How to convert the modest Tarva dresser from IKEA into a beautiful bedroom
nightstand!

I searched for the perfect nightstands for our room for decades! I could under no circumstances obtain specifically
what I needed. 

They had to be tall adequate and have loads of storage. (We hold a large amount of guides
in our nightstands.) OH and the biggie — they could not price hundreds of dollars every. 

This Tarva line comes in a range of dimensions, from a few to six drawers. They
all arrive unfinished, so you can personalize them exactly how you want for your
place. 

The drawers are nice and roomy and you can slash down the legs to regulate the
height of the dressers. The finest section — they are only $100 each individual! 

This is how our Tarva nightstands begun out:

When I place them with each other several years ago I lower down the legs with my observed. It manufactured them the perfect height for by the mattress.

I went back and forth on a glimpse for these Without end. Here is a reminder of how
they seemed in our outdated master: 

I changed the wooden knobs with random IKEA kinds we previously had — not sure why
cause it didn’t do a total good deal to aid it out. ) 

I often understood I’d use stain in some way and add some trim. The specific particulars I
wasn’t absolutely sure of. But when we moved into this residence it all fell into
put. I required to use a deep blue colour and a dim stain. I went back and forth on
whether I really should stain the entrance of the drawers or stain the trim and
prime. 

I made the decision on the latter primarily because the pine these are designed of is not
always the finest. There are a lot of knots I failed to want to
accentuate. 

I begun painting with no primer — I am a rebel! I knew I was likely to
have to do several coats no make any difference what. 

Right after the very first coat it really is significant to do a gentle sanding to knock down the
texture that pops up with paint:

You can have to do that with primer as effectively. No will need to go insane with it —
just a light going around is fine. Wipe it down with a rag or tack cloth in advance of
moving on to your following coat! (This really blue is known as Gale Power.)

What a variation a different coat makes! The grain will become much less and a lot less
noticeable. 

See the variance among the best drawer and the bottom
two?: 

I started out on the stain to wooden top of the dresser though I waited on the paint
to dry. 

I use gloves and a rag to stain. Will make it tremendous easy to use and I find it
a lot quicker than making use of a brush:  

It definitely gets the stain into the wood also — you happen to be genuinely rubbing it
in. 

I only do a single coat of stain but if you want to deepen the coloration you can do a person
or two extra. Do be certain to hold out until it can be dry in amongst coats or you can have
a gummy mess. 

Never shake your poly — it will make bubbles and bubbles are the enemy of a
lovely, clean finish. 

Usually stir:

Staining is my favourite because it is quick gratification, but poly is a
shut next for the reason that it actually brings out the splendor of the wooden:

Even although these dressers are built with affordable pine, which can be
finicky with stain, it turned out superbly! 

You want to smooth out the poly coats as substantially as achievable. It can be practical to use
your light resource and appear at the merchandise from the facet to see what desires
touching up. I uncover a couple lighter coats do the job much better than a person weighty-handed
coat. 

I stained the parts initial and then minimize them down to the suitable sizing:

A nail gun helps make for brief function (use brief nails to make certain they won’t go
through the again!) but you could certainly use glue as well!

I wished to have my rough edges going through to the side of the drawers in its place of
the best, so I did a extended piece together the prime and base and then the aspect
trim. 

A bit of stain covered the raw edges right up!:

When the stain was dry, it was time to poly these as properly. 

See how using the gentle aids to see what you’ve included?:

I’m absolutely THRILLED with how this came with each other! Gah! I adore it!

The top rated of the dressers stained up a great deal prettier than I considered it would!:

I am impressed mainly because we’ve been making use of these for yrs without having any protection.
I experimented with to remain on top of any spills and averted leaving drinks on them, but
even now, I was stunned. 

I utilised pine trim to match the leading. Distinctive woods will stain up in another way
and even the same may possibly have little differences. 

Pine is surely a additional rustic seem, so prepare appropriately: 

My full program for this place is a rustic elegance layout and the nightstands
in good shape that beautifully:

The blue appears navy sometimes, often a blue environmentally friendly. I like them equally.
🙂 

I never know if it can be just because I have been on the lookout at the pine dressers for
so very long or what, but I am smitten. They’re just so rather
and…finished. ) 

From time to time it can be a good thing that I procrastinate. I didn’t have a terrific eyesight
of what I preferred right up until we moved into this property.

I had the lamps — I believed I experienced returned them and went to the basement
seeking for anything else and there they were! I should have recognised they’d get the job done
beautifully!:

Of program, like usual, one completed task starts a sequence of variations. I approach
to transform out the bedskirt sooner or later. It appeared good with our previous wall
coloration but I don’t like it in in this article with the drapes and dresser color: 

But that I can offer with! 

That photo above can make the dresser glance genuinely navy, but this one particular is the additional
correct shade. I am obsessed with it! It really is these types of a really blue: 

Mainly because you know I have to do it…here is the right before of this dresser:

And this is the soon after, with some paint, stain and wonderful hardware!:

I’ve produced a TON of modifications in our bed room since ending these nightstands! You
can see all of the updates to our space about the years in this article.