We own several pieces of IKEA furniture including bookcases, swivel chairs and sofas. I’ve been consistently surprised at how well designed and functional their products are for such a low price. IKEA’s furniture design leans towards being sleek and simple (that’s the scandinavian in them) which makes it perfect for customization. Today, I want to introduce you o’verlays, a company that had the business savvy to team with IKEA and make lightweight decorative fretwork panels that are designed to fit on IKEA furniture. O’verlays come in many patterns and sizes, they are paintable and easily attach to furniture, mirrors, walls and glass. I’d suggest using a product called Liquid Nails for attaching the overlay. O’verlays offers kits that are sized to fit IKEA’s most popular pieces. If you want to dress up an existing piece of furniture, these overlays can be used for any piece of furniture (not just IKEA) and the options are endless. O’verlays also does custom work and can re-size an existing pattern or create a new one just for you (think monogram). Here is a round up of some a-m-a-z-i-n-g transformations! For even more ideas and inspiration visit o’verlays Pinterest Board.

The above 3-drawer chest is from the RAST series by IKEA, it is sold for only $34.99 – add paint and overlays and it looks like a chest that would sell for several hundred dollars. This is how it works:

I noticed that many of the dressers that have gone through a makeover use different drawer pulls than the wooden ones that come standard with IKEA dressers. If you want to add a finishing touch to make the dresser transformation complete, Anthropologie has a great selection of drawer pulls.  If however, after flexing your DIY muscles with o’verlays, you are up for making your own drawer pulls here is a link I love for DIY draw pulls – so whimsical and fun!