My IKEA dresser is too plain- how can I give it more character?

Irina
by Irina
I got this IKEA dresser. It's white painted wood. Since I'm very new to " paint furniture DIY" I'd like an easy way to give this piece some character. I'm open for chubby chick or French country ideas, or any other idea that anyone may have.
IKEA dresser
  19 answers
  • Fadai Fadai on Apr 17, 2016
    Hi! I have two suggestions; If you have som scrap pieces of wallpaper you can cover the front of the drawers (but take off the knobs first. As for the top you can cover it with either glass (old glass shelves are not hard to find), or with thick, clear plastic. That allows you to put pictures or just a nice coloured paper between the top and glass/plastic. Easy to change pending season/mood. Whatever you do, good luck!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 17, 2016
    You can look for a stencil and paint the design based on other colors in your room.
  • Shari Shari on Apr 17, 2016
    Many people have taken Ikea dressers and given them a makeover using different methods and products and the creativity put into them can be astounding. Some of them are not even recognizable as the same dresser after the facelift! Here's a link for some Ikea dresser projects that have been posted here on HomeTalk. http://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=ikea%20dresser%20hack You could also browse images on the internet or Pinterest using the search term "Ikea dresser hack" for more ideas that might work with your decor, your DIY skill level, the availability of materials accessible to you, and your budget.
  • Dayna Barnes Dayna Barnes on Apr 17, 2016
    I see a lot of pieces done with "Unicorn Spit"--cool product with cool effects, and it seems fairly easy. Maybe check out their website and see if that appeals.
    • Irina Irina on Apr 18, 2016
      Dear Dayana, thank you for your advise, but I'm trying to avoid multicolored furniture in my bedroom. Your idea is perfect for other rooms in my house. Thanx
  • Cheryl Markus Reynolds Cheryl Markus Reynolds on Apr 17, 2016
    For "shabby chic" grab some sandpaper and start by sanding the edges and corners and anywhere you might want bare wood to show through. Then either seal or stain and seal those areas. You could also decopage the drawer fronts with napkins and mod podge. I love Fadai's idea with the glass top.
    • Irina Irina on Apr 18, 2016
      Dear Cheryl thank you. I will start with sending edges and changing knobs ( Geri Ann's idea) then breath in and wait to see if this is enough of a character for me :) Thank you
  • Geri Ann Geri Ann on Apr 17, 2016
    Try changing out the knobs with crystal ones, sand the edges where it would get normal wear, I would also add a small simple stencil on the drawers either behind the knobs on each drawer or one a bit larger in the middle.
  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Apr 18, 2016
    Irina ...if you don't already have a Pinterest account, get one! It's free. Once you get there go to the little spy glass and search for dresser diy or diy and crafts. You will find all kinds of projects. If you look at the bottom of each picture before you click into it and you see the word DIY this tells you that there is a tutorial in there. MOST of them have a tutorial but some don't. Good luck!
    • See 1 previous
    • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Apr 18, 2016
      Great! You will not believe how much info! Let us see your project when you finish! If you need help in any way, please contact me. Oh and even if the project doesn't come out as planned I would still love to see it!
  • Irina Irina on Apr 18, 2016
    There were so many useful advises. I love your site! Thank you everyone for all your help.
  • Centsably Creative Centsably Creative on Apr 18, 2016
    First, change the pulls. you can pick up inexpensive and really cool ones on e-bay, as well as Hobby Lobby, who has a great selection. i believe they are 40 % off right now! also you can get appliquƩs for the drawer fronts from a place called "My Overlay's". you glue them on and paint over them. Google them. they have many styles. You can also go to Hobby Lobby or Michaels, to the wood craft section and get wood carved medallions, or even birds, to glue on and then paint. also e-bay has appliquƩs that are like the vintage floral carvings, made of paintable plastic , that you can also apply and paint. the possibilities are endless....show us when your done!
  • 117135 117135 on Apr 18, 2016
    You can also use embossing cream and stencils! Take a look on how I turned this plain dresser into carved wood! http://designeddecor.com/wood-icing-make-dresser-look-like-wood-carving/
  • Katie Rogers Katie Rogers on Aug 14, 2017

    I have a similar dresser has anyone tired to sand off the white completely ( maybe just the top ) and stain the wood?

  • Sharon Sharon on Aug 14, 2017

    Is chubby chick something new I don't know about? Do tell.,.

  • Sylvia Parke Sylvia Parke on Aug 14, 2017

    stencils, textured wallpaper, chalk paint, change the hardware, whatever you want!

  • Barb Barb on Aug 19, 2017

    I would darken the top and add decorative handles. Here's a photo

  • Get some really great knobs! And put a pop of color on the top of the dresser like a bright vase or something

  • Em Em on Mar 07, 2021

    Change the color with chalk paint. Two coats, it goes on easy, two coats and check Hobby Lobby for new drawer pulls. they have tons of styles and mail to your door.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Mar 31, 2021

    check all those ideas https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=ikea%20dresser%20makeover%20diy&rs=typed&term_meta[]=ikea%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=dresser%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=makeover%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=diy%7Ctyped

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Sep 10, 2021

    Hi Irina, if you can find some old suitcases you can totally transform the dresser into something unique. Here's a tutorial that will show you how - https://acraftymix.com/blog/epic-stack-suitcases/