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Suitcase Dresser – IKEA RAST Hack

Furniture Makeovers

I’m super pumped about today’s IKEA dresser hack makeover!

It’s also my first piece from IKEA, since the closest store is an hour and a half away.  (Bummer)

I’ve been wanting to recreate a suitcase dresser for a long time, ever since I pinned this Trenton Suitcase Chest from World Market on Pinterest ages ago:

World Market Trenton Suitcase Chest

Isn’t it amazing?

It’s regularly $549.99, on clearance for $124.98 – but sold out everywhere as far as I can tell…

Here’s how I made my version with the $34.99 IKEA RAST:

Supplies Needed to Paint a Suitcase Dresser:

How to Paint a Faux Suitcase Dresser

First, start with an IKEA Rast Chest or a similar piece.

IKEA RAST CHEST OF DRAWERS

After assembling, leave the drawers out.

Stain everything with the Minwax Cloths except for the drawer fronts.  This was my first real experience with staining, so I won’t give you any tips here except that it’s difficult to fix any mistakes you make.  Also, you might want to practice on some scrap wood first.

Next for this IKEA dresser hack, paint the drawer fronts with your chosen colors.  This will be going in my 5-year-old son’s bedroom so I chose basic colors that will match almost anything- especially since I’m planning on redecorating his room this year.

After painting, protect your hard work.  I used clear and dark wax on the top drawer to make it look aged (tutorial HERE) and only clear wax on the other drawers.

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

Depending on your dresser, you may need to drill new holes for hardware.

The really fun part is choosing which hardware and accessories will go on which drawers for your IKEA dresser hack!

I played around with the design and then cut leather strips for two of the drawers, applying Mod Podge to glue them on.  (I also added upholstery tacks to the strips on the blue drawer.)  Update: Now I would use super glue like E6000 instead of Mod Podge to glue these pieces on.

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

I drew on the red drawer with a Sharpie.

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

Then I added more awesome hardware and upholstery tacks…

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

And here’s the finished suitcase dresser, aka IKEA Rast dresser hack:

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

LOVE!

And I think it will look fabulous in my son’s room, especially when it’s redecorated.

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

The pulls from Hickory Hardware (on the top and bottom drawers) are perfect for this piece – a little rustic, masculine, and a bit vintage/industrial.

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

It’s styled with a vintage fan, camera, and old books – some of my favorite things to collect.  🙂

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

I’m very pleased with how this IKEA dresser hack turned out, and so is my son!

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

This type of piece can really go in many different types of decorated rooms. Especially if you’re a travel lover.  🙂

IKEA RAST Hack: A suitcase dresser makeover from an IKEA chest of drawers. girlinthegarage.net

Feel free to share this post with a friend or pin it for easy access later:

The best IKEA RAST Hack: An IKEA dresser becomes an amazing faux suitcase dresser - Step-by-step DIY tutorial by Girl in the Garage

I hope you love my IKEA RAST hack and World Market inspired makeover!  Let me know if you decide to recreate this project yourself – send me a photo or tag me on social media.

-Jen

You might also love this suitcase dresser project from my new book:

Suitcase dresser makeover - DIY project by Girl in the GarageAmazing Furniture Makeovers book by Jen, Girl in the Garage

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jolinda lampo says

    This is absolutely beautiful. I had not see it before and it is now on my must make list. Going to check out the hardware today. Thank you.

  4. Linda J says

    I MUST do this! This chest could go in any room in one’s home! Great job. I have to go now. Gotta find a cheapy chest on Craig’s list!

  6. Lynn Zawojski says

    This is THE best makeover I’ve seen to date. AND I’m old…. Ha… Seriously
    What a great idea and if in years to come, you can change it back.
    So many times I wanted the suitcases but to open and re stack them
    just didn’t make sense… This is fab. Up to date, Hip, and
    still so easy to get into the drawers… thanks for YOU, being so clever.

  9. KymberlyFunFit says

    Ok, gotta admit it. That is WAY TOO CUTE! Love what you created and the easy to follow steps. I am now off to find a dresser to dress up. It will go perfectly with the table I made using a vintage 1960s suitcase.

  10. Susan says

    Absolutely beautiful!!! This is one of your best projects. It’s gonna be hard to top this one. Love it

  13. Paula@SweetPea says

    This looks absolutely amazing! I’m glad that you are keeping this piece for your son instead of selling it in your booth.

    You are starting 2014 off with a bang with such a great project.

  15. Jenny perez says

    Jen,
    Seriously a very awesome project! You’d never know it was a rast to begin with! Your son should enjoy this for many years to come!!!!
    You should get a few more to sell in your booth!!!
    Jenny @renovardesign

  18. nancy says

    I’ve been following the RAST challenge on other blogs…all are well done, but yours takes the cake. Well done!!!! My fav.

