She Wanted the West Elm Look but Bought IKEA’s $179 Tarva Instead: What She Did With $40 Changed the Look
Expensive mid-century dressers inspired this furniture makeover, but the starting point was a $179 IKEA Tarva made from unfinished pine. Its six drawers, visible wood knots, and matching wooden knobs offered storage without the dark wood finish or contrasting details found on the pieces that caught the creator’s attention.
Imgur user sadgirlpop chose the IKEA dresser and spent about $40 on additional supplies. Rather than replace the drawer fronts or modify the structure, she worked with the existing pine panels, using paint, wood stain, and new hardware to change the appearance.
The project began with a basic flat-pack dresser and ended with a piece that paired dark wood with white drawer fronts, drawing from the mid-century furniture that inspired the makeover.
The $179 IKEA Tarva Started as Unfinished Pine
Six drawers fill the wide IKEA Tarva dresser, arranged in two columns with three rows. Pine grain and dark knots run across the fronts, top, and side panels, while small wooden knobs match the untreated finish.
Four straight legs raise the cabinet above the floor, giving the dresser a simple profile without decorative trim. The original construction remained intact throughout the makeover.
She Assembled the Frame Before Applying the Stain
Side panels, top, bottom, and internal drawer supports form the dresser’s main structure. Metal runners attach to the vertical supports, with the drawer openings left empty during assembly.
She began treating the wood before completing the dresser, choosing to stain the main frame once its basic structure was assembled. This left the exterior panels accessible without working around installed drawers.
Dark Wood Stain Changed the Pine Frame
Deep brown stain covers the dresser’s top and left side, turning the pale pine into a darker wood surface. Grain remains visible through the finish, including the long lines running down the side panel.
The internal supports and drawer openings remain exposed, showing that the treatment focused on the exterior rather than the entire cabinet interior.
The Drawer Fronts Received a Separate Finish
Six pine drawer fronts rest on newspaper across the floor, separated from the dresser frame. Their flat surfaces and straight edges make them suitable for painting before the drawers are installed.
Keeping these pieces apart allowed the creator to use a different finish on the fronts without covering the stained frame or drawer runners.
White Paint Covered the Original Pine Drawers
White paint now covers the six drawer fronts, hiding the knots and grain that appeared across the untreated wood. The panels retain their original dimensions and mounting holes.
The new finish creates a contrast with the dark stained cabinet, while the straight drawer edges preserve the dresser’s simple construction.
The Finished Dresser Combined Dark Wood and White Drawers
Dark stained wood frames six white drawer fronts, with the original pine grain visible across the top and side panels. Small cylindrical knobs replace the matching wooden hardware, introducing a different shape and finish.
The contrast separates the drawer faces from the cabinet frame without changing the dresser’s size, storage capacity, or layout. The stained legs continue the dark finish beneath the white fronts.
The Dresser Found Its Place Beneath a Round Mirror
The completed dresser stands against a white wall beneath a large round mirror with a dark frame. Its stained top holds a small tray and decorative objects, while the six white drawers occupy most of the cabinet’s front.
The mirror’s dark border connects with the stained wood, and the pale wall leaves the contrasting dresser finishes visible without competing patterns.
Before and After Shows What $40 Changed
The comparison places the unfinished IKEA Tarva beside the completed makeover. Untreated pine, visible knots, and matching wooden knobs define the original, while dark stain, white drawer fronts, and replacement hardware distinguish the finished piece.
The dresser cost $179, with about $40 spent on paint, stain, and hardware, bringing the reported total to approximately $219. No new drawer fronts or replacement cabinet structure were needed to achieve the mid-century-inspired design.
Would you choose the original natural pine finish or the dark wood and white combination?
Project and images: sadgirlpop on Imgur.