This designer's genius DIY made a cheap set of IKEA drawers into a timeless piece – this is how he got the look down

IKEA is no stranger to those of us decorating small or temporary spaces – the Swedish superstore's wide selection and budget-friendly prices have elevated many a rental home.

But because IKEA's pieces are designed for wide appeal, they don't always feel very characterful or unique. While the flatpack furniture and pared-back basics are a great place to start, they won't complete a home. That's where Lone Fox comes in.

Lone Fox, run by interior designer Drew Michael Scott, started as a YouTube channel in 2018, and has steadily grown into a constant stream of renovation inspiration. With a warm, welcoming, transitional style, Drew consistently transforms simple spaces into rich, inviting havens. And small details, like this standout DIY project, make each space he graces exude character and charm.

Drew recently took to Instagram to share his super easy, yet super impactful IKEA hack. Here's how he revived the popular MOPPE drawers, making it into a conversation-starting, functional focal point for his apartment.

How Lone Fox transformed this IKEA cabinet

'I've officially created the cutest wall cabinet using some IKEA storage boxes,' Drew says in a Lone Fox video taking us through the decor project. He shows off the IKEA's MOPPE Mini Storage Chest, a simple and sleek birch plywood piece with six pull-out drawers in different sizes. 'I got three of them, and I glued them together using some wood glue,' he continues.

After gluing the cabinets atop one another, he flips the drawers so that the cut-out tab faces the back of the unit. That way, he's able to coat the front of the set in an adorable striped pattern – all achieved with a can of wood stain.

To perfect the striped pattern, which circles around the sides of the drawers as well, Drew placed pieces of tape equidistant along the whole piece. To ensure he was measuring evenly, he used an extra piece of tape as a template, peeling it off before placing the next stripe, and making his way along the surface.

'Then, I stained it with this oak stain – this took me probably like an hour to do,' he continues. 'It really was not bad at all. And, of course, the most satisfying part is pulling off all those pieces of tape to reveal the beautiful stained piece.'

Though the striped set of drawers already packed much more character and life than the original piece, Drew wanted to take it one step further, so stained some wooden beads in a darker shade. 'Then I tied some jute cording in just a few knots, and strung both of those ends through the bead,' he said.

Using a paper template to measure, he drilled even holes through each of the drawers, and strung the cording through to form knobs. 'I just love the way that this cabinet turned out,' he concludes.

MOPPE Mini Storage Chest, Birch Plywood | $29.99 at IKEA

This piece from IKEA is perfect for stowing one-of-a-kind trinkets or office supplies. It delivers on Scandi simplicity on its own, but can easily be costomized for more personal style.

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The final result brings life and excitement to an overlooked corner of Drew's home, channeling a natural color palette and whimsical stripes. Perfect for those working with a tight budget, or looking for a fun (and fruitful) weekend project, this hack is one of many genius hacks to be discovered on Lone Fox.