The Ikea Tarva is one of the simplest pieces of Ikea furniture. It is bare wood and consists of a carcass and some drawers. It is begging for an Ikea hack!
If you have an Ikea Tarva set of drawers or nightstand knocking about at home and want to make it into something so much more, then read on!
There are loads of great Ikea Tarva Hacks here to help you turn your boring Tarva unit into an eye-catching piece of furniture!
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Gilded Elegance Meets Ikea Tarva
Who would’ve guessed a simple Ikea Tarva base could carry such baroque charm? The intricate molding and lush gold finish instantly turn this piece from bland to grand.
The texture here offers a vintage patina that feels crafted by a master artisan rather than a flat spray paint job. @ironorchid_design nailed the ornate detailing combo that makes DIY meet royal vibes.
This is the kind of upgrade that invites boldness into your space without overwhelming it.
Bold Green Drawers Steal The Show
This deep forest green makeover absolutely reinvents the Ikea Tarva dresser, adding a rich, textured vibe with embossed detailing on each drawer. The brass-toned rod handles fixed with leather straps bring a rustic yet sophisticated contrast that draws the eye instantly.
Floating shelves above carry a minimalistic balance, perfectly framing a simple, nature-inspired art gallery that feels fresh and airy against the patterned dresser below. The warm wood tones of the shelves complement the green finish, while soft pampas grass and leafy plants add subtle organic textures.
Inspired by @houseandhomemagazine, this setup is a gorgeous proof that a little color and creative hardware can totally transform your Ikea Tarva.
Elegant Green Dresser With Textured Drawers
(@eightmulberry) took the classic Ikea Tarva dresser and gave it a fresh makeover with a stunning deep green paint. The subtle ribbed texture added to each drawer front brings new life and unexpected depth to this piece.
Sleek, brushed silver handles contrast beautifully against the green, adding a modern touch. Elevated on simple legs, it looks less bulky and more refined, perfect for a stylish bedroom or living room accent.
This thoughtful combination of color, texture, and form proves how versatile Ikea Tarva hacks & ideas can be with just a few tweaks.
Bold Navy Tarva With Luxe Hardware
This navy-painted Tarva dresser stands out with a deep, rich hue that feels timeless and bold. The black base coat peeks gently through, giving it a textured, sophisticated vibe that’s anything but boring.
The standout touches? These sleek, {smokey acrylic} handles with subtle gold accents add a modern, luxe flair that turns this basic dresser into a statement piece. Styling the top with fresh white tulips and a shimmery gold lamp gives it a polished, chic edge.
The gentle watercolor art behind is a smart, easy way to add softness and balance to the strong navy drawer front. This look is credit to @erinspainblog.
Olive Green Charm With Custom Star Knobs
This Ikea Tarva dresser is a charming twist on the classic bare-wood look, splashed in a muted olive green that feels both fresh and cozy. Its clean lines take on a new vibe with the natural wood starburst knobs, which add a subtle yet playful detail.
The knobs are clearly handmade, crafted from light wood that pops perfectly against the painted drawers. If you’re into subtle tweaks that transform everyday furniture, the knobs here prove small changes can pack a big visual punch. This setup by @southofgrant blends color, texture, and shape so effortlessly it’s impossible not to want one for yourself.
The way the mustard chair pairs nearby only sweetens the whole scene’s warmth and depth.
Muted Green Dresser With Natural Wood Base
This understated Ikea Tarva dresser gets a fresh twist with a smooth matte olive paint finish that feels both calm and modern. The pale natural wood legs add warmth and a subtle contrast that keeps the look grounded and airy.
Swapping the traditional handles for clean, minimalist black pulls makes the piece look effortlessly chic and contemporary. Styled by @carolinanielsenhome, this setup proves how easy it is to customize basic furniture into a standout feature.
It’s a perfect blend of simplicity and style that fits any space looking for a cozy but polished vibe.
Stunning Rib-Fronted Ikea Tarva Dresser Hack
This incredible Ikea Tarva hack from Hunker uses thin strips of wood, arranged in a chevron to create a textured front to the dresser.
It is a stunning transformation from the very plain Tarva unit. The whole thing (apart from the beautiful stained legs) is painted white and the ribs create a shadow effect that adds so much to the look.
The minimal brass handles are an excellent touch!
Elegant White and Gold Tarva Dresser Hack
We love the simplicity of this Tarva hack from Sarah Sherman Samuel. They have simply painted it white, added some gold knobs and painted the legs gold to match.
They have thought about the height of the unit and chopped the legs down slightly. It’s all about creating the perfect look for your space!
A few simple accessories to match on top and it’s a stunning dresser!
Rustic Stained Tarva Nightstand
Such a simple Ikea Tarva hack from Sammy on State. They have just stained the Tarva nightstand and lovely dark oak and added a gorgeous antique cup handle.
The Tarva nightstand is such a cheap piece of furniture and this just turns it into something so much more!
Two-Tone Tall Tarva Dresser
Two-tone or the ‘dipped’ look is such an impactful way to make your furniture stand out.
This amazing hack from A Cup of Life uses the Ikea Tarva to create a lovely example of this.
White paint and wood work so well together and the dark stain they have used for the wood part is ideal.
Ikea Tarva Dresser with Fretwork Front Panels
The fretwork on the front of this Tarva dresser hack from Erin Spain is fantastic!
You can find products like this at various places, and they simply stick to the front of the drawers.
The white panels work so well against the grey painted dresser and the use of tapered legs instead of the blocky ones the Tarva comes with is great.
Mid-Century Modern Chunky Handles Hack
We love the transformation achieved with this Tarva hack from Ikeahackers. They have taken inspiration from a West Elm dresser, which is a great way to go about Ikea hacking!
The chunky handles they have added to the Tarva are very mid-century modern and really transform the look into something far more expensive!
It just needs a wax or varnish finish to really bring out the wood grain.
Mid-Century Tarva Side table or Nightstand
Another mid-century effect created here by Dream Green DIY on an Ikea Tarva Nightstand.
We love the combination of the dark paint and the wooden ribs on the front of the drawer. It looks like a completely different piece of furniture.
Such a stunning way to upgrade something very cheaply!
Chevron Paint Effect Tarva Hack
This stunning chevron effect is a wonderful way to decorate a piece of furniture!
The creators at Style Squeeze have used a two-layer effect on this Ikea Tarva dresser to make this stand-out piece.
It’s just a case of clever use of masking tape! We also love the brass knobs to finish it off!
Gorgeous Upgraded Tarva Changing Table Hack
A good parenting hack is always appreciated here at Hacksaholic and this Tarva changing table hack from Mon Bebe Cheri is brilliant!
It is a very simple treatment, with stained wood top and bottom and pastel blue painted middle!
The leather pull handles are a lovely soft finish to the whole thing.
Ikea Tarva Apothecary Cabinet Hack
This is probably the most transformative look of all these Ikea Tarva hacks. Home Talk have created an amazing apothecary cabinet from a Tarva Dresser.
The Tarva unit gives the perfect base to make this cabinet and all the finishing has been done so well.
The details include antique effect label pulls and a distressed paint effect.
Gold Inlay Effect Tarva Dresser
We love a bit of gold inlay effect and this stunning Tarva dresser hack from Kristi Murphy is right up our street!
The gold inlay effect is achieved by simply applying gold tape in a random geometric pattern to the front of the drawers.
The bonus is the lovely hairpin legs on the bottom!
Ikea may have strangely stopped producing the Tarva dressers, but I’m sure there are plenty of you out there that still have one knocking about.
Now you have no excuses to get stuck in and create something stunning with it!
Have fun and let us know how you get on!