Ikea Rast Hack

I think it's safe to say the Ikea rast has been hacked about a million times, it's just so hackable.  It's basically a solid wood blank canvas, the perfect bones for a makeover.  So when my sister mentioned she would like some new nightstands for her room that were inexpensive yet provided a decent amount of storage, my first thought was natural the rast.  

Of course we couldn't leave them in their natural state so that's where I come in.  She's taken plenty of pictures for me, so I do DIY projects for her.  It works out well for both of us.  She basically gave me free reign to do whatever I wanted to do with them.  If they were for me I probably would have done something a little more modern like this or this, but she has more of a cottage look going on in her home.  So I went for something a little aged and a little more rustic looking.  I also wanted to make sure it coordinated with this gray and white duvet she already had from IKEA.

Here's a reminder of what it looks like straight out of the box.

So, I basically just painted them white after several coats of primer, unfinished wood sure does suck up the paint.  Then, I glazed them with some gray paint I had leftover from another project.  As for the glazing, you basically just mix some water in with your paint.  I think I did about half water, half paint.

Then, just wipe it on with a rag. (I used my hubby's old t shirt and that worked well for me)  I also like to work in small areas.  

Just wipe it on and then with a damp (that's important) rag wipe it off.  If your wiping rag isn't wet the glaze won't really be workable so you want it to be damp.  You may need to rinse it out a few times as you go so things don't start looking too muddy.

There's really no magic formula as to wear you put the glaze.  I usually just go a little heavier around the edges and work it until it looks good to me.

We went with a more rustic knob to go with the more rustic finish.  These knobs from Hobby Lobby did the trick.  They were half off, so for $2.50/each they were a steal.  I love the added texture and interest they bring.

If you don't have a Hobby Lobby near you, you can check out their knob selection online.  It's my go to source, makes me want to hoard drawer pulls.

Anyways, onto the finished product.

linking up to MIss Mustard Seed's furniture party