The $19 Secret to Real Wood on an IKEA Budget

Generally speaking, I’m pretty skeptical of anything that pretends to be something it’s not. Zoodles instead of noodles? No thanks. Faux flowers over real? I’ll skip (though I do make an exception for the occasional well-executed fake houseplant). Typically, it all boils down to the imitation never looking as good as the real deal — but if there’s one thing to change my opinion entirely, it’s this impressive real wood look-alike IKEA makeover. 

IKEA pieces can be notoriously difficult to paint, especially if your goal is faux wood graining that looks like a million bucks. Perhaps that was the reason my jaw met the floor upon seeing this incredibly believable upgrade from DIYer Claire Campion (@charnwoodtowers), which transforms an IKEA HEMNES shoe cabinet into a vintage-inspired find that looks 3x the cost.

The key to Claire’s stunning makeover? If you can believe it, it all comes down to a handy little tool from Amazon that costs less than $20. The six-piece wood graining tool set incorporates silicone scrapers, each of which has been imprinted with swirls to mimic the look of wood graining when dragged atop wet paint. For Claire’s part, she used the wood grain tool on a combination of paint and Frenchic’s Browning Wax to create a rich pattern that’s nearly indistinguishable from wood graining. 

The result is a standout piece that suits the space perfectly and looks almost exactly like the real deal, even under up-close-and-personal inspection. In fact, if I didn’t know about Claire’s DIY, I don’t think I would pick this piece out as an imitation — and that’s just the way I like it.