20 IKEA Tarva Hacks You Didn't Know You Needed

The IKEA Tarva range is popular not just because it's budget-friendly but because it offers so much potential for hacking. Crafted from unfinished pine with no varnish or stain, the pieces are DIY-ready straight out of the box.

Whether it's simply adding a coat of paint or creating something completely custom, we've found some of the best Ikea Tarva hacks that will inspire you to start your own hack today.

Fluted Flair

It’s hard to believe this fluted dresser started life as the Tarva dresser.

With lots of imagination and some elbow grease, Jenna from Jenna Sue Design transformed it into a sophisticated dresser that looks so high-end.

Unbelievably, the project cost under $100 including the thrifted dresser.

Vintage Glamour

Vintage style wallpaper has been cleverly used to give this Tarva dresser an intricate, textured look.

The couple behind @mismatchedhome also added vintage knobs and salvaged turned legs to complete the look.

Retro Charm

This charming Tarva dresser looks unrecognizable. Michaela from @mynwnest hacked this Tarva for her kids’ room by gluing on some square dowels and embroidery hoops to create a playful sun design and painted it in a muted yellow color.

Midcentury Inspired

The Tarva dresser can take on practically any style and here it’s been given a midcentury inspired look by Christine from @casitachristine.

She stained the dresser and added some extra details like beaded trim and classic hardware that make this piece unique.

Scandinavian Minimalism

Not every hack requires hours of work. The Tarva can be given a new look with just a few coats of paint.

Riikka from @exminimalist chose a grey-green lime paint for an ultra-matte finish which complements the rest of her minimalist decor.

Beautiful Bone Inlay

Bone inlay dressers aren't budget-friendly but they don’t have to be out of reach. With the help of some stencils, Marissa from Ginger and Ivory created an intricate bone inlay style pattern.

Timeless Rattan

Rattan furniture can elevate any space, but it can come with a hefty price tag. Instead, you can get the look with a Tarva dresser just like Gemma from @caffeineandcacti did.

She glued some cane to the drawer fronts, added some trim, and finished the dresser with the prettiest monstera leaf-shaped handles.

Geometric Statement

Inspired by an expensive dresser that was over budget, Jessica from House Homemade decided to hack the Tarva instead.

She added geometric details to the drawers and painted the entire thing off-white for a clean, modern look. This hack would look equally great with some wood stain for a more retro look.

Golden Glamour

The Tarva dresser really allows you to get creative and craft a piece that speaks to your personal design flair.

Tess from Pop Shop America wanted a romantic feel so she opted for a dusty rose color which she paired with a gold base and gold handles.

Modern Farmhouse Inspired

When a similar-sized dresser was over budget, the answer was to hack a Tarva dresser.

Tim from Bay on a Budget painted the dresser in a rich blue but allowed the wood grain to show through. This not only fits the look he was going for but also gives the piece more depth.

Modern Traditional Style

Going for a more traditional look, Amanda from Love and Renovations used chalked paint for an aged look.

She left the legs in wood for contrast and finished with some drawer trim and brass handles that came from IKEA too.

Minimal Elegance

In this neutral nursery, Aleisha from @eightyseventhstory did a simple transformation with big results.

The soft pastel drawers work so well with the natural pine and the elegant brass handles.

Contemporary French Style

Christina from @pretty_distressed recreated a contemporary French look when she couldn’t stretch to buy the original piece.

With watered-down paint and pewter hardware, the Tarva looks completely different.

Monochromatic Design

Simple doesn’t mean boring as you can see with this monochrome dresser. Nikita from Grayson Studios used a matte black paint on her old Tarva dresser to give it a new lease of life.

The subtle contrast of the shiny brass handles against the matte finish makes this dresser especially stylish.

Mid-Century Modern

Original, mid-century dressers are hard to source but you can get the look with a Tarva dresser.

Instagrammer Jess Benne applied some wood stain with a foam brush and added a clear finish for protection.

She then cut the legs at an angle and added some metal hardware for an authentic mid-century look.

Vintage Inspired

When you want a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture, using paintable wallpaper is a great idea because there are so many different patterns available.

The couple behind Hovel Sweet Hovel opted for a white vintage-inspired design and finished the look with a contrasting dark walnut stain.

Tone-On-Tone Look

For a seamless look, Sharon from @a_story_of_home painted the Tarva dresser in the same deep green color as her wall.

The dresser fits in perfectly with her biophilic decor and it looks so chic too.

Pretty In Pink

Sometimes the simplest hacks are the most striking. Rachel from The Crafted Life transformed this dresser with just some paint and new brass handles.

If pink is not your color, try mint green or powder blue instead.

Boho Chic Design

It’s hard to believe this two-tone dresser started life as the humble Tarva. Megan from Megan Bell Made covered the drawers in cane and painted the dresser in a deep green hue for contrast. She then added some midcentury-style legs to complete the look.

Luxury Looks

When your decor style leans luxurious, you may not think IKEA furniture will work for you. Erin from Erin Spain proves otherwise with this Tarva transformation. Painted in a deep midnight blue, it’s the finishing touches of the legs and the glass and brass handles that really elevate this piece.

Read the original article on The Spruce.