Give Your IKEA Malm Furniture A Vintage Look With This Easy DIY

Whether you're planning on giving your home a vintage makeover but already have a ton of IKEA's modern-looking Malm furniture, or you're simply not managing to find something you love at your local antique store, there's a DIY solution for that. Yep, unlikely as it may sound, with some paint or finish and a few vintage-inspired add-on details, there's a way to take even the most contemporary IKEA products back in time.

Start by thinking about your own space. Sure, there are general guidelines to vintage decor, but you really want your Malm piece to fit seamlessly with the rest of your furniture. That could mean opting for pastel or chalk paint if the rest of your home is decorated in pastels, or a deep green if your space is a chic mix between modern trends and classic elegance. Alternatively, if you're more into natural textures, you could also fake gorgeous real wood using Retique It Liquid Wood (available on Amazon). 

Once you've settled on a look, simply sand your piece down (as an aside, it's not a bad idea to concentrate on the edges, for a less sharp, contemporary look), and apply whatever color or finish you've settled on. From there, you can get started on the extra details that will give the furniture more character.

Depending on the specific IKEA Malm piece you're giving a vintage makeover, you may be able to add on some vintage hardware. Of course, as anyone with a Malm chest, desk or bed with storage boxes will know, there's no functional need for hardware on the range. However, that makes for a perfect opportunity to play around with pieces for purely aesthetic purposes.

For starters, you could look around at your local flea market or antique store to find authentic vintage hardware. Other options for real vintage finds would be Etsy or Facebook Marketplace. That said, if you're not overly attached to the idea of genuine vintage hardware, you could also take a look for antique-inspired pieces. Amazon has a wide range of vintage-inspired hardware, available at various price points. Think bronze cup pulls starting at around $6, or more ornate knobs for just under $30. If you do go the vintage-inspired route, one way to make things look a lot older is with a simple cinnamon hack. Just use a brush and some Mod Podge to paint it on in some sections, and you'll be left with the look of subtle rusting. 

If the specific IKEA Malm piece you're working with doesn't need hardware (say, for instance, you're working with a bed), you can still give it a distinctly vintage feel using simple DIY trim work appliques. Wood-U-Bend's website has a massive variety, so you can really find something that fits perfectly with the rest of your home's decor. One thing worth keeping in mind is that trim tends to look a lot more authentic when it's been glued to furniture and then painted. So, if you are thinking of adding the decals to your Malm furniture, be sure to do so as soon as you've sanded it down. Once you've done that, you may want to try something like Crackling Gel, also available on the Wood-U-Bend website. This can be painted over the trim to make things look cracked, worn-in and vintage. 

The great thing about trim is, while it's the perfect option for furniture that doesn't require hardware, it can also be used alongside pulls and knobs for an added touch of old-school charm. In light of that, you have free rein to create something you truly love, and which works perfectly with your space. Ikea who? Your furniture is about to look like it's straight from an antique store.