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For her entryway, Amy had long envisioned a sophisticated black sideboard with glass doors — but at upwards of $1,000, her wishlist piece was way out of her budget. As an alternative, she purchased an IKEA BESTÅ sideboard for a fraction of the cost and decided go from there.
She and her partner, Tim, assembled the basic oak unit from IKEA, and then Amy primed and painted it solid black using FrenchChic furniture paint in Loof. She left the inside the original un-painted oak to give the cabinet some contrast. “Make sure you sand the unit before priming to help the paint adhere,” Amy advises.
Initially unsure of whether the big-box piece would lend itself to her vision, Amy created her own mock-up, digitally coloring a photo of the sideboard to her taste before painting, a good idea for any color commitment-phobes out there.
Next, Amy painted the doors; taping off the glass panels helped her keep the paint where it was needed.
A budget trick helped Amy get the reeded glass look: Instead of replacing the glass panels, she applied a textured-look adhesive film while the doors were still detached. Her stick-on solution could be applied to any window or shower door in need of a bit more style or privacy.
“I was nervous about applying the glass [film], as I thought it’d be really hard, but it was actually simple,” Amy says. A sticky solution of water and hand soap, plus an installation kit that came with the film, made for a simple process with the only slight challenge being smoothing out the air bubbles.
After installing the film, shelves, doors, and some legs (also from IKEA) onto the sideboard, Amy finished off the piece with some modern black semicircle knobs.
Her final result is a chic and modern sideboard in the corner of her her dining room, and one that can hide away seasonal dishes and other dining room decor when it’s not in use. And instead of the super expensive sideboard she’d been eyeing, she has a gorgeous one for just £225 ($258.88 USD).
Amy’s greatest cause for celebration is the look-plus-cost combo; she’s proud that she gave DIY a try instead of breaking the bank. Her advice for others considering doing the same? “Just go for it!”
