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How To Revamp Small Wooden Drawers With Velvet

IKEA has been selling their small wooden drawers for many years in various forms. I have bought a few myself over the years.

There’s one full of shoe-cleaning equipment and spare football boot studs in the downstairs closet. One in the DIY cupboard full of nails and screws and a beautifully map decorated one in the hallway for stamps and other postage-related paraphernalia.

These particular small wooden drawers I revamped have been in the playroom undecorated for years. I used to use them to store all the odd pieces of Lego, bouncy balls and bits of toys

The drawers are handy for storing those tiny random bits of plastic; you don’t know where they’re from, but you know someone will be looking for them one day!

Giving An IKEA Small Wooden Drawers A Modern Look With Velvet

The great thing about the IKEA small wooden drawers is that they are designed to be stained, stamped, painted or decoupaged. They are perfect for crafting into your unique piece.

Revamped, with velvet my small drawers have been promoted from a kid’s playroom into a living room with a small desk area. They are now full of office things like clips, pins, tacks and other small stationary “bits and bobs”.

This IKEA upcycle featured in the alphabet of clever upcycles.

IKEA hack of small wooden drawers with velvet

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What You Need To Revamp Small Wooden Drawers

  • Wooden drawers – These particular drawers were from IKEA originally but have since been discontinued. Don’t worry, though; you can still get similar small wooden drawers from IKEA called Moppe. They are a different shape but can be revamped in exactly the same way. Lots of craft shops sell similar plain unfinished small wooden drawers ready to be revamped.
  • Velvet – I had some velvet material left over from my curtains (Harlequin Amazilia velvet). You can often buy small off-cuts of velvet on eBay. As you only need small pieces, velvet fabric swatches would be good to use too. Pick these up from interior shops or order free swatches online.
  • Gorilla Super Glue Precise Gel
  • Small white tags for the labels
  • Windsor and Newton inks
  • Small jewelry cabinet knobs
  • Spray paint
  • Dark wood wax
  • Rotary cutter and mat
small wooden drawers and velvet scraps

How To Revamp Mini Drawers with Velvet

Step 1: The first thing to do is to spray paint the drawers. Use a colour that matches the velvet that you will use. I sprayed my drawers orange. I also applied a coat of dark wood wax to the outside of the chest.

Spray painted small wooden drawer

Step 2: Using a ruler measure the center point of each drawer front and mark it with a pen. Then drill a hole in this spot large enough for the knob screw. But don’t put the knobs on yet.

Drilling cabinet knob holes

Step 3: Next, carefully measure the face of a wooden drawer. Then using a rotary cutter and mat, cut the velvet fabric to this measurement.

Cutting the velvet fabric

Step 4: Next, with the precise super glue, apply a small strip of glue around the edge of the drawer front. Then stick the cut velvet to the drawer front.

Applying glue to drawer front

Step 5: Once the glue has dried, which will only take a couple of minutes. Pierce a hole in the centre of the velvet where the drilled holes are. Then screw in the small knobs. Trim any loose threads with scissors.

Attaching the velvet to the drawer fronts

Step 6: Finally, once all the drawer fronts were covered in velvet, I made some labels. I used small white tags and painted them with watercoloured inks. I used inks of different shades to create an ombre effect similar to the velvet.

Painting the labels with ink
Labels for the drawer fronts.
Velvet small wooden drawers on shelf

The velvet small wooden drawers go well with the decor in my living room. Especially as they match the curtains. The labels are handy, reminding me what is in each little drawer.

Close up of velvet small wooden drawers
Velvet small wooden drawers

If you liked this post, you might want to check out these other velvet crafts and small wooden drawer posts.

For more cheap DIY ideas, visit cheapandthrifyliving.com

Mark steven

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

What a great idea! It’s looking so nice! I'll try to revamp my wooden drawers as well, Thanks for you idea!

Claire Armstrong

Thursday 29th of October 2020

Thank you 😊

Rachel

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

Ooooo... I love this idea! What a beautiful touch it adds! Great idea to add texture and a pop of color!

Claire Armstrong

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

Thank you

Cecilia

Tuesday 16th of April 2019

Wow, I love the texture the velvet adds. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!

Claire Armstrong

Tuesday 16th of April 2019

Thank you, I do love a bit of velvet.

Amy

Tuesday 16th of April 2019

These are so pretty. I love the idea of being able to finish out the drawers however you choose. The velvet is gorgeous and the addition of the knobs is perfect. Love it! Thanks for sharing at Sweet Inspiration!

Claire Armstrong

Tuesday 16th of April 2019

Thank you, these kind of drawers are fun to add your own style too.

Julie

Saturday 13th of April 2019

They look so classy. Velvet is so beautiful and these colours are gorgeous. These drawers are so useful, where else would all those bits and pieces live?!

Claire Armstrong

Sunday 14th of April 2019

Thank you, I love these drawers just because it somewhere to put those tiny bits and pieces.