Give An IKEA RAST A Beautiful New Look With Border Trim

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With the right tools and a touch of creative inspiration, IKEA's most popular products can become so much more than basic furnishings. You can paint the brand's tables and shelves with different colors to give them more character or remix the surfaces of the cabinets and bookcases with some peel-and-stick wallpaper. In short, there are tons of opportunities for getting creative and transforming pieces that were once somewhat basic into luxurious, eye-catching arrangements. One particularly fantastic example of an IKEA upcycle involves giving the IKEA RAST 3-Drawer Chest a completely new look by using lattice boards and border trim for a finished product that will look timeless and high-end.

To try this idea out at home with your RAST chest of drawers, you'll need some wood glue and a handful of brad nails for the molding and the border trim. You'll also need some wood filler for the drawer fronts and some wood screws for a decorative panel below the drawers. Don't forget to select a couple of unique hardware pieces for the drawers, and make sure to purchase some wood stain that matches your home's interior aesthetic. This project might just be one of the best ways to give your bedroom a refresh without spending a fortune.

To get started, take the RAST's drawers out and measure their fronts. Then, use a circular saw to cut slim border trim pieces for each of them from lattice boards. Before you attach the trim, you'll need to take the knobs on the drawer fronts off and then fill the holes with wood filler. Once that's done, use your wood glue and a couple of clamps to affix the drawer trim. While that's drying, you can cut a few more trim boards, but this time for the sides of the chest. You should apply these trim pieces with both wood glue and ¾-inch brad nails.

Next, you're going to cut a decorative board for the gap between the lower drawer front and the floor. It should be just long enough to fit in between the side panels and just under 2 ¾ inches tall, or it will bind with the drawer. Cut an archway into the board, slot it into place, and attach it to the frame with wood screws. Now, cut down the pine boards that you're going to use for resurfacing the top of the nightstand, and affix them with wood glue. Then, nail your trim molding to the sides of the original top. Use 45-degree miter joints for the molding corners to keep things looking neat. Finally, stain everything, install the hardware, and put the drawers back into place.

There are a couple of simple ways to alter the look of this project to make it uniquely yours. For starters, you can change up the wood stain. Darker stains, such as Varathane Espresso Wood Stain, will give the fixture a rich yet cozy hue. Lighter colors, on the other hand, might be better for emphasizing the natural beauty of the wood and making the furnishing look brighter. If you don't want to stain the wood, you could paint it instead. Neutral colors like white, beige, or cream will allow the fixture to fit in perfectly within a variety of settings. Cooler hues, such as blue or green, will lend your space more relaxing, calm vibes instead. If you're going to put your RAST nightstand in your bedroom, you might want to familiarize yourself with the best bedroom paint colors to create a peaceful environment first.

The hardware you select for your furniture can also have a significant impact on its aesthetic. Antique bronze or gold pieces will look fairly traditional; drawer pulls and handles with polished nickel or stainless steel will look a bit more modern instead. Edge pulls are also an option if you want to establish a sleeker, more minimalist vibe.