Follow along as I quickly and easily spruce up the Ikea Rast nightstand into warmer piece. This could be a nightstand or even a kid dresser. This DIY project requires extremely minimal tools and supplies and any beginner can tackle this.
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Supplies needed:
Before
This guy is $49.99, but I’m pretty positive I got it on sale for $29.99 when I bought it (years ago at this point). Therefore I got 2 for like $60!
I had searched high and low for matching nightstands at the thrift stores near me and couldn’t find a matching pair for anything. So when I saw these were on sale, I got really excited knowing they were real wood and I could easily make them a little more exciting.
My plan for these was honestly so very simple. I understand there’s nothing too exciting about this project, but I just wanted some cute, neutral nightstands that I could use next to my bed. Maybe as a placeholder until I found something better, but knowing I could easily find a new home for these once I found different ones.
Step 1 – Assemble
These really weren’t difficult to assemble. Overall I would say they were really simple, especially the second one, since I had already done the first one and knew what I was doing.
Honestly, my only piece of advice is probably to wear gloves. My fingers were definitely a little raw afterward. Lots of twisting screws to get them started and screwing them in.
Step 2 – Stain
I took the drawers out and stood them up, so the front of them was facing up. And then I put cardboard underneath the nightstand body, so I could stain the legs without getting it on the ground. I used Special Walnut stain.
It wouldn’t hurt to sand them first, but the wood comes so raw that I didn’t sand them and was happy with the end result.
Step 3 – Spray paint the knobs
The Rast comes with wooden knobs. I took a small cardboard box and set the knobs on top to spray paint them outside. Shake your spray paint can and spray thoroughly, until all of each knob is covered. Make sure to get every side and underneath too.
I personally like the glossy look, it just makes them a slight bit more exciting.
Step 4 – Apply a protective coat
Once the stain is dry and you’re happy with the loo, take either a furniture wax or a polyurethane and apply it on top of the stain. This will just add a layer of protection and durability to the piece. If you don’t want it to be appear shiny, make sure to get a matte finish.
I used the furniture wax and it was very easy to apply and you can’t even tell it’s there. I would definitely use it again.
I’ve been really happy with these. They provide plenty of extra storage, the drawers slide out nicely and they’re simple in design. If you’re looking for a nightstand (or two) or a small dresser, these are for you!
FAQ’s
Can I paint these instead?
Yes, of course! The wood comes raw, so I would feel confident that the paint would stick really well to these.
Can I change the knobs or add handles?
Sure! Why not. The sky is the limit.
Thanks for reading! As always, you can pin below for later.
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It is such fun to see all of your creative home projects!
I would love a list of the exact products you used to stain and wax this dresser. I’ve never done any furniture staining before, but this is the exact end look that I want.!
Hi! I used Special Walnut stain (I believe only one coat) and a “natural” furniture wax. You could also use clear wax, or a clear polyurethane. Those are simply for protection of the finish. The link are listed in the post. I hope that’s helpful!