I am back with another do-it-yourself (DIY) post: a West Elm inspired Modern 6-Drawer Dresser! If you have not read my previous Ikea hack on how I transformed a basic nesting table into a faux marble table, be sure to check out DIY: Faux Marble Table (IKEA Hack). As you may or may not know, I am still in the process of decorating my apartment and constantly looking for inspiration to create a space that reflects me. Inspired by West Elm’s minimal and Mid-Century aesthetics, I was inclined to recreate the Modern 6-Drawer Dresser. It is simple, yet it serves as the ultimate statement piece to add to your home. Keep reading to find out how I successfully achieved this inspired look!
About West Elm
West Elm is a home furnishing retail store that originated in Brooklyn and now has over 90+ stores in U.S. cities, as well as internationally in Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, the UK, and the Middle East. West Elm offers modern furniture, homewares and home decor—all of which are well outside of my tax bracket, hence the reason for this DIY project (lol). However, they have a wide selection of furniture and home decor items in various styles and designs to pull inspiration from.
Items You’ll Need:
Step 1: Purchase
First, I purchased the Tarva 6-Drawer Chest from IKEA for $199 (before taxes). The Tarva is a simple design made of untreated solid pine wood, which makes it the perfect blank canvas to refinish. It does not require any additional preparation, therefore you can paint, stain, or wax it directly to express your personal style.
Step 2: Cut Wood
(And Story Time!)
It is evident that the West Elm Modern 6-Drawer Dresser is quite simple with its minimal hardware, but what makes it unique is its Pecan-stained finish angled legs. Since the base is the focal point, this step required extra work: cutting and staining the base before putting everything together. That being said, it was essential to set aside the legs and bottom frame prior to the assembling the rest of the Tarva dresser.
You will need a miter saw or hand saw to cut the legs at an angle. Note: Always ensure that you measure, mark, and then cut.
First, using a ruler, I measured and marked reference points on each leg ; 4cm (1½ in.) on the vertical edge and 2cm (0.79 in.) along the bottom edge. Then, with the ruler, I connected the two points and shaded the area to be cut.
This step warrants the right tools or professional assistance. Also, for your information: The Cutting Centre at The Home Depot only does straight cuts—no miter or angled cuts. Do not be like me and find yourself attempting to cut solid wood with blades meant for pipes and wires! Nevertheless, as determined as I was, I managed to cut one leg at an “angle,” though it was no easy task. It took me nearly 30 minutes to handsaw just one leg—and keep in mind, I still had three more legs to attempt.
Aside from the unwanted attention my sawing drew in the store, a kind customer suggested I use a proper machine and offered to cut the legs for me at his work site. Since his site was five minutes away from the store, I took him up on his offer (don’t judge!). At this point, I was desperate—cutting that first leg took forever and was done without the right equipment. What was a girl to do? Say, no? I commuted to The Home Depot for free service, not to spend extra money on a miter saw, only to find out they do straight cuts.
Long story short, I got my legs cut under 5 minutes by a professional, who had the right equipment. The legs are not perfect, but I am very content with them. Thank you, Barry!
Step 3: Assemble & Stain
The first thing I always practice prior to assembling any furniture is prepping my workspace. I lay out all the parts and hardware, check for any damages or defects, and skim through the instructions for any additional tools that may be required.
I purchased the Tarva dresser in mid-December 2018; however, the assembly process did not start until the last week of January. This was by far the most frustrating piece of furniture I have ever had to assemble. While putting the dresser together, I did injure myself. For this reasons, take caution and get assistance if you can.
As I got to the base of the dresser, I stained the legs and the bottom frame using leftover wood stain from my very first DIY project in the colour Espresso. The stain colour you choose to use is entirely up to you—I just settled on what I had in storage. Once the stain completely dried, I assembled the remaining parts.
Step 4: Preparation
Fast forward to Remembrance Day weekend: the goal was to finally complete this project. I rearranged my bedroom to create enough space to work in, covered my floor with a plastic drop sheet to deter spilled paint from soaking into the carpet, and laid out all my supplies.
Prior to painting, I lightly sanded the dresser (optional) with a 100-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface and wiped it down with a damp cloth to remove any dust or debris. In addition, it was important that the base was fully tape off the stained base to prevent getting white paint on the dark wood.
Step 5: Paint
Next, I painted the entire dresser in white using BEHR Premium Plus -Interior Eggshell Enamel, and applied two coats of paint for coverage and even results. For this step, I highly recommend using a good quality paint roller. Not only is it ideal for large furniture surfaces, but it is also less time-consuming, easy to use, and produces a smooth, even finish.
The paint application took two days to complete (including drying time between coats), but that is only because—typical me—added more work to my load than needed.
Step 6: Paint the Drawer Sides
(Optional)
I regret entertaining this step. It was a last minute decision, and I had already applied paint to one side of a drawer; therefore, I felt it was only right to finish what I had started.
Initially, I had not planned to paint the sides of the drawers, but I was pleased with how things were going and thought, What could go wrong? Here is what went wrong: I thought it would be a good idea to use the same paint roller on the narrow sides of the drawers (FAIL! Clearly, I was not in the right state of mind).
Note: If you decided proceed with this step make sure to purchase a mini roller for a smooth application. I ended up using a cheap paint brush I found in storage to complete the task. Although it left brush strokes and the application was neither even nor smooth I had to make do with it. Ultimately, it did not make or break the dresser but it is a step that I could have skipped.
Step 7: Add Knobs
Lastly, for the final touches and functionality, I replaced the plain wooden Tarva knobs with affordable black Richelieu Traditional Metal Knobs purchased from The Home Depot to complete this West Elm inspired look.
Final Look & Thoughts
Overall, I am happy with the transformation of my dresser—it is my perfect imperfection!
What is so beautiful about this project is that you are not limited to one style. You have full creative freedom to alter your work to reflect your personal taste, space, and mood. So, be free, have fun, and trust the process!
And this wraps up my final DIY of the year!
In the Comments Below
Let me know what you think of the dresser, and tell me if it has inspired you to start your own DIY project in the new year.
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