I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Espe I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Especially the floors! 
Head over to Paintingbythepenny.com for a step by step guide on how to paint a harlequin floor pattern, the products we used, how to achieve a crisp paint line, and the mistake I made during the process 🫠. 
#paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #floorpaint #newblogpost #bathroomdesign #bathroomremodel #vintagebathroom
Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨ •Painted t Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨
•Painted the walls using left over paint (Color Sherwin Williams Greek Villa) 
•Painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating 
•Upgraded curtain rod, towel bar and toilet paper holder 
•Replaced vanity knob & pull
•Sanded & installed shelves higher 
•Purchased and thrifted items on shelves 
•Purchased accent table & cut it to size 
•Purchased new rug and shower curtain 
•Hung a new plant baby to bring it all together 🪴
Sometimes all you need is to upgrade some of the small items, paint and thrift some decorative pieces and you have yourself a brand new bathroom! 
#bathroommakeover #budgetfriendlymakeover #bathroomdesign #bathroomdecor #paintedfloors #bathroomideas #bathroominspiration
This bathroom has been through a couple different This bathroom has been through a couple different changes. Mainly wall colors and if I knew how good the floors would have looked painted too, I would have done it a long time ago! 
I painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating and it has completely transformed the look of this bathroom! 
#bathroomdesign #bathroomupgrade #vintagebathroom #paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #bathroom 
#bathroomremodel
Which room is your favorite? I really can’t deci Which room is your favorite? I really can’t decide between bedroom 2, the Kitchen, breakfast nook or Living room. 
Each room means something special. One I was able to put together mainly using FB marketplace items, the other had the biggest transformation in terms of look, and others just came together so nicely that it’s hard to pick a favorite! 
#apartmenttransformation #bedroomdesign #kitchendesign #breakfastnook #livingroomdesign #apartmentdecor #apartmenttherapy
After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, I received lots of questions about the desks we built on the sides. 
I gathered some measurements and did some research on standard desks sizes. Took into consideration the IKEA Alex drawer we purchased to fit underneath and then grabbed our tools and some plywood! 
We’ve never built desks before and I’d say it turned out pretty good for our first time! 
#diyproject #builtindesk #desk #officedesk #officedesign #deskbuild #diywoodproject
Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and th Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and there were some mixed reviews on how we did it 😅 
So how are the radiators holding up now that they’re being used? Well so far so good! They look great and work just fine, no chemical smells, or peeling! 
I love how they look in our home! For details on how to refinish steam radiators visit Paintingbythepenny.com
Even if you purchase furniture online, you can mak Even if you purchase furniture online, you can make it unique to you! 
We purchased this Murphy bed online at Bredabeds.com and added trim, painted it, and changed the hardware. 
Now it looks like something we built! 🪚💪🏼
#murphybed #guestroom #woodtrim #sherwinwilliamsriverway #builtins #officedesign #guestroomdesign #diy #diyprojects #bedroomtransformation #bedroommakeover
This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I ca This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I can’t believe we were able to install cabinets and build shelves and desks around a Murphy bed. 
Makes me wonder what else we can do! 
Took us many months to complete but we did it! Now I’m looking around the house like what else can we build 🤔😅 
#beforeandafter #guestroom #office #guestroomdesign #transformation #murphybed #officedesign
Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an i Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an item! Sometimes it just needs a simple refresh and it looks brand new again! 
We find solutions and makes things work around here, especially when it’s free! 
#wallart #homedecor #easyfix #walldecor #interiordesign #framedart #livingroomdesign #diy
Load More...
  • DIY Projects
  • Furniture
  • Interior Design
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • DIY Projects
  • Furniture
  • Interior Design
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Painting by the Penny

Refinished Furniture, DIY, & Interior Design

DIY Projects · September 23, 2022

Ikea Alex Drawer Hack

Who doesn’t love shopping at Ikea? It’s pretty affordable but there’s a problem, the style isn’t always up my alley. That’s the case with these Ikea Alex drawer units, perfect for the space I want them in, but the drawer fronts need some upgrading. Queue in another Ikea Hack, I just did a pendant light Ikea hack a few months ago! These drawers turned out so good! Here’s a step by step guide on how I made this Ikea Alex Drawer hack to better fit my style.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read disclaimer for more information.

