15 Gorgeous IKEA Dresser Hacks
I’ve been a fan of a good ol’ IKEA hack for as long as I can remember. Some of my very first projects here on the blog were me getting creative with IKEA furniture, and I’m still doing it today! One of my favorite categories of IKEA hacks are good old fashions IKEA dresser hacks. I have done a number of them myself, and I feel like I’m constantly seeing other creative ideas that leave me so amazed with how much you can do with a plain old dresser!
So today, I’m spreading the inspiration. I’ve got 15 gorgeous IKEA dresser hacks to share with you, and you won’t believe the creativity.
Buckle up, because it’s gonna be fun.
Inspiring IKEA Dresser Hacks
1. Cane Webbing on an IKEA HEMNES
This is such a great dresser to be used as a nightstand, and I honestly never would have guessed it was IKEA! I’m always a fan of cane webbing on the drawers, and I kind of can’t believe I haven’t tried it yet. The long drawer pulls always make an IKEA dresser feel so so elevated, and I’m just generally in love with this look.
2. Bright Yellow Fluted IKEA TARVA Dresser
This is the dresser we have in Grant’s room, and it’s maaaaybe my favorite IKEA dresser hack I’ve ever done. It was a labor of love – each of those wood slats was cut and installed individually! But, it was so worth the effort and I think it’ll last him for a long time. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for the last IKEA hack to see the first iteration of this dresser. That’s right – this one dresser has seen two makeovers!
3. TARVA Turned TV Stand
via Purely Katie
I always adore when someone takes a dresser and turns it into something else entirely! Before we had our television mounted above our fireplace, we also had it above a dresser and I really think they make the best entertainment centers! This is such a great reminder that moving the drawers can turn them into shelves, and it’s just such a simple but beautiful idea. I also always love the look of wood stain on the bottom and paint on top for this particular dresser!
4. The Cutest Leopard Print Dresser
Okayyyyyy I’m obsessed. How fun is this paint job?! There isn’t much to this makeover other than a fresh (and really fun) coat of paint, but it gives it so much personality. Read the entire tutorial to see how she added the leopard pattern to the drawer fronts. This is a really fun piece of furniture, and I love the creativity here.
5. Super Simple IKEA HEMNES Dresser Hack
This is an IKEA HEMNES dresser that I made over for our closet before we ripped everything out and started fresh. Putting a dresser in your closet is a great way to get a little extra storage, and this was a super easy DIY that made a huge difference. I mean, it looks nothing like it did when I brought it home – would you believe I paid $40 for this guy on Facebook Marketplace?!
6. Add Trim to a Tall MALM Dresser
I feel like you don’t see this tall dressers all that often, but they’re so functional for a smaller space, and I really love the look. Again, this is just some trim on the drawer fronts, but it elevates the dresser so much and really makes it feel special. An IKEA hack doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated, it’s just about adding your own touch!
7. Create a DIY Bobbin-Style Dresser
via My Dear Irene
How adorable is this?! I think this dresser would be so fun in a kid’s room, and I love the playful look of the wood balls all around the drawer fronts. Talk about giving a dresser a whole new life! This one doesn’t even require any painting on the dresser itself – just use some white paint on the wood knobs and add ’em on. Easy peasy!
8. Make a DIY Faux Card Catalog
Oh look, another TARVA dresser. It’s perhaps the most hackable IKEA dresser there is. The entire dresser is made of solid wood, so it’s great for just about anything. This little faux apothecary cabinet was in the closet in Grant’s nursery in our second house, and it’s a project I’d probably do a tad differently if I was doing it today, but I still adore it. I think if I had stained the entire thing instead of painting part white, it would have looked so authentic and really stunning. Maybe this is one I need to try again?!
9. Add a (Faux) Marble Top to a MALM Dresser
via The Blondielocks
Another common category – IKEA MALM hacks! They’re another super versatile dresser, and this little nightstand feels so fancy. Would you believe the top isn’t actually a marble slab? It’s just some faux marble contact paper wrapped around the existing top. Add some knew drawer pulls and this is one of the most simple IKEA dresser hacks there is.
10. Create a Campaign Style Dresser
via A Beautiful Mess
This is another incredibly easy dresser hack – all you need is some simple hardware and new drawer pulls to make this faux campaign dresser! This sort of project is super super affordable and will only take a couple of hours from start to finish. It’s a great way to make over a dresser if you want to add some personality but don’t want to commit a ton of time or money.
11. Add Legs to a MALM Dresser
This is one of the IKEA dresser hacks that I honestly don’t think I’d guess was from IKEA if I didn’t know better. The drawer pulls are so good and the fresh legs are a super simple touch that really makes it feel special. This is a great reminder that a humble IKEA dresser can feel like something really special if you take the time to find some unique hardware to add to it!
12. Elevate an IKEA TARVA
For this IKEA TARVA hack, I just added some simple wood trim to the drawer fronts, gave it a coat of paint, and added some really gorgeous long brass pulls. I did this little hack for my best friend’s daughter’s room, and it was such a perfect look for this tween space! I also painted it with chalk paint versus regular latex paint, which adds a really great texture to it.
13. More Cane Webbing For an Elevated Look!
How faaaaaancy is this IKEA TARVA dresser hack?! It’s cane webbing again (a classic!), and I’m obsessed with the drawer pulls here. Also, that paint color (Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore) couldn’t possibly be more perfect. I’m also taking all the notes on the styling of this dresser top. It’s gorgeous!
14. The Fanciest MALM Around
This IKEA MALM dresser hack was done with Overlays on the dresser drawer fronts, which is a really easy way to tackle a makeover. I haven’t ever worked with them but I know they’re really popular for IKEA hacks, and so many people swear by how easy they are to use. I also love the addition of the glass top here – it really elevates it!
15. Turn a TARVA Into a Changing Table
And finally, here’s a little reminder that you don’t have to get crazy with your IKEA dresser hacks – all I did for this TARVA dresser was paint it and swap out the knobs. No trim, no new holes added, no cutting the legs down, no sanding. Just some simple primer, paint, and knobs.
Reader Submissions
Looking for a few more ideas! I’ve got you covered. I put out a call on my Instagram stories for reader submissions and I got a few that knocked my socks off. Here they are.
And there you have it! Fifteen absolutely stunning IKEA dresser hacks to give you some inspiration for your next project. I love that they all turn into totally unique pieces with a little bit of creativity.
I feel honored that you included my Ikea nightstand in your blog post! Thank you!
People are crazy talented and I was blown away by all of dresser and nightstand hacks! Thanks so much for putting this one together. It gave me a few ideas for another dresser I have.