and was inspired to add a new touch to my own […]
Hey Sarah! Quick question – I know you used acrylic based paint, but what did you use for your primer and what did you use for your top coat (wax?) or nothing? Thank you so much! This dressed is AWESOME and you have truly inspired me!
Hi Debby,
Thank you! I used a paint & primer in one and didn’t use a top coat.
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Oops can you take off my last name on the above post, if not maybe just don’t publish and email me directly instead. Thanks!!:)
[…] smittenstudioonline.com […]
[…] IKEA hacks are all about glamming things up. We just couldn’t pass out this opportunity to add this upcycled IKEA furniture hack. Check it out here. […]
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[…] A little bit of paint can go a long way. This beautiful gold and white number DIY dresser is a simple, easy to do hack that looks great too! Get the details: Smitten Studio. […]
[…] smittenstudioonline.comEncuentra las instrucciones aquí. […]
What a beautiful transformation you made with that dresser! I’m totally inspired. I love that style of mirror- I think I saw on a different post that it is from Target? It has a lot of poor reviews on the quality, wondering if you feel differently?
Hi Mariel,
Thank you! Yes, that mirror is from target. I would also say the quality is not that great (plasticky parts) but I still liked the look of it and it works great for the cabin. I bought mine in the store so I guess I knew what I was getting into. ha
Beautiful transformation! I am going to try to do the same thing. Did you paint before or after assembly?
[…] IKEA hacks are all about glamming things up. We just couldn’t pass out this opportunity to add this upcycled IKEA furniture hack. Check it out here. […]
[…] Another fantastic- although more time consuming- project is this dresser by Smitten Studio. They did a great job taking a plain, wooden dresser and transforming it into a simple, modern […]
[…] Diy sur Smitten Studio […]
[…] the Ikea Tarva chest with white satin spray paint and cut about 2″ of the legs (just like Sarah Sherman Samuel did because it just modernized the look so much.) Gold spray paint and new brass knobs added the […]
[…] could also try using the Tarva Dresser from Ikea similar to what Sarah did here, but I would definitely cut the legs a drop like she did, and maybe even the top panel also so that […]
What white pain did you use on this dresser?
I’d love to know the white paint color as well! 🙂
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[…] knobs we installed in the kitchen, and am also considering painting the bottom of the dresser à la Sarah Sherman Samuel. Her entire house and cabin are aaaaah-mazing, so if “California cool” is your cup of […]
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[…] © ikea © sarahshermansamuel […]
I loved what you did with the drawer, it was really a simple hack. Just painted it white, makes the room looks bigger. And not but least clean. My aunt did just the same with one of her rooms. And I have to tell you, it completely made her room a whole new place.
Bought the tarva 5 drawer and wanted to keep the base off for a sleeker, modern look. How did you attach the legs without using the base ikea provides?
[…] Source: Sarah Sherman Samuel […]
[…] cabin progress: bedroom storage […]
[…] Tutorial […]
[…] (via Sarah Sherman Samuel) […]
Has you just painted the knobs it came with, would you have painted them with a primer first?
Wow….White color. golden handles and a black mirror. perfect combination and making it more attractive. keep it up
[…] ikea © sarahshermansamuel […]
[…] Image courtesy: Sarah Sherman Samuel […]
Thinking of doing something very similar for my master bedroom. Lovely!
amazing! love it. I have the same dresser still sitting in the box and this is the exact inspiration that I needed!!
awesome minimalist design
Loved that minimalistic drawer
[…] Sherman Samuel used a few simple design hacks to turn a standard wooden dresser from IKEA into a clean, fresh-looking piece of furniture. […]