What you’ll need:

  • Trim
  • Wood glue
  • Pencil
  • Square (optional)
  • Measuring Tape
  • Miter saw or Miter shears
  • 120 & 220 grit sand paper or orbital sander
  • Wood filler
  • Primer
  • Paint (paint brush and roller)

Step 1: Measure the drawer fronts

The Ikea Drawer unit I purchased comes with a file storage on the bottom. So the bottom drawer is a different size than the rest of the drawers. Be sure to measure each individual drawer first and mark down the height and width of each drawer front.

*Tip: To easily remove the drawers without removing the metal glides, use a Philips screw driver and unscrew and remove the two screws that are located on the inside of the drawers. You’ll find them on the sides about a foot away from the drawer face. You can then easily slide out the drawer while the metal glide stays in place.

Step 2: Purchase and cut your trim

I purchased 1/4 inch by 1 1/8 inch primed pine lattice moulding from Home Depot.

The trim is 1/4 inch thick so it will stand out a little around the face but not by much.

This trim worked well to cover the opening on the drawer fronts.

I marked my measurement on the trim and using a square made a 45 degree angle line with a pencil.

You don’t need to use a square but I found it helpful for making my cuts and guiding me in what direction I was cutting at a 45 degree angle.

I cut all of my corners at a 45 degree angle. I used a miter saw to cut my trim.

If you don’t have a miter saw this miter shear can cut soft wood and its adjustable. You can cut 45 to 135 degrees. I used it for a different project and it works really well.

Step 3: Glue your trim

I used Titebond wood glue to glue my trim pieces onto the drawer fronts.

I was thinking about also nailing the trim down but found that the trim adhered really well with the glue (I’ll keep you posted if anything changes).

Step 4: Fill gaps and sand smooth

Once the trim is in place and the glue is dried. Fill in any gaps or nail holes (if you decide to nail it in).

I’ve used lots of different wood fillers but I gotta say this one is my all time favorite so far. For a small project this Dap wood filler is perfect.

The wood filler didn’t seem messy and was super smooth after sanding. I used my Surfprep sander to smooth out the wood filler after it was dried.

You can also use a sanding sponge since it’s not a big sanding job.

In the picture below the top two drawers are sanded and the bottom two are not.

Step 5: Prime and paint

Because Ikea furniture is not made of real wood its important to lightly sand all the surfaces to roughen it up and to prime. Sanding the surface will ensure better adhesion of the primer and paint.

I used Kilz primer and primed the entire piece after sanding it lightly with 220 grit sand paper.

After one coat of primer, I allowed the primer to dry and it was finally time for paint. I would recommend two coats of primer for bigger Ikea furniture.

For the small spaces I brushed on the paint, then used a paint roller to apply the paint to the rest of the drawers.

I used Sherwin Williams Riverway in a semi-gloss finish.

Adding the trim made it look so much better! This Ikea Alex drawer hack was pretty easy and makes it look like its worth so much more!

I added these cabinet pulls I purchased on Amazon to complete the look.

Let me know if you try this hack or a different hack on the Ikea Alex drawers, I would love to see it!

Related

In: DIY Projects

You’ll Also Love

4 Things To Consider Before Painting Furniture
Easy DIY Easter Craft: Wooden Bead Bunnies
How to paint baseboard heater covers

Comments

  1. Jess says

    September 23, 2022 at 3:25 pm

    Love this hack! Totally elevates the drawers. I may have to steal this for my guest bedroom/Office makeover. Thanks for inspiring!

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      September 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm

      Thanks Jess! Can’t wait to see what you create in the guest room/office!!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    October 18, 2022 at 6:44 am

    I’m totally stealing this! I have a couple of those Alex drawers sitting around. Would love to see what you used on the back panel of the desktop?! Is that pole wrap? I love the look!

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      October 18, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much! It’s such a good hack. They’re going to look so much better after! For the slat wall we used pieces of wood that we cut ourselves. There’s more details on it on my Instagram and Pinterest page! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

How to Paint a Radiator: A DIY(ish) Approach

About me

Hi! I’m Joanna, a Latina who is passionate about making homes beautiful through furniture, design and DIY! Follow along as I share all my tips and tricks and the behind the scenes. I hope to inspire you as much as you all inspire me!

