DIY FILES:: CAMPAIGN DRESSER IKEA HACK

Handles Ansaldi & Sons / Paint Behr Herbal Tea / Corner brackets Hardware World

I feel like a fake and a phony posting this. This was not my idea and I won't claim to be original. In fact when I was contemplating this DIY this is the conversation that went down:

Me: I really want to DIY myself some green campaign drawers, but I just feel like EVERYONE has them

Marisa: Nobody has them, I've never met anyone that has them. Have you?

Me: Well no.

Marisa: You don't actually know anyone with campaign drawers then.

Me: No, I guess I don't. But it feels like I do.

Sometimes the lines between real life and the internet are blurred, does anyone else feel this way?

It all started with this little spread in Lonny magazine. And then the bloggers were off. I was infected with Campaign fever from the start, so (after the aforementioned conversation) I studied the RAST hacks and cherry picked the bits that I liked most, and here are my results! I'd first like to acknowledge the hackers that came before me: I used the Campaign drawer handles from LittleGreenNotebook and the corner brackets on Design Manifest.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

2 Ikea RAST 3 Drawer Chests

1 quart high gloss paint - I used Behr Herbal Tea

6 Campaign handles from Ansaldi & Sons

6 packets of corner brackets (they come 4/set), Hardware World

paint brush

wood filler

sand paper

drill

optional: hot glue

Step 1: Buy Ikea RAST drawers

They are only $34.99 each. If you've searched for side tables (especially with drawers) you will know that this is a steal. Alternatively, if you already have drawers at home that could use a facelift, use those!

Step 2: Choose paint color

A few people have asked me how I got the lacquer look to mine, I just used a high gloss paint. I've seen some fabulous renditions of these in pink, grey, black, and white - you could really go any color with these. I'd love to re-do mine in orange! 

Note: this wood soaks up paint, if you don't use a primer it will take 2-3 coats and the finished product might not be completely even. I didn't use a primer so I don't know if that would fix this.

Step 3: Fill in handle holes & paint

Use woodfiller to fill in the holes meant for the Ikea drawer pulls, there are two on each drawer. Once this has dried sand them down until smooth. Then paint everything your color of choice.

Note: Save yourself time (and paint) by figuring out which sides will be showing. I went ahead and painted everything green (even insides of drawers) but no one will ever see those.

Step 4. You can begin to assemble the RAST once the paint has dried (don't assemble the drawers yet)

Step 5. Measure the center of the drawer and then drill the handle pulls in. Measure twice, drill once.
Note: it's difficult to get these centered... mine are slightly off but I don't think anyone can notice

Step 6. Attach the corner brackets, then slide the drawers into place!
I drilled mine in with the small screws that came with the brackets BUT I would recommend skipping the screws and hot glueing them instead, because when I open and close the drawers the screws rub against each other, making it difficult to close the drawers all the way. One day, I'd like to remove the screws and re-attach them with hot glue, but... it's been a year and I have not gotten around to it. Save yourself the trouble.

I really hope this helps, but if you have any questions leave them in the comments below and I'll get back to every single one! 

And for more photos of my nightstands and my home, look here and here.

xoxo Cristina

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