I Just Discovered This Simple Hack to Make An IKEA BRIMNES Wardrobe Look Vintage (Wow!)

It’s hard to find anything negative to say about IKEA furniture. It’s affordable, easy to put together, and can last for years if assembled correctly and cared for. Perhaps the only thing that’s missing from IKEA’s most popular pieces is a bit of vintage charm — that is, if that’s your aesthetic. But one TikTok user found a way to add character to their IKEA armoire using a few finds from Amazon, and I can’t believe how good the finished piece looks.

Content creator Raven (@tylersdoubt on TikTok) started with a basic IKEA BRIMNES wardrobe that comes with subtle Shaker-style trim around each door and a sturdy base. The basic style of the doors just wasn’t cutting it, so Raven picked up a packet of wood appliques on Amazon, painted them white, and used some hot glue to give the BRIMNES doors some antique flair.

Each set of these appliques comes with 10 pieces — eight corner flourishes, and two larger onlays that can be placed next to the doorknobs.

Raven also got creative with a roll of rubber weatherseal, which is intended to be attached to windows and doors to prevent drafts.

While weatherseal is practical, it also happens to look like decorative trim. With a few strategic snips, Raven used it to add more details to the armoire by connecting the flourishes and adding a center panel in the middle of each door.

Finally, Raven switched out the BRIMNES knobs with clear, vintage style acrylic knobs for the finishing touch. After this, the final piece truly looked like an antique. 

“That’s so smart,” one person commented on Raven’s video. Another said, “This would have been priced 10x higher at IKEA if it actually looked like that.”

Give your basic IKEA pieces a makeover with appliques and weatherseal, and if you love vintage and antique furniture you’ll have a piece that finally blends in perfectly with your aesthetic.