  22. lara says

    Oh My Gosh, this is fabulous!! The drawer fronts really do look like suitcases – did you paint the sides
    of the drawers as well?
    Great job!!

  25. Jen says

    Thank you Lara! I actually stained the sides of the drawers, but now I’m thinking I really should have painted them too… (I will next time) 🙂

  35. Gail nugent says

    I don’t normally post any comments, I just ooh and aah and then rush off to try to replicate. But I HAVE to say, this is AWESOME!!!!! I had never seen a dresser or chest done like this. I, too, loved the look but didn’t want the hassle of pulling the suitcases out every time I needed to get into them. I am so freaking stoked!!!!! I don’t even want to go to work today. I want to go thrifting and find a piece of furniture to do JUST LIKE THIS! Not sure where I’m going to put it……. I may have to put my husband or kids up for adoption, to make some room…… LOL

    GREAT JOB!!!

  36. Lisa says

    Hi Jen,
    I love your rast chest hack. Hack is no where near the correct word…more like upgrade! 🙂
    My kids Ikea dressers are still going stron 14 years later.bought them in England when they were 8 & 5…ouch! 🙂
    The suitcase idea would be wonderful for our daughter who is doing an exchange year for University in Germany.
    Only seven more months til she is home. It will probaley take me that long to do it. Never have tried any of the furniture makeovers. This may just be the one and I will actually be travelling next weekend to Burlington (Ontario,Canada) where there is an Ikea. Though I am actually closer to the one in Canton Michigan ( 1 ish hours ) from Windsor Ontario where I live. But I will be 3 hours the other way! I do so ramble….The Ikea website does not give the depth of the chest. Do you happen to know the measurement? It would be muchly appreciated.

    Love your Blog.

    Kind Regards
    Lisa

  39. Jen says

    Lisa,
    That sounds like a great idea. The depth of the RAST is not much… 11.5 inches. It’s enough to store smaller items, hence the smaller price tag.
    Good luck with your project! 🙂
    Jen

  42. Stacy says

    You did an amazing job. This gives me inspiration to complete one for my 15 year old son. His room needs a makeover and this dresser would look great in his room. Thanks for sharing. I love it!!

  47. Petrie says

    I fell in love with this the first time I saw it. Have bought 2 IKEA RAST drawers second hand and this will be my next project! Love, love, love!!!!!!! Thanks so much for posting this Jen.

  48. Bluwatergal says

    This is AWESOME! I love this idea and the way you executed it is spot on!! I love vintage travel ideas and this is definitely on my project list. Thanks for linking up on the “Something to Talk About” link party 🙂 Hope to see you again next week! Bwg ~~~

  52. Lisa says

    WOW This is amazing!! I cannot believe how you made it with the leather and sharpie. It looks fabulous. Thanks again for linking up to the party and I’ll share this on Fb this week xo Lisa

  53. CoCo says

    Seriously such an awesome hack! You are one creative lady. THIS IS AMAZING! Thanks so much for linking up to our Something to Talk About Link party. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next week!

  55. Kelly says

    This looks gosh darn fantastic! I love all the other shares of the dresser too!

    Its just awesome what some paint & embellishments can do to a furniture piece. Well, anything really! ha ha.

    Thank for sharing. 🙂

  57. MikkiGirl says

    Love, love, love this! You did a fantastic job! If you were going to sell the suitcase dresser, about how much would you ask for it?

  58. Jen says

    MikkiGirl, I have actually thought of painting another suitcase dresser (not on an IKEA piece) and then offering it for sale. The price would really depend on the initial cost of the dresser and all the materials plus the time and effort involved. Plus the Rast is pretty small, and I’d do a larger piece next time. It’s hard to estimate a price on something I don’t plan on selling currently! 🙂 If you live local (Chicago area) and want me to do a custom piece for you, let me know and we can get into more specifics.

  59. Andi says

    Oh my gosh this is incredible! I’m so tempted to buy the dresser, even though I have way too many crafts going on right now. Definitely the best tutorial that I have seen for a DIY suitcase dresser!

Trackbacks

  3. […] Jen from Girl in the Garage has started 2015 off with a bang with this awesome IKEA hack. Since Jen lives far from IKEA, she doesn’t usually have access to their budget-friendly furnishings. However, when Jen finally had the opportunity to visit the store, she snatched up a RAST chest for only $34.99 to make over into a very cool suitcase dresser. Jen says, “I stained the sides, painted the drawer fronts, and added accessories to make the drawers look like suitcases. It’s going in my son’s bedroom, and it’s now one of my favorite makeovers!” […]

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