Upgrade Your IKEA Chest with Fabric

Welcome to the heart of my home decor journey, where a simple IKEA chest transforms into a captivating statement piece! Your incredibly kind comments on my recent guest room makeover truly made my day, and I’m thrilled to share the detailed process behind my favorite addition: a custom, fabric-covered chest that now perfectly complements the room’s aesthetic.

Nestled gracefully to the right of the bed, this DIY chest isn’t just a piece of furniture; it’s a testament to the power of personalization and a touch of creative ingenuity. It’s proof that with a clear vision and a bit of effort, you can turn an off-the-shelf item into something truly unique and reflective of your style.

Would you believe that this elegant chest started its life looking like this?

This is the TRYSIL chest from IKEA – a perfectly functional and decent-looking piece, but its standard finish didn’t quite align with the cozy, personalized style I envisioned for my guest room. That’s when the idea for an IKEA hack sparked! My plan was simple yet ambitious: to elevate its design by covering the entire chest with fabric – a resourceful Target tablecloth, in fact! – and swapping out the generic drawer pulls for something more luxurious. The transformation exceeded my expectations, and I genuinely couldn’t be happier with the result:

Achieving this refined look involved a fair share of trial and error. However, through persistent experimentation, I’ve refined the process, making it incredibly efficient. Now, I could whip up another custom chest in no time! For those of you eager to embark on your own furniture transformation, I’ve compiled a comprehensive, step-by-step tutorial. Get ready to unlock the potential of your IKEA furniture and infuse it with your personal flair. (Please note: this post includes affiliate links, which help support this blog at no extra cost to you. For full disclosure details, you can refer to my statement {here}).

Your DIY Journey Starts Here: What You’ll Need

Before diving into the exciting world of furniture hacking, let’s gather all the essential materials and tools. Preparation is key to a smooth and successful project.

Materials:

Fabric of your choice (a 60″ x 104″ tablecloth is often sufficient for a chest this size, offering great value)
Strong adhesive spray (such as {Super 77 Adhesive Spray})
Mod Podge (for sealing edges)
Wood filler, wax crayon, or putty (to fill existing holes)
New drawer pulls/handles (like {these elegant ring pulls})
Primer and paint for chest legs (e.g., {Rustoleum Paint & Primer})

Tools:

Measuring tape
Sharp fabric scissors
Iron (preferably with a steam function)
Painter’s tape
Drill with appropriate bits
Small paintbrush
Drop cloth or protective sheeting
Paper plate (for adhesive)
Skewers or similar thin tool (for widening holes)

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Crafting Your Custom Fabric Chest

1. Selecting Your Signature Fabric

The first crucial step is to choose your fabric, as it will define the entire look and feel of your updated chest. Almost any fabric can work, provided it’s not excessively thick, which can make it difficult to adhere and wrap smoothly around edges. For a beginner, I highly recommend steering clear of fabrics with intricate designs, prominent stripes, or linear patterns. These can be notoriously challenging to pattern-match across multiple pieces and to keep perfectly straight, potentially leading to frustration.

Initially, I considered using burlap for its rustic appeal, but my plans shifted when I discovered this fantastic Target Threshold tablecloth in a versatile neutral shade. Its color and texture were absolutely perfect for my guest room’s serene ambiance. At just $16.99 for a generous 60″ x 104″ size, it translated to less than $6 per yard, making it an incredibly budget-friendly and stylish choice. This proves you don’t need expensive upholstery fabric to achieve a high-end look. Look for fabrics that offer good drape and minimal stretch for easier application.

2. Unboxing and Prepping Your IKEA TRYSIL

Next, carefully unpack all the components of your TRYSIL chest. Before you even think about assembly, take some time to familiarize yourself with each piece. Reference the IKEA assembly instructions to accurately identify which piece is the side, top, bottom, drawer front, etc. This is a critical organizational step that will save you immense time and confusion later.

Once identified, use small pieces of painter’s tape to label the side of each piece that will eventually face the inside of the chest once assembled. On the tape, clearly write the name of the piece (e.g., “Left Side,” “Drawer Front 1,” “Top”). This labeling system is invaluable, especially since you’ll be covering the visible surfaces.

