Bright and Cheerful IKEA Rast Makeover

Transform that boring IKEA Rast dresser into something that matches your decor! This IKEA Rast makeover was quick and easy, and matches the turquoise IKEA Kallax too!

The IKEA Rast dresser has got to be one of the most hacked pieces of furniture on the Internet. It's amazing how this simple set of pine drawers can be re-imagined in so many different ways. I was looking to add some storage to our basement office, so I just had to transform one of my own!

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Color Inspiration

I took the color inspiration for my dresser from another IKEA piece we already owned: a bright turquoise Kallax shelving unit with white drawers and bins. I moved the Kallax from my former sewing room down to the basement to be used as storage for my overflowing workshop.

I combined these two pieces together to create an IKEA Kallax desk hack that has loads of storage space!

After picking up every turquoise paint chip I could find, I settled on Paradise Landscape by Behr. It matches the color of the Kallax perfectly!

How to Paint the IKEA Rast Dresser

It's much easier to paint furniture before its put together, so I recommend painting all the pieces before assembly. All the dresser frame pieces received a few coats of the turquoise paint first.

The drawers and back of the dresser were painted white to match the inserts on the Kallax. I had quite the surprise when I attached the backing: It doesn't cover the entire dresser!

Oh, IKEA. I know your stuff is cheap, but would it have killed you to make the backing just a little bit longer? Sigh. Normally I wouldn't care too much, but the back of this dresser will be visible under the desk.

I decided to add a scrap of ¼" plywood that was just wide enough to cover the bottom drawer. I caulked the seam between the two pieces to make it a little less obvious.

Add new hardware

At first, I planned to just paint the wooden knobs provided. However, when I attempted to attach one of them to the drawer, it split in two! Ugh, IKEA is determined to drive me insane with this project!

I rushed out to the hardware store and picked up these cute little white and nickel ones instead. You can also find them on Amazon here.

Line the drawers with decorative paper

For the finishing touch, I decoupaged the bottom of the drawers with this beautiful paper I found at our local art supply store using Mod Podge. The blue in the pattern matches the dresser perfectly, and I love the little surprise you see when you open the drawer.

This bright, cheerful IKEA Rast makeover is a breath of fresh air in our boring basement office!

Check out these other furniture makeovers!