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Upgrade your nightstand with these simple yet effective DIY techniques.
Important Tips
- Elevate your furniture using wood stain, spray paint, chalk paint, wallpaper, or fabric.
- Enhance the look of your nightstand by installing new drawer handles or legs.
- Add a touch of luxury with marble contact paper.
- Create texture with wooden dowels or caning material.
Easy Steps
Enhance the wood with a Staining Technique
Elevate your furniture's elegance by applying a sleek stain finish. Begin by smoothing the wood's surface with 220-grit sandpaper. Then, evenly apply the wood stain in single strokes. Once dry, add a protective polyurethane coat.
- Allow 24-28 hours for drying, considering humidity and temperature factors.
- Note: This method is unsuitable for veneer or laminate Ikea nightstands, as stain adheres only to genuine wood.
Revitalize with Spray Paint
Transform your nightstand's appearance with a fresh paint layer. Utilize primer and your chosen paint color in a well-ventilated area. Apply primer evenly before coating with spray paint. Opt for a second coat for a bolder look.
- Ideal for Ikea Tarva and Rast nightstands crafted from untreated pine.
Chalk Paint Magic
Chalk paint lends a charmingly distressed appearance to your nightstand. Disassemble the nightstand and apply a layer of chalk paint using a brush or roller. Usually, one coat suffices. Once dry, seal with tinted or clear wax.
- While chalk paint typically doesn’t need sanding or priming, it's beneficial to apply clear shellac to untreated wood surfaces to prevent wood tannins from affecting the paint color later on.
Adorn with Wallpaper
Wallpaper instantly introduces pattern and texture to your nightstand. Simply affix the chosen paper onto the drawers, sides, or overall nightstand! Alternatively, opt for vinyl wood sheets for a multi-wood effect—these sheets apply similarly to peel-and-stick wallpapers.
- While some wallpaper requires paste, many come with a self-adhesive backing.
Wrap it in Fabric
A dab of glue and fabric can work wonders on your nightstand. Cut fabric pieces large enough to wrap around each drawer's front. Apply adhesive (like Mod Podge) to the drawer surface, then affix the fabric.
- If the drawers have handles (or you plan to add them later), cut the fabric accordingly before it sets.
Enhance your nightstand with stencils.
Stencils offer a stylish and artistic flair to your furniture. Trace your desired pattern with a pencil and paint within the lines. Alternatively, simplify by directly painting the pattern using a brush or spray paint.
Elevate the drawer handles.
A minor alteration can completely transform your Ikea nightstand. Swap out the drawer handles with long bars, cupped grips, or remove them entirely for a more uniform appearance. For nightstands with pre-drilled holes, fill them with wood putty to drill new ones for alternative handles. Alternatively, utilize existing holes if they align with your chosen handles.
Install wooden dowels.
Wooden dowels add personality and texture to your nightstand. Draw your desired pattern on the drawer's surface using a ruler and pencil. Arrange and cut the dowels to fit the pattern, then glue them in place. Consider using a cardboard box to hold the dowels steady while the glue sets.
- A table saw is faster for cutting dowels, but a hand saw works too.
Apply marble contact paper.
Marble contact paper gives your nightstand a luxurious appearance at an affordable price. Cut the contact paper to size and carefully apply it to the top surface of the nightstand. Smooth out any air bubbles using a credit card.
- Paint the remaining parts of the nightstand white for a modern look.
- If budget allows, consider using real marble tops, ensuring the nightstand's structure can support the weight.
Stick on some overlays.
Overlays offer a simple adhesive solution to enhance your drawer fronts. Mark the placement with painter's tape, then apply adhesive to the back of the overlay and affix it to the drawer. Use a foam brush to flatten out excess glue and ensure a secure attachment.
- Install new handles after applying the overlay, using wood glue for a strong hold.
Install new nightstand legs.
Give your nightstand a decorative lift with a new set of legs. Depending on your nightstand type, consider using a baseboard to attach the legs without drilling into the bottom drawer. Choose from narrow metallic legs or wood stub ones to achieve your desired look.
- The choice between metallic or wooden legs depends on your preferred aesthetic.
Create square apothecary-style drawers.
Transform your Ikea nightstand with a vintage touch. Glue small wood squares onto an existing drawer to mimic apothecary-style drawers. Complete the look by attaching library-style pulls to each square.
- This style is ideal for larger cabinets or dressers but can also be applied to traditional nightstand drawers.
- Consider the design of your nightstand before attempting this hack, especially for handle-less or floating models.
Enhance your nightstand with caning material.
Caning material (such as rattan) adds a beachy, bohemian vibe to your furniture. Measure and cut sections of caning material to fit the frames of your furniture, then use a staple gun to secure it inside the frame.
- Caning material looks particularly stylish along the sides of your furniture.
