DIY: IKEA dresser upgrade

while I can fully admit my love for ikea and its swedish meatballs and particle board projects, inevitably, there came a time when I had furniture dreams beyond BILLY bookcases and LACK tables. but when i moved in with my boyfriend, we needed to find a dresser large enough to share, and the MALM 6 drawer won me back when we found it on craigslist for under $100.

to transform it into a not-so-ikea dresser, i started hunting for some mid century modern inspiration. i loved the clean white look of the dresser itself, but knew it needed some wood accents to bring that #MCM feel. i also wanted to incorporate gold, to fit into the color scheme of the bedroom. i loved the look of this west elm dresser, as well as this beaut from era interiors.  

a simple change can make a huge difference, and switching out or adding knobs or handles is a super simple way to upgrade any dresser, desk, or chest. after a thorough ebay search, i found a set of 6 vintage wood drawer pulls for $15. they had a real wood, worn look which was perfect to balance out the shiny new-ness of the dresser.

as it turns out, drilling into particle board is a breeze (especially when you have professional help in the form of a small orange cat). the biggest takeaway from this DIY adventure: make sure you empty the drawers completely, and don't just push the clothes to the back because you will drill holes through your favorite shirt. overall, this basic project took our dresser from your average craigslist ikea find to something a little more special, and I consider it an #MCM DIY win. 

to read the first #MCM DIY post (hairpin leg console table) click here!

before, 100% IKEA MALM 

after, 100% one of a kind