I had an old brown IKEA BESTÅ dresser with 6 white drawers on metal feet that I was tired of. However, the chest of drawers was still in excellent condition, so I decided to hack it in the furniture style of the 70s.
Here’s how the storage unit used to look. I have an old model consisting of three 2-section BESTÅ benches fixed on top of each other. Each section is fitted with a drawer to create a 6-drawer dresser.
Materials used:
- BESTÅ chest of drawers
- Custom-cut wooden panels
- Slanted wooden furniture feet
- ÖSTERNÄS leather handles
- Wood primer
- White wood paint
- Wood glue
- Wood screws
Retro style IKEA BESTÅ dresser hack
I first measured the top, bottom, and side of the BESTÅ chest of drawers. Then I cut out custom wooden panels according to the measurements. Taking the panel for the bottom of the BESTÅ frame, I attached new slanted wooden feet. I added four angled legs to the side and two straight legs in the middle to support the unit.
Next, I painted the panels with cherry stain so as to make the wood grain visible. After the stain had dried, I glued the panels on and, where necessary, fixed them to the BESTÅ frame with wood screws.
For the front of the dresser, I coated it with primer and white wood paint so that you wouldn’t see the brown edges.
Next, I fixed the ÖSTERNÄS leather handles to the drawers. However, I flipped the leather inside out because the color of the inner leather was better matched to the cherry color of the tops.
Here’s the final result.
And a side-by-side comparison of the BESTÅ of the old unit and the updated one.
I did more or less the same 70’s style with the BESTÅ furniture I used as bedside tables (of which I don’t have the “before” photos).
Now my bedroom furniture is in a retro 70’s style.
~ by Annalisa Rizzo
See my other IKEA hacks:
Can you use the IKEA BESTÅ as a dresser?
Even though the IKEA website no longer shows this combination, it’s possible to assemble a 6-drawer dresser from IKEA BESTÅ units. Take 3 BESTÅ frames (47 1/4 x 15 3/4 x 15″), stack, and secure the frames together. Get drawers for each cubby to fit the size. To cover the cubby entirely, you may need to get a larger drawer front (23 5/8 x 15″).
Jules is the author of IKEAHackers.net: 25 Biggest and Best Projects".
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