Interior Designer Hacks Bland IKEA Dresser And It’s Now “Better Than I Imagined.”

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Interior Designer Famelly Del Orbe decided to breathe new life into a familiar piece of furniture: the IKEA TARVA dresser. Del Orbe’s six-year itch for a room refresh led her to personalize the dresser, and the result is a unique and visually striking checkerboard dresser design.

“Our room has looked the same for the past six years, and I wanted to refresh it,” she told IKEA Hackers about the hack’s origin.

Inspiration and Unexpected Turns

But as with many DIY projects, things do not always go as expected. Del Orbe, who shared her project on Instagram, initially planned to cover the dresser drawer fronts with leftover pole wrap panels from another project. However, when the material fell short of covering the entire dresser, she embraced the challenge and pivoted to a more creative solution.

“I’ve always wanted to add our personal touches to this IKEA dresser,” Del Orbe says, “and this was the right time to do it.” Budget-conscious and inspired by the leftover materials, the checkered design emerged.

Checkerboard Dresser Transformation Process

Besides the IKEA TARVA 6-drawer dresser, you’ll also need pole wrap and a pine board. Other supplies to have on hand are primer and paint, wood adhesive, painter’s tape, caulk, and sandpaper.

Also, get ready basic tools like a jigsaw, a hacksaw with a miter box, and a paintbrush or roller.

Step 1: Drawer Front with Pole wrap

Del Orbe used a jigsaw to cut the pole wrap panels to fit the drawer fronts of the bottom four drawers. She lightly sanded the cut edges before gluing the panels onto the fronts.

You can buy Pole Wrap from home improvement stores like Home Depot. If you can’t get your hands on Pole Wrap, the IKEA RÖDEBY armrest tray is also a popular (but pricier) alternative.

Step 2: Stick The Pole Wrap

Del Orbe applied wood glue to the back of the pole wrap and carefully positioned it across the entire front panel of the dresser drawer, pressing down firmly.

Allow the glue to dry according to the manufacturer’s curing time. For added pressure, you can place heavy books or use a clamp to hold the wrap in place while the glue cures.

Step 3: The Checkered Drawer Front

She did some math calculating the ideal number of squares for the panels. Del Orbe settled on a 3×10 grid, with the middle square shared between the two drawer fronts. With the size and number of squares buttoned down, she moved on to cutting them out of a piece of pine. Del Orbe used a hacksaw with a miter box for a more precise cut.

However, for those replicating the project, she recommends a miter saw for cleaner cuts. Much faster, too.

Step 4: Sand The Squares

Next, she used sandpaper to smooth the cut edges of the squares, a time-consuming but necessary step for a cleaner finish.

Step 5: Test Fit

Then, before moving on to the next steps, she laid out the squares on the drawers for a dry fit.

Step 6: Gluing The Squares

Once satisfied with the layout, Del Orbe drew the grid on the dresser panels and glued the pre-cut wooden squares onto the fronts, following the grid for alignment.

Step 7: Prime Solid Wood

Del Orbe caulked any gaps between the squares and drawer front to ensure a smooth finish. She then primed the wooden squares and the drawer front to prepare it for paint.

Why Prime Solid Wood?

While DIYers are often tempted to skip priming solid wood, pine is notoriously porous. It drinks paint. Primer acts as a barrier, preventing the paint from soaking unevenly and creating a blotchy appearance. Primer will also prevent any bleed-through from knots in pine that could mar the final painted finish.

Step 8: Paint Over The Squares

To achieve a beautiful contrast with the rest of the dresser, she painted the checkered panels in Gladiator Grey by Behr Paint. She used a small paint roller for the flat surfaces and a tapered paint brush to get into the edges.

Step 9: Prepare The Side Of The Dresser

While painting just the checkered drawers creates a nice update, extending the color to encompass the sides of the dresser elevates this IKEA dresser hack to a striking transformation. Using a ruler, Del Orbe drew a straight line across the side panel aligned to the base of the checkerboard drawer. Then, she applied a strip of painter’s tape directly below the line to ensure a crisp paint line.

Step 10: Repeat Paint Process

Again, she repeated the process of priming and painting the side of the TARVA dresser. Once the paint dried, she removed the tape, and the checkerboard dresser was done.

A Knob For A Checkerboard Dresser

The final result is a harmonious blend of materials, textures, patterns, and colors. “I really love the outcome of the checkered design,” Del Orbe says, “but I think I like even more how everything complements each other. Everything harmonizes beautifully, creating a visually balanced and unique aesthetic.”

With the main transformation complete, Del Orbe is now searching for the perfect drawer handles to complement the checkered design. Overall, she’s thrilled with the outcome. “Right now, I’m so happy with it,” she says.

We adore the interplay between the wood stripes from the pole wrap and graphic squares. This unexpected contrast makes the IKEA TARVA dresser stand out, transforming it from standard IKEA fare into a designer piece.

What Is And Where To Buy Pole Wrap?

Pole wrap is a brand name for a decorative and protective covering designed for columns and posts. It typically comes in a sheet format made of foam or other padding materials with a finished exterior. Pole wrap can be used for both aesthetic and functional purposes. For aesthetics, it can conceal imperfections or add a touch of style to existing columns. Functionally, it can protect vulnerable posts from scratches, dents, or dings.

If you’re interested in trying the pole wrap technique, the official Pole-Wrap® brand sells its products through various retailers in the United States and Canada, including Home Depot and Lowe’s. You can also find similar wrap products online or at hardware stores.

Before and After: IKEA Dresser Checkerboard Style

Her Instagram followers loved the transformation, commenting, “Everything your hands touch becomes beautiful” and “Better than I imagined!” The encouragement she needed to keep hacking.

Liked this? You may also like our other tutorial on how Pole Wrap turned a basic IKEA Cabinet into a stunning sideboard.