IKEA is an incredible source for affordable furniture, but its affordability also often means that I see the same furniture everywhere I go. But even with IKEAs most basic pieces, you can add your own DIY touch to customize hack your IKEA purchases into something completely unique.RELATED: 51 Clever IKEA Hacks for Kids’ Rooms & NurseriesI’ve scoured the web for the best IKEA hacks for the home and for families—check them out in the slideshow.Today’s post brings me great pleasure to share! It’s a secret project I’ve been working on since I was 7 weeks pregnant. It is my first DIY project for baby Crowder. (First person to come up with a solid nickname for the IBK Fetus gets a prize!) I’ve always been in love with wingback rockers. You might as well trade your first born child for one, and then, what’s the point?! The rocker on the left came from Nurseryworks, and the rocker on the right is from Pottery Barn Kids. And then, it hit me hard like my pregnant emotions during country music.
I could EASILY make my own wingback rocker. All I would need to do is find a wingback chair, and some rocking chair runners. It was so simple. I thought “surely, this has been done a million times.” But I googled it hard, and didn’t find anything on the matter. (But in the Internet’s defense, my googling skillz are weak like a teenage girl at a One Direction concert.) We picked up the Strandmon Wingback chair from IKEA, for $279. I looked online and found a place that sells unfinished wood rocking chair runners. I order a pair of adult large in maple. We measured where we would need to drill holes for the legs to attach to the runners. The holes need to be 1&1/8″ in diameter. The center of that hole needs to be 7 1/2″ in from each end. The hole needs to be 3/4″ deep. **DISCLAIMER** Double check those measurements by holding up your runners to the legs of the chair to make sure it ‘dry fits.’ It has been brought to my attention that there is variation in the legs of the Strandmon, and my measurements might not be a perfect fit for your chair.
We used the drill press at my parents’ house. But if you have a cordless drill, you can use a forstner bit to drill the same kind of hole. My two favorite men! I spent countless hours in this shop, learning the ways of woodworking and DIY from a great teacher. We brought the runners home and fitted them to the chair. Fit like a glove. Now we had to match the runners to the legs of the chair. Instead of painting the runners, I thought it would look better if we stained them black. I will admit, I did help with staining. BUT I was very careful to not get it on me (and when I did, I scrubbed it right off), and we had all the windows open, with a fan going. Aaron did most of the staining. The wood was so blond, it took several coats. This is how thin it still looked after the first coat. Several coats later, it was looking like a dead match to the legs of the Strandmon. We used a matte poly finish. I love this poly. And it has a soft touch.
I don’t know how to explain it, but it is magical. Buy it and try it. After they were dry, it was just a matter of attaching the runners to the chair. We put the runners in place, and drilled a skinny little pilot hole to make sure the wood didn’t crack when we put the screws in. Let’s take a minute to talk about how much Buster loves the chair being upside down. Here’s a montage of Buster in his fort, on several different days. Now that your heart is sufficiently melted, we can get back to the real work. Then we switched out for a bigger drill bit to make a hole (not all the way down! Just slightly below the surface) the same size of the screw head to counter sink the screw. Then we sanded the bottoms of the feet, and coated the holes in the runners with wood glue. After we put the runners in place, with the wood glue, we use spax screws and secured the runners. We filled the holes with black wood putty. And now, it’s ready to rock.
And let me tell you, it rocks like you wouldn’t believe. It’s probably as good as Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon. Or when Adele came out of the womb singing her feelings. You sit in this chair, and you just have a good feeling about life. There is no real “skill level” required for this project. It’s just about taking the time to measure. No major tools are required. The simplicity of this project blows me away. This is a DIY project the average person can easily take on. The result is incredible and classy. And for a little designing on a dime and high/low comparing: And if you really love this project, please think about pinning it. For your pinning sake, here are a few more images to choose from 🙂A sheepskin rug is versatile, comfortable, uber chic and, thanks to IKEA, super affordable. No, you don’t have to live in a rustic cabin to rock the sheepskin look. The fluffy white fur is an ideal accent for any decor style, from modern Scandinavian to colorful boho.
If you’re looking to add some stylish texture to your room, nothing gets the job done faster than draping a fur (or faux fur) over the couch. From floor to nursery to bathroom, here are 15 ways to incorporate the classic little IKEA sheepskin throughout your home. 1. In the Nursery: We love layering rugs, and the nursery is the perfect place to do it. Just think, extra padding for those little knees and your knees too. 2. In the Dining Room: Drape one or two sheepskin over the backs of your dining room chairs for an instant bit of glamor. Be careful — your dinner guests might never want to leave. 3. As a Bathmat: Is there anything better than getting out of the tub and sinking your toes into a fluffy pile of fur? Sounds pretty luxurious to us. 4. At Your Workspace: You’ll be downright anxious to get started on those work projects with a seat like this waiting for you. 5. Out on the Porch: Looking to stay warm on those cool summer evenings while you’re sipping on a colorful cocktail outside?
Faux fur will add just the warmth you need. (via Lindsey Hene Interiors) 6. As a Photo Backdrop: Use a sheepskin rug as a snazzy backdrop for your Instagram photos to score an endless number of likes. 7. Create a Separate Space: If you’re living the #studiolife, you know how hard it is to make the living room feel like the living room, not the bedroom. Use a big, textured rug to help make the seating area in the living room feel more intimate. 8. By the Bed: Whether you have hardwood floors or carpet, you obviously need a fluffy rug under your feet in the morning. Maybe it would make getting out of bed easier? 9. For the Most Stylish of Pets: Durable and washable, the little IKEA sheepskin is perfect for making a super pretty doggie bed. (via Old Brand New) 10. For a Softer Seat: When you’re hosting a big dinner soiree and using things like chests and benches as extra seating, sometimes it’s nice to have something a little cozier to sit on. A tuft of fur keeps guests comfortable and makes additional seating more attractive.