DIY IKEA Malm Nightstand Makeover: Transform Plain Furniture Into Chic, Custom Pieces

Make sure to check out my other DIY furniture makeover : IKEA NORNÄS Makeover: From Basic to Beautiful as well as my post What We Love Most About Our Renovated RV

When I first moved in with my boyfriend, he had two standard black-brown IKEA Malm nightstands—one on each side of the bed. Classic, but after a few months, the bedroom felt small, plain, and in dire need of a feminine touch. I decided to tackle the nightstands first—a simple, high-impact project that would instantly refresh the space.

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Painting an IKEA nightstand

Choosing a paint color

After some deliberation, I settled on Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen for this Malm nightstand makeover. This soft, warm neutral instantly brightened the room and made the nightstands feel fresh and modern—perfect for a DIY IKEA furniture makeover.

Priming

When painting IKEA furniture, a shellac-based primer is essential. Without it, the paint won’t adhere properly and can chip easily. I used Zinsser BIN—it’s not cheap, but it works wonders.

Pro Tip: Always scuff the surfaces before priming to give the paint extra grip. Work in a well-ventilated area, as shellac primers have a strong smell.

Painting

Once the primer dried, I applied two coats of Sherwin-Williams Emerald urethane paint. While this paint is typically used for doors and trim, it’s durable enough for furniture. The paint brushes smoothly, covers well, and gives a professional-looking finish—perfect for a DIY IKEA nightstand project.

Hardware

Handles

We've added 5-inch gold handles [Link here] on each drawer. They add some warmth, and the drawers are easier to pull open.

Legs

We've also added 6-inch gold feet. [Link here] Our bed was fairly high, so the feet worked perfectly at the time. I may swap them for shorter legs in the future, but for now, they elevated the nightstands and added a touch of glamour.

Malm Nightstand makeover: Finishing touches

Drawers

 We've also added pretty contact paper in the drawers [Available here]. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference when you open the drawers.

Glass top

The final touch was the glass top. IKEA sells those for 20$ under the Storklinta name now (Updated Malm). [Available here]

The glass protects the nightstand from scratches, water rings, spills, and dings, helping your furniture stay in great shape for years.

With just a few materials and some elbow grease, these simple upgrades transformed our plain IKEA Malm nightstandsinto custom, elevated pieces. The total cost was under $150 CAD for both nightstands, making this an affordable and highly satisfying DIY furniture makeover.

Whether you’re looking to refresh your bedroom, add personality to your space, or try your hand at painting IKEA furniture, this project is a perfect starting point.