Patriotic Dresser – Ikea Rast Hack

I recently shared that I thought my Goodwill table makeover was my favorite furniture project ever, but I think I’m changing my mind after completing my latest project, an Ikea Rast hack.  The Ikea Rast is a sturdy but plain chest that sells for just $34.99. 

Ikea Rast Hack - Patriotic Dresser

This is what the dresser looks like when assembled after purchasing from Ikea.

Ikea Rast Dresser

I like this inexpensive chest so much that I used a pair of them for bedside tables in our lake house bedroom.

Mr. SP and I came up with an idea for this project on a snowy February walk. 

Long before we owned a digital camera, we toured the Shelborne Museum in Shelborne, Vermont where we saw an Americana gate that Mr. SP has never forgotten. 

For years he has mentioned the gate from time to time when we’ve discussed project ideas.  Instead of making a gate, we used our router to route the gate’s design into the drawers of the Ikea Rast.

Ikea Rast Hack- Patriotic Dresser

We started the process by making a template of the American shield from a picture of the gate that the museum kindly sent me.  We measured the three drawers on the dresser and then drew the shield on the luan to that size.

Ikea Rast Hack How-To

We cut out one side of the shield template using a sabre saw and then cut out a mirror image of the template by clamping it to another piece of luan and cutting around the first template.

Ikea Rast Hack How-To

The template was placed on top of the drawers and Mr. SP routed around it.  Yes, this was a lot of routing!Ikea Rast Hack How-To

He made a corner template to mimic the gate’s design and routed around that as well.

Ikea Rast Hack How-To

Stars were traced onto the wood on the shield’s top and the router was used to route behind them.  An extra piece of wood was added below the bottom drawer to complete the shield.  We also added a larger top to the dresser.

Patriotic Ikea Rast Hack

After Mr. SP did all of the routing, we did a lot of sanding and then it was time for me to work some magic with paint.

Patriotic Ikea Rast Hack

I used paints that we had on hand to paint the American flag shield.

  • Gold:  Rustoleum American Accents
  • Red:  Rustoleum American Accents Colonial Red
  • White:  Valspar Gloss White
  • Blue:  Valspar Gloss Royal Blue
  • Black:  Velvet Finishes Luxurious

The unpainted wood was stained with General Finishes Brown Mahogany and sealed with General Finishes High Performance Top Coat.  This was my first time using this brand and I was quite pleased with its performance.

Patriotic Ikea Rast Hack

Mr. SP and I both thought that the hardware that I selected from Hickory Hardware had a colonial feel that matched the flag design.

Patriotic Ikea Rast Hack

Two of my mom’s vintage postcards go along with the dresser’s patriotic theme.  Both postcards were sent to my great grandmother in 1910.

Vintage George Washington and Independance Hall Postcards

Vintage campaign pins are displayed on a Teaberry gum stand that was once used in my great-great aunt and uncle’s store in Vinton, VA.

Vintage Clark's Teaberry Gum Stand

I can’t remember my parents not having this tin.  I suspect that it also came from the same store.

Vintage George Washington Pipe Tobacco Tin

This patriotic dresser found a home in a guest room at our lake house that has an Americana theme. Our guest always comment on it!

Patriotic Dresser - Ikea Rast Hack

28 Comments

    1. Thanks, Shanna! I enjoyed this project but will admit that it took way longer than I anticipated to finish it.

      Paula

  1. Paula, WOW is all I can say. I can’t believe all the detail and what you added to it, you’d never know this started out as an Ikea dresser. It looks fabulous. Thanks so much for linking it up to the Something to Talk About Link Party too. hugs, Lisa at Concord Cottage

    1. Thank you, Nancy! I’ll have to admit that I breathed a sigh of relief when this project was complete. 🙂

      Paula

    1. Thank you, Larissa! I wasn’t sure if our plan would work for this dresser and was so glad when it did.

      Paula

  2. Whoa! This is SO COOL! I can’t believe you cut out that whole front part. I’m so impressed! I agree – this may be my favorite yet!

  3. Wow, what an amazing transformation! It’s nice to see something so plain and boring turned into a unique piece of furniture like this. Great job.

  4. This dresser is amazing! I would not have thought to put cut out wood on the front of it. I would of just painted it! It came out awesome. Love it so cool. I’m inspired! Stopping by to let you know I am featuring them in my P3 Party Post tomorrow! So look for some social media love from me. Thanks so much for pinning them to the board!
    Kim

    1. Thank you, Liberty! This dresser looks great in my father-in-law’s bedroom at the lake that is decorated with an Americana theme.

      Paula

  5. Pingback: 25 Simple and Creative IKEA Rast Hacks : News Readly

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