I Transformed a Basic IKEA Nightstand Into Decor Straight Out of a Disney Fairytale

Just like my kids, I’m thrilled by the charm and pure magic of whimsical interior design trends that are sweeping homes right now — namely, those that feel straight out of a storybook. I think of it as the “Disney-fication” of our spaces, with rich details, intricate patterns, and ultra-pretty colors making each space feel fit for a princess. It’s exactly the energy I’ve been trying to pull into my own daughter’s room. Earlier this year I invented a whimsical canopy bed for her — and as the fall arrived, I turned indoors to continue creating out-of-this-world charm in new ways.

I’ll admit that the inspiration for my latest whimsical obsession came from Pottery Barn — namely, their absolutely gorgeous and heirloom-inspired Sherwood Dollhouse Nightstand. Pottery Barn’s version is made from solid wood and features carvings on its doors that make it look like a true dollhouse, with windows, a door, and pretty scalloped detailing. I didn’t quite have the budget to purchase it outright, but I also wanted to customize a few details, so I geared up for a DIY project to create a masterpiece all my own. The solution? Oddly enough, transforming an old IKEA piece that I already owned. The process was straightforward, and my plan worked; it’s an incredibly affordable way to bring plenty of whimsy into any bedroom. Read on to see how I reimagined an IKEA piece into something that looks straight out of a storybook.

Having an IKEA TARVA nightstand on hand was great luck, sure, but choosing a piece for the DIY goes far beyond convenience. In fact, the entire TARVA line — which includes a nightstand, two dressers, and a bed frame — is well-known among DIY aficionados for several reasons. First, IKEA TARVA pieces are all made from solid wood. The pieces also come unfinished, making them highly hackable and well-suited to DIY transformations, including simple paint or stain jobs to more elaborate projects. Their pine construction is another bonus, as it’s relatively affordable and easy to find; creating additions out of more wood (like a door, for example!) is easier than you’d think.

Lastly, and most importantly, IKEA TARVA pieces are affordable when purchased new, with this nightstand coming in at $79.99. Better yet, though, these pieces are so popular and common that I usually have no problem finding them secondhand for an even lower price. Thrift stores, garage sales, and Facebook Marketplace are my go-tos! That’s how I found this nightstand in the first place: When I picked it up a few years back, it was covered in stickers and crayon marks (it was well-loved by a lucky kiddo). A quick clean and light sanding were all it took to bring it back to life. I finished off with a coat of BEHR PREMIUM White Wash Pickling stain, and it has sat in my daughter’s bedroom ever since. That is, until now. 

Once I started mapping out the project, it didn’t take long to realize that adding a door and some scalloped trim was all it would take to give the plain TARVA nightstand my own version of a dollhouse treatment. I took the drawer out, removed the hardware, and headed out to grab supplies. My shopping list included a solid pine board (3/4-inch thick), five dollhouse-sized wood windows, a dollhouse wood door, small hinges, more of the BEHR PREMIUM White Wash Pickling stain, and some scalloped wood trim. I found the pine board and stain at my local hardware store, the windows and door at my local dollar store (although you can find similar windows and doors on Amazon), and the scalloped wood trim on Amazon. All in, my supplies cost about $50 total.

Step one was to cut the pine board to size and map out where I’d place the mini windows and doors. This was surprisingly tedious and time-consuming, but worth it to make sure I got the measurements right. Then I used a jigsaw to cut the openings and applied wood glue to secure the windows and door in place. I added scalloped trim to the top of the new nightstand door and gave the entire piece a coat of White Wash Pickling stain to match the existing nightstand as closely as possible. After that, the final step was to mount the dollhouse door using these new hinges — et voila! 

The finished piece is exactly what I was hoping for: sweet, straight out of my wildest fairytale, oh-so charming, and totally affordable. At this point, you can leave the inside of the nightstand as-is, allowing for books and other everyday items to be stored discreetly. Or go all-out and transform the interior to look like a real miniature dollhouse (I have a sneaky feeling that’s in my future).

While I used the same stain color on both the original nightstand and the door, the colors don’t match up exactly — which I’m OK with for now. This is likely because the nightstand was already several years old when I got it, and the wood had begun to naturally yellow with age, while the new pine board was still fresh and light. I could’ve avoided this by buying a new IKEA nightstand, but I’ll take the savings for a slight color discrepancy! I will likely repaint the entire piece down the line, but for now I’m loving the sweet storybook charm it’s adding to the space.