We’re mostly using the same bedroom furniture from our last house, but I wanted our room now to feel different and decided to give our plain white nightstands a quick makeover.
We have the Koppang nightstands from IKEA, but I saw these much pricier ones from Layla Grace and knew I could create a similar look with just a little effort.
In fact, I already had everything I needed—including a tube of Gold Leaf Rub ‘n Buff:
After I wiped down the surface, I just used my finger to apply the gold all the way around the top edge.
Then, I started measuring and marking where the gold would outline each drawer:
I did all of the horizontal lines first, pulling off the tape as soon as I applied the gold to keep my lines clean.
Once the horizontal lines were dry, I went back and did the vertical lines down the sides of the drawers.
I had previously changed the original hardware to some square chrome pulls (also found at IKEA), and sprayed them gold, as well. I considered buying ring pulls to match the more expensive inspiration chest, but decided the spray paint gave them enough of a facelift (and saved me money. . .).
To finish it off, I also taped off 1 1/2 inches on the bottom of the feet and applied the Rub ‘n Buff there, as well.
Love it, Emily! Fabulous update!
So clever! Looks great!
Love it! I thought you were going to show me how to break out a miter saw, etc. I’m so glad you went the easy route and still achieved a glamorous effect.
I can almost assure you that I’ll never break out a miter saw :)
Great redo! No need to spend that extra $2,400!
This is so lovely Emily! It looks awesome! I love your site!
So impressive!! It looks great!
As these the Koppang drawers? The hemnes 3 drawer are HUGE! It’s a beautiful update though, just may get tacked onto my very long to do list :)
Oh my goodness, Gilli! I’ve had them for so long that I got mixed up. Yes–and they were even cheaper than the Hemnes. Fixing my post now. Thank you!!
This looks amazing. I love this idea. I would love for you to link this up to my Inspire Me party this afternoon. This is such a fabulous idea and great tutorial. Hugs, Marty
Fantastic upgrade, Emily! Your nightstands have such a high-end look now!
An amazing look for less!
Emily, it looks fantastic!!!!! I actually added gold too to the lining of one of my canvas art prints in the kitchen and I love it! Gold really makes everything look classier !
I love it! Looks great!!
so so good! that tube is inspiring many gold tinged projects, eh?
Looks great Emily :) Glad you could reuse something you already had xo Kristin
They look great! Don’t you just love rub n buff
Love a gorgeous Ikea hack!! Do people really pay $2600 for a dresser? :)
Shut up! This is the second Rub n’ Buff nightstand update I’ve seen today. May be time to pull out my tubes.
It looks fabulous!
Beautiful. I wish i could find the Rub’nBUf here in Canada. I spray painted a mirror in Metallic gold too this weekend (it’s up on the blog now) and I love the look.
You’re so awesome! Looks outstanding.
I’m so glad you posted this! I was planning to do something similar to our nightstands and wasn’t sure which paint to use. They look great!
Such a simple but effective change Emily! I think the gold feet are a nice touch.
FABULOUS …..CAN’T BELIEVE THE OUTCOME…..SO, SO STRIKING
Girl, it looks great. What a difference. I love me sum rub n buff!
so cute and so much more stylish! Way to go Em, your’e the best! Great great idea. Have a wonderful week.
xo Nancy
I love this! Does Rub n’ Buff hold up well on laminate without priming first? That would be my one concern.
Mine have been finished for a few weeks, and so far so good. I was actually surprised at how well it took to the surface. Not sure how it would even do if you put it over a primer. Anyone else know?
Curious to know how the rub and buff held up over the last 2 years. I am so loving the look but wondering about it’s ability to adhere to that typically slick Ikea surface.
The only part that has rubbed off a bit is the top corner by my side of the bed where little hands repeatedly grab to pull themselves up. :)
Looks perfect!!! There’s nothing I won’t go after with rub n buff!! Is your finger still gold? ;)
Maybe… Is that bad?
Brilliant! I love them. I’m in desperate need of white nightstands and may try these ikea dressers on for size. Thanks Emily! xo
I love it! I have white ikea dressers that I was thinking about adding a painted wood trim on. I never considered painting right on the dresser. Good idea!
awesome, i like projects like this emily! ♥ it!
