How to Paint an IKEA Rast Dresser

Transform that boring IKEA Rast dresser into something that matches your decor! Painting an IKEA Rast dresser is easy and gives it so much more character and style!

The IKEA Rast dresser has got to be one of the most hacked pieces of furniture on the Internet. It's amazing how this simple set of pine drawers can be re-imagined in so many different ways. I was looking to add some storage to our basement office, so I just had to transform one of my own!

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Paint selection

The IKEA Rast dresser is made of unfinished pine, so it's easy to paint (unlike the IKEA Trofast which LOOKS unfinished but has a clear top coat that makes painting more difficult!)

I'm using this Rast dresser as part of a Kallax desk hack that has loads of storage space! We already had the turquoise Kallax unit, so I decided to paint the dresser to match.

If you buy both the Rast and Kallax at the same time, you can bring a piece in to the paint store to have it color matched. I didn't want to take mine apart, so I picked up every turquoise paint chip I could find and settled on Paradise Landscape by Behr.

Prep the wood for paint

The Rast dresser is a little "rustic", with knot holes and pronounced grain patterns. If you're going for a sleek, modern style, consider applying wood filler to the knots for a smoother surface.

You'll also want to use wood filler to fill in the predrilled drawer pull holes if you're planning to change the hardware to a different style. Overfill them slightly, then sand it smooth when dry. The paint will make them disappear!

Unfinished pine sucks up paint like a sponge, so you might consider using a primer before painting. It's cheaper than paint, and you won't have to apply as many coats to get a good result. Make sure you choose the correct primer depending on the paint you're using! My paint has primer mixed in, so I skipped this step.

For an extra-smooth finish, sand all the parts with 180 or higher grit sandpaper before painting. Remove all the dust with a microfiber cloth or tack cloth.

Paint before assembly

It's much easier to paint furniture before its put together, so I recommend painting all the pieces before assembly. All the dresser frame pieces received a few coats of the turquoise paint first.

The drawers and back of the dresser were painted white to match the inserts on the Kallax. I had quite the surprise when I attached the backing: It doesn't cover the entire dresser!

Oh, IKEA. I know your stuff is cheap, but would it have killed you to make the back panel just a little bit longer? Sigh. I wouldn't care if the dresser was going up against the wall, but the back will be visible under the desk.

I decided to add a scrap of ¼" plywood that was just wide enough to cover the bottom drawer. I caulked the seam between the two pieces to make it a little less obvious.

Add new drawer hardware

At first, I planned to just paint the wooden knobs provided. However, when I attempted to attach one of them to the drawer, it split in two! Ugh, IKEA is determined to drive me insane with this project!

I rushed out to the hardware store and picked up these cute little white and nickel ones instead. You can also find them on Amazon here.

I actually prefer this look, so I'm secretly happy that the knob split!

Line the drawers with decorative paper

For the finishing touch, I decoupaged the bottom of the drawers with this beautiful paper I found at our local art supply store using Mod Podge. Just apply a thin layer to the back of the paper, stick it to the bottom of the drawer, then apply another thin layer on top to seal it in place.

The blue in the pattern matches the dresser perfectly, and I love the little surprise you see when you open the drawer.

This bright, cheerful IKEA Rast makeover is a breath of fresh air in our boring basement office!

The paint colors match the Kallax unit perfectly, so it looks like it was meant to be assembled together into a desk! You can check out the whole basement office makeover here.