IKEA Fans Are Mesmerized by a “Genius” DIY Transformation: “This Is Fire”

Although contact paper has been around for decades, it seems like it’s only recently become popular in dramatic furniture flips and room makeovers. And that’s probably because contact paper is now available in so many beautiful finishes, including wood grains. One contact paper furniture flip is picking up steam on social media because the result feels so high-end; it could easily pass as a bespoke piece that costs thousands. The best part? The hack works well on an IKEA staple.

“Transforming your furniture doesn’t always mean you need to bust out the sandpaper, prime, and paint; sometimes it can be as simple as adding contact paper,” TikTok creator Tina Le Mac wrote in the caption of a recent video. “This IKEA cart was perfect for my studio, but just needed a bit more interest and now looks like a million bucks!”

Curious how she transformed a $80 furniture must-have into a million-dollar look? Keep reading!

Tina picked up an IKEA MICKE drawer cart in black, alongside some wood-grain contact paper, which you can source from a variety of different retailers, including Amazon, Home Depot, and Walmart. She also used a paper cutter, an X-ACTO knife, and a squeegee to ensure her contact paper adhered well to the surface of her chosen IKEA piece.

Using a few designer wood inlay pieces as inspiration, Tina measured and cut her contact paper into strips and squares — she took her time laying out each strip to make it look like the real thing.

“Wait [you’re] a genius,” one person commented on Tina’s post. Another said, “Yeah, you did it. This is fire.”

And as she mentioned in her TikTok, there’s no need to invest in paint or stain and go through the involved process of refinishing a piece. Contact paper is super affordable and can be applied to really any clean, hard surface.

“This gives so many ideas to spice up a room on a budget,” another commenter wrote. 

This definitely isn’t the way your grandparents used contact paper. It’s chic, inspired, and incredibly accessible. Flip that piece of humdrum IKEA furniture with wood-grain contact paper, and you might end up with a designer-looking piece that’s the showstopper in the space.