Those look LOVELY! I love that you had everything on hand too – aren’t those the best projects?
I love rub ‘n buff so much I should probably have a Pinterest board just for rub n buff projects – ha! Love this makeover – looks so so great!
Love that stuff! Looks great!
http://erinstaussdesign.co/
No one would ever guess that is an Ikea piece! Beautiful, and I’m pinning!
Beautiful! I think I need a tube of that gold stuff!
I’m totally scared of Rub ‘n Buff. Does it dry or stay “buffable”? I always imagine that it is more like a wax that you can wipe off. Emily, you may have convinced me to take the leap!
It dries really fast and I haven’t had any trouble with it rubbing off. I’ve had it on the nightstands for a few weeks now. I also used it on the corners of our coffee table, and so far, so good.
Love!
Emily this is amazing!! I’m saving it for future reference, I’m definitely going to give it a go whenever I need a new nigh stand!
What a great makeover Emily. I’m pinning this one!
What a fun transformation and I love how little you had to spend and do to create this! I can’t wait to share it on facebook. Great job!
~Sarah
You are such a smart cookie! Love how it turned out, so pretty and chic!
xo!
Nice! Love that you chose gold for the accent color
What a lovely way to freshen and change up a space you see every day!
What a great transformation! Looks fresh and new. Thanks for sharing.
Kristi
Loooooooovvvvveeeeee TTTTHHHHHHIIIIISSSSS, enough said.
Love it! Looks great!!
Stunning!! Now to see if I can convince my daughter to let me do this to her boring white MALM dresser…
The comparison to that Layla Grace chest is amazing! It looks gorgeous!!
Emily
Ugh, you are killing me. Love this! I had them on my list before the summer started and they were out of them. I had even bought square gold knobs at Anthropology. You beet me to it and I love it!
Looks so great, Emily! You are so creative, yet practical. :)
I have to ask, I’ve used rub and buff on lots of things, but I tend to have trouble getting an even finish on smooth surfaces. Do you actually rub it on with your finger? Or do you just dab it on? I’d love to know your technique for application, as this perfectionist has had some trouble getting a great look in the past.
I do just use my finger and rub it in. It’s not an exact smooth finish, but I’m not sure that’s what Rub ‘n Buff is suppose to do… I used the gold leaf so I was expecting it to be more of a an uneven metallic finish–which it is. I haven’t tried the other colors so I’m not sure how they do.
Holy cow! Wow! What a difference…looks amazing. You must me thrilled with your new nightstands
Emily,
Thanks so much for using AMACO’s Rub ‘n Buff product! We love to see how it works for furniture transformations. I’m going to post this on Facebook at Rub ‘n Buff Metallic Finishes, and link back to your site. Thanks again!
Thanks so much!
Hey, that’s beautiful. Nice going. Don’t you love rub n’ buff??
Great makeover, what a difference a little gold makes!
This is so awesome! I want to do this now! :)
Well…well…I am impressed. Is there nothing that rub n buff can’t make better….I doubt it! I love the gold accents.
yay you totally made that dresser sparkle…love this. So inspiring.
Your dressers look great!! I’m totally inspired! Thanks for sharing :)
Looks great, Emily! I love Rub and Buff! There’s so many things you can use it for!
Blessings,
Kayla
Looks sooooo great with your sunburst mirror!
Emily – that’s fantastic! The drawer pulls are perfect – better than the inspiration chest. Looking around for something to gold-up.
Sheila
Hi Emily! Great update, as usual.
I have a question about the Koppang product. Do you like it? Are the drawers too shallow? We are considering getting two for our bedroom, but I’d love to hear your opinion first.
Cindy–the drawers are actually pretty deep. We’ve used them for the babies clothes (I still have to work on moving them out!) and they’ve worked perfectly.
Great, thanks for your reply!
Oh my God, this is a great idea. Thanks for sharing this in the Internet. It looks very easy, cheap to make, and more important it looks elegant.