The Two-Tone Paint Idea That Takes Your IKEA Built-Ins To Another Level

For DIY fanatics, IKEA offers endless opportunity, even on a budget. You can even give IKEA's furniture pieces a chic, rustic makeover with supplies from your local hardware store. This simple DIY hack offers an even more elevated look with two-tone paint that TikTok DIYer cassmakeshome uses to create a unique office space. As you'll see, incorporating two shades of paint adds dimension and chicness to basic IKEA furniture in no time. 

It's perfectly fine to paint the furniture, but experts recommend using sugar soap and sanding the surface first so that you have an optimal texture for the paint to adhere to. Another trick for painting IKEA furniture's difficult surfaces is using both a primer and paint to ensure a higher-quality finish. Make sure to choose a shellac-based primer and a quality paint designed for cabinetry and trim like Benjamin Moore's INSL-X Cabinet Coat. So, gather your supplies, assemble your furniture, and get started on your custom piece. 

This TikTok user built a desk with multiple IKEA dressers and cabinets, and created a two-tone look with the shelves. You can also create your own built-in IKEA cabinets using HAVSTA units or the retailers iconic BILLY bookcases. You'll want to drill your furniture into the wall and create a custom look by using things like baseboards and crown molding to make the pieces look polished. 

After installation, you can get started on adding the two tones of paint to your furniture. In the video, cassmakeshome used the colors Swiss Coffee and Lingonberry Punch by Behr to create a warm, elevated look for her built-in desk. You can use a color wheel like the Sessions College Color Tool to find two complementary colors that'll look great with your current palette. Then, decide which areas of the furniture to paint each color to create a contrast. Maybe the shelves should be a different color than the frame, or maybe you prefer the look of the top half being one color, and the bottom half being the other. Whatever you select, be sure to use painter's tape to keep the two sections separate with a crisp edge.