Transform IKEA Cabinets Into An Aesthetic Statement Piece With A Touch Of Whimsy

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Authentic vintage furniture can be hard to come by and can also cost a small fortune, depending on where you source it from. However, it is packed full of rustic charm and character, which can transform the entire look of a space. Rather than spending weeks upon weeks searching for the right piece, why not give a standard IKEA unit a vintage-inspired makeover?

The IVAR pine cabinet costs $100 and is a great example of an IKEA storage system that can be tailored to fit in with your space. It has been on the market for over 50 years, so it's without a doubt a tried and tested piece of furniture. It is designed to be modular, so sections can be bought individually or together. The IVAR cabinet also comes untreated and is the ideal blank canvas to give a makeover to, which can include painting, staining, and even a complete transformation.

Get inspired by this detailed tutorial, and take elements of it to create your very own piece of vintage-look furniture. If you're a self-professed DIY expert, you can add a new top to your cabinet with tongue and groove pine boards. This makeover guru, diydanie, also decided to add a new bottom to the cabinet to raise it off the floor. These complex steps aren't necessary but are a good way of making the cabinet feel more authentic.

One of the most transformative steps is to use wood stain on the pine cabinet. This Minwax wood finish stain would be a good option to achieve a darker, more rustic aesthetic. Simply paint it onto your cabinet using a thick paintbrush, and leave it to dry for a minimum of two hours. Or, if you'd prefer a brighter style, use a mixture of two parts white paint and one part water for a shabby chic whitewashed look.

However, the real talking point of this tutorial is the gorgeous pieces of botanical artwork that have been stuck onto the cabinet doors and framed with wooden trim to create an apothecary-style effect. Choose decorative cards that are special to you to cover your cabinet, and varnish the entire cupboard to ensure prevention against scratches. 

Apothecary-style interiors not your thing? You can still personalize your IKEA cabinet by using pictures that are individual to you and your style. For example, you may want to use the cabinet in your dressing room. If this is the case, adorn your cabinet with old pin up pictures and makeup adverts that will perfectly suit that particular room. Even better, you can pick pictures that match the contents of the drawer, making organization a breeze. As a finishing touch, install your own decorative handles. You can carry on the vintage theme by hunting down a second-hand pair from a thrift shop or reclamation yard.