3. Precision Cutting: Fabric for Each Piece

With your pieces labeled, it’s time to prepare your fabric. Measure each visible surface of the chest – the drawer fronts, sides, top, and bottom. To these dimensions, add an extra 6-8 inches on each side. This generous allowance is crucial for several reasons: it accounts for potential fabric fraying, provides ample material for wrapping around the edges of the wood pieces, and gives you flexibility for adjustments. You can always trim excess fabric later if needed.

Carefully cut out pieces of fabric according to these enlarged measurements. A single 60″ x 104″ tablecloth typically provides enough fabric for all the necessary pieces, provided you plan your layout strategically to minimize waste. A key tip: do not use the factory-hemmed edges of the tablecloth. These edges are often too thick and can create an uneven finish; cut them off and discard them for a cleaner look.

4. Smooth Operator: Ironing Your Fabric

This step is often overlooked but is absolutely vital for a professional finish: ironing. Take the time to thoroughly steam iron your fabric pieces. Pay close attention to removing all fold marks, creases, and wrinkles. A perfectly smooth fabric surface is essential for achieving a seamless, high-quality upholstered look. Any wrinkles left at this stage will be permanently trapped under the adhesive, detracting from your final result.

5. Drawer Front Foundation: Filling and Drilling

Before adhering any fabric, you need to prepare the drawer fronts for their new hardware. Each drawer front comes with two pre-drilled holes for the original handles. Since you’ll be installing new pulls in different locations, you’ll need to fill these existing holes. Use wood filler, wax, or putty to completely obscure them. I found a Minwax pencil worked perfectly for this task, offering a clean, smooth fill.

Once the filler is dry and sanded flush, determine the precise location for your new pulls. Carefully measure and mark the spots where you want the new holes. To prevent the laminate from flaking off the wood surface when drilling, apply a piece of painter’s tape over your marked spot before drilling. This provides a clean surface for your drill bit and ensures a crisp hole. Precision here is key for perfectly aligned hardware.

6. The Art of Adhesion: Attaching Fabric to Surfaces

You’re now ready for the main event: applying the fabric. My initial attempt involved Mod Podge, but I quickly discovered it was too wet for my chosen fabric, soaking through and darkening its color in patchy areas. Learning from this, I switched to {this Super 77 Adhesive Spray}, which proved to be an excellent alternative. This adhesive is incredibly strong, and a little goes a long way.

**Important Safety Note:** This type of spray adhesive requires a well-ventilated area. I highly recommend spreading a large dropcloth in your garage (with the door open) or outdoors to ensure proper airflow.

The application process is straightforward: for each wood piece, spray a light, even coat of adhesive spray onto the side that will be visible (the “outside” of the chest). Immediately and gently lay your corresponding fabric piece on top. Work quickly but carefully. If the fabric isn’t perfectly aligned, you can gently lift and re-position it a few times before the adhesive fully sets. Once centered and positioned correctly, press the fabric down firmly onto the wood piece and smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles, working from the center outwards.

7. Flawless Edges: Wrapping and Securing

Once the main fabric surface is adhered, it’s time to wrap the fabric around the edges of each wood piece. Rather than trying to spray adhesive directly onto these narrow edges (which can be messy and imprecise), I found it much easier to spray a small amount of adhesive onto a paper plate. Then, use a small paintbrush to apply the adhesive directly to the edges of the wood. This method offers far greater control, preventing excess glue from seeping onto the visible fabric.

Be aware that spray adhesive dries very quickly, especially when applied thinly. You’ll need to work in small sections, continually spraying more adhesive onto your paper plate and then wrapping and pressing the fabric down firmly onto the edges as you go. Apply steady pressure to ensure a strong bond and a crisp, clean edge.

A Special Note for Side Pieces:

The two main side pieces of the chest have pre-drilled holes along their edges for assembly. Before adhering the fabric to these specific edges, you MUST notch out the fabric in these areas. Failure to do so will prevent the chest from assembling correctly.

