Want to update your IKEA Expedit or Kallax Bookshelf? Then this is an easy tutorial for you. I added wood to my shelf to give it that little bit of an extra rustic look for my “Rustic Glam Nursery”. You can see my “Rustic Glam Nursery” here.
For this project I was inspired by Young House Love’s IKEA hack.
I decided to give it a try, but I constructed it a little differently.
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To replicate this look you’ll need the following:
Supplies:
- IKEA Expedit or Kallax Cube Shelf
- 2pcs of Wood “Appearance Boards”, 16in wide x 8ft x 3/4in thick
- Minwax wood stain in Classic Grey
- Wood Glue
- Nail Gun
- Air Compressor, I use this one.
- 1 1/2” nails
I decided to go with these panel boards to cover the shelf. They come in various sizes but I bought 2 8ft pieces and cut them down to size. Make sure to measure your shelf, but mine was 15.5″ wide so I needed to rip 1/2″ off the boards. Then I cut 2 pieces at 61″ long and 2 pieces at 31″ long.
Next, I stained all the boards in the “Classic Grey” color.
Here’s the before of the Expedit Shelf. I love this shelf since it’s so versatile, but adding the wood detail definitely helps it fit in my nursery better.
I then placed the wood on the top before installing it to make sure where I would need to place it. To create a clean edge I made the top & bottom panels longer where they hang over the edge.
Next, add glue and nail the panel down. I installed the top & bottom first.
Then I repeated the glue and nails with the side panels. You can see they fit in between the top & bottom’s overhang.
That’s it! It definitely adds that extra rustic charm. Exactly what I wanted in my Nursery.
I ended up moving it to the other side of the room and turned it; nonetheless I love how it came out.
Make sure to check out my entire “Rustic Glam Nursery” HERE.
Enjoy!
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Do you have to use an air compressor?
No. not at all. It’s just more convenient and faster. Using a hammer and nails or even screwing the wood will also work.
We tried this for a vanity in our bathroom and LOVE it!! Thanks for the post!!!
Excuse my ignorance, but how did you trim 1/2″ off the wood?
I used a table saw to do this. But if you don’t have that you can always ask Lowe’s or the store you purchase it from to cut it.
How were you able to nail the wood? Since the cube is particle board, I’m concerned the nail won’t hold.
I was also wondering about how the nails old in the Kallax particle board.
I saw this on another post and I want to do this But I noticed on the top of mine the side panels for the Kallax are about 1/8 higher than the top board. So when I lay my boards on the top there is a gap. Was wondering if you or anyone else has run into this.