Instagram

Follow @Paintingbythepenny

I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Espe I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Especially the floors! 
Head over to Paintingbythepenny.com for a step by step guide on how to paint a harlequin floor pattern, the products we used, how to achieve a crisp paint line, and the mistake I made during the process 🫠. 
#paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #floorpaint #newblogpost #bathroomdesign #bathroomremodel #vintagebathroom
Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨ •Painted t Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨
•Painted the walls using left over paint (Color Sherwin Williams Greek Villa) 
•Painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating 
•Upgraded curtain rod, towel bar and toilet paper holder 
•Replaced vanity knob & pull
•Sanded & installed shelves higher 
•Purchased and thrifted items on shelves 
•Purchased accent table & cut it to size 
•Purchased new rug and shower curtain 
•Hung a new plant baby to bring it all together 🪴
Sometimes all you need is to upgrade some of the small items, paint and thrift some decorative pieces and you have yourself a brand new bathroom! 
#bathroommakeover #budgetfriendlymakeover #bathroomdesign #bathroomdecor #paintedfloors #bathroomideas #bathroominspiration
This bathroom has been through a couple different This bathroom has been through a couple different changes. Mainly wall colors and if I knew how good the floors would have looked painted too, I would have done it a long time ago! 
I painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating and it has completely transformed the look of this bathroom! 
#bathroomdesign #bathroomupgrade #vintagebathroom #paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #bathroom 
#bathroomremodel
Which room is your favorite? I really can’t deci Which room is your favorite? I really can’t decide between bedroom 2, the Kitchen, breakfast nook or Living room. 
Each room means something special. One I was able to put together mainly using FB marketplace items, the other had the biggest transformation in terms of look, and others just came together so nicely that it’s hard to pick a favorite! 
#apartmenttransformation #bedroomdesign #kitchendesign #breakfastnook #livingroomdesign #apartmentdecor #apartmenttherapy
After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, I received lots of questions about the desks we built on the sides. 
I gathered some measurements and did some research on standard desks sizes. Took into consideration the IKEA Alex drawer we purchased to fit underneath and then grabbed our tools and some plywood! 
We’ve never built desks before and I’d say it turned out pretty good for our first time! 
#diyproject #builtindesk #desk #officedesk #officedesign #deskbuild #diywoodproject
Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and th Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and there were some mixed reviews on how we did it 😅 
So how are the radiators holding up now that they’re being used? Well so far so good! They look great and work just fine, no chemical smells, or peeling! 
I love how they look in our home! For details on how to refinish steam radiators visit Paintingbythepenny.com
Even if you purchase furniture online, you can mak Even if you purchase furniture online, you can make it unique to you! 
We purchased this Murphy bed online at Bredabeds.com and added trim, painted it, and changed the hardware. 
Now it looks like something we built! 🪚💪🏼
#murphybed #guestroom #woodtrim #sherwinwilliamsriverway #builtins #officedesign #guestroomdesign #diy #diyprojects #bedroomtransformation #bedroommakeover
This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I ca This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I can’t believe we were able to install cabinets and build shelves and desks around a Murphy bed. 
Makes me wonder what else we can do! 
Took us many months to complete but we did it! Now I’m looking around the house like what else can we build 🤔😅 
#beforeandafter #guestroom #office #guestroomdesign #transformation #murphybed #officedesign
Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an i Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an item! Sometimes it just needs a simple refresh and it looks brand new again! 
We find solutions and makes things work around here, especially when it’s free! 
#wallart #homedecor #easyfix #walldecor #interiordesign #framedart #livingroomdesign #diy
Can you cut bamboo shades? Yes, yes you can! Thi Can you cut bamboo shades? 
Yes, yes you can!  This is a quick and simple solution for those odd sized windows. 
Some of the windows at the Airbnb were a little tricky because the width was in between sizes so when ordering the bamboo shades, I went up a size and then we cut it using a miter saw. 
Now it’s a perfect fit 🙌🏽
#windowtreatments #bambooshades #tipsandtricks #diy #homedecor #windowshades #mitersaw #bambooblinds #diysolutions #windowdesign
Load More...

  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Painting by the Penny · Theme by 17th Avenue