8. The Unseen Finish: Attaching Fabric to the Back

After the fabric is adhered to all four visible edges of a wood piece, lay the piece fabric-side down on your protected surface. Fold the fabric edges over onto the back of the piece. Before you adhere the fabric to the back, it’s crucial to carefully trim the fabric as needed. Ensure that no fabric will cover any assembly holes on the back of the wood piece, but trim it as close as possible to these holes without obscuring them.

**This step is absolutely critical!** If you cover any of the pre-drilled assembly holes with fabric, you will face significant difficulty – or even impossibility – in correctly assembling your chest. Once you’ve made all necessary precise cuts, use the same technique you applied for the edges: spray adhesive onto a paper plate and use a small paintbrush to apply it to the back perimeter of the wood piece, pressing the fabric down firmly.

9. Mastering Corners for a Professional Look

Achieving neat, crisp corners is essential for a truly professional finish. I employed {this specific method}, which includes strategically cutting away excess fabric for a clean fold. While the original method might suggest staples, I found that with strong adhesive spray applied precisely with a paintbrush, staples were unnecessary. Once each corner is glued and folded, it will need to be held down tightly to the wood piece for several minutes until the glue sets and dries. This firm pressure prevents the fabric from springing back and ensures a sharp, tailored corner. When done correctly, your finished corners will look impeccably neat and tailored.

10. Sealing the Deal: Preventing Fraying

After you’ve finished adhering the fabric to the front, edges, and back of each piece, the backside might not look perfectly tidy. You might see some “ratty” or slightly uneven edges of fabric on the back.

Don’t worry, these imperfections are completely fine – you won’t be able to see these edges once the chest is fully assembled. To ensure long-term durability and prevent further fraying, once you’re done adhering the fabric to all your wood pieces, take a small paintbrush and apply a thin layer of Mod Podge around the fabric edges on the backs of the pieces. This acts as a protective sealant, keeping the fabric securely in place and preventing any future unraveling. Allow ample time for the Mod Podge to dry completely before proceeding.

11. The Grand Assembly: Bringing It All Together

Once all your fabric pieces are thoroughly dry, it’s time for the exciting part: assembly! Retrieve your original IKEA instructions and carefully follow them to put the chest together. All your labeling and precise trimming of fabric around the assembly holes will now pay off, making this stage smooth and straightforward.

After the chest frame is assembled, it’s time to install your beautiful new drawer pulls. I opted for {these elegant ring pulls} which add a touch of sophisticated charm:

To attach them securely, I found it helpful to insert a skewer through each pre-drilled hole in the drawer front and gently move it from side to side. This slightly widens the opening in the fabric, making it easier to insert the screw without snagging.

Then, carefully insert the screw for your pull through the pre-drilled hole in the drawer and through the opening you created in the fabric with the skewer. Here’s a crucial tip to prevent fabric damage: **turn the pull itself (the decorative handle), NOT the screw, to tighten it onto the drawer front.** Turning the screw directly can cause it to twist and pull at the fabric threads, potentially creating an unsightly run or tear. (Unfortunately, this is a lesson I learned the hard way!)

12. Final Flourishes: Painting the Legs

To tie the entire look together, I wanted the chest’s legs to perfectly complement the new hardware. Before attaching them to the chest, I sprayed them with {this Rustoleum Paint & Primer} in a metallic finish that matched my chosen pulls. This small detail makes a significant difference, elevating the entire piece to a custom-designed level.

And just like that, you’re done!

The finished fabric-covered chest is not only functional but also a beautiful, personalized accent piece. Its unique texture and custom hardware make it feel anything but mass-produced. To further protect this lovely creation, especially since I’m keeping a plant on it, I may eventually get a custom-cut piece of glass for the top. I would highly recommend considering a glass top if your chest will be in a high-traffic area or used frequently, as it provides an excellent barrier against spills and wear.

So, what do you think of this IKEA TRYSIL hack? It’s a fantastic way to add character and custom style to your home without breaking the bank. If you have any questions about the process, don’t hesitate to reach out via email or leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you and see your own DIY furniture transformations! Enjoy your weekend, and happy crafting!