DIY Dresser Makeover

This DIY dresser makeover transforms a basic IKEA Rast. Perfect for adding more storage in my dining room while creating a stunning feature furniture piece in our home.

Have you ever noticed DIYers making fantastic creations with the very basic IKEA Dresser called RAST? This 3-drawer chest or wood dresser is only $49 and comes all together in one box for you to build.

It's a pretty reasonable price, but you could also find a similar chest of drawers and perhaps one that's cheaper at yard sales or estate sales. However, you still may want to sand down the finish, paint them, and update the old hardware for a more modern look.

We really needed more storage in our dining room, and I feel like we have space for a nice chest or dresser. Why not use the RAST and create something pretty and functional?

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IKEA RAST Dresser Makeover

Start by Painting the Wood

The first thing I did after putting the dresser together was to give it a beautiful coat of paint. Choosing the color was difficult.  After hours of looking, I ended up with this Vintage Duck Egg Blue from Dixie Belle Paints. It's a chalk paint that doesn't require using a primer first.

At first, I thought it was too green, but once I painted the entire piece, it looked a lot bluer, and I loved it. 

I used two coats of paint. Once it was dry, I used some of Amy Howard's Mind Your Own Beeswax as a sealer.

Add a Rub On Transfer to the Front

Next, I used a rub-on transfer also from Etsy called Sweet Apricot Transfer. I do love a botanical print, and this did not disappoint.

As you can see, the transfer is a little too big for the drawers, so I cut it into sections with a paper cutter. This way, I could position the prints exactly where I wanted them. You could also use wallpaper sections or a wallpaper border here.

Adding New Hardware

The IKEA Rast comes with tiny basic wooden drawer pulls, but I had to replace them with something a little prettier. I used these antique looking cream drawer knobs from Hobby Lobby. It's amazing how much a little new hardware adds to the look.

Add Height with Hairpin Legs

Lastly, I felt like this dresser needed some height, so I ordered four 8" hairpin legs online.

However, there was a problem. The legs needed a base to screw into which the Rast doesn't have. So I bought a piece of wood at Home Depot and had my husband cut it down to fit. We used a few finishing nails to tack it to the bottom. Then I painted it with the same blue paint.

This allowed the legs to be screwed to the bottom, and I think they add a lot to the overall look of the piece.

I'm super happy with the way this dresser makeover turned out.

I think it would look good in our living room or any room in our house. However, it does seem like the perfect piece for our dining room.  Now it's time to fill it up.