These easy-to-make Ikea Hack Distressed Wood Shelves are the perfect weekend home decor project to make.
For those of you that have been regular readers of Sugar & Cloth, you may recognize this DIY.
This was one of the projects I created for the Ikea Houston, which no longer exists (only Ikea USA). So I’m bringing this distressed wooden shelf DIY over here to live permanently.
So let’s just all act surprised and really excited as if we’ve never seen this project until now. Here we go!
I’m really really into the distressed wood look that’s been floating around lately. But the hefty price tag that goes along with reclaimed wood isn’t exactly doable.
So that’s why this isn’t the first time we’ve hacked this look for a DIY Reclaimed Wood Folding Table, DIY Wooden Headboard and simple bedroom makeover.
Luckily, a similar look can be achieved with a little elbow grease and a few key supplies for DIY reclaimed wood-style shelving.
Materials and Tools Needed To Make A DIY Ikea Hack Distressed Wooden Shelves
Wood stain in your preferred colors — A medium brown works best for a vintage look. We opted for Early American Stain from Minwax.
Ikea Ekby shelving brackets — Or any shelving bracket of your choice. You can also switch out the boards for any wall shelf like the Ikea Bergshult/Granhult.
Untreated wooden shelves — Ikea has a lot of options like the Billy Shelf or you can use your own wood from the hardware store.
Sandpaper
Hand towel
How To Make A DIY Ikea Hack Distressed Wooden Shelves
Step 1 — Using random tools and utensils (like screws, a hammer, sand paper, or punches), begin marking and scraping the unfinished wood pieces.
Step 2 — Use the sandpaper to round out the edges a bit and smooth out any major bumps caused from distressing the wood.
Step 3 — Once the wood is distressed as much as you’d like for it to be, brush stain onto the wood. Allow to dry to the touch in between coats.
For the second coat, only apply in certain areas, and use the hand towel to blend the edges of the second coat into the first.
This will make certain spots a bit darker than others giving a reclaimed wood effect by having a variety of colors and will give interest to the distressed areas.
You can also use the Ikea clear glaze finish to seal the wood from water as well.
Step 4 — Once the stain has dried completely, install the EKBY shelving ends according to the instructions on the package.
You’ll definitely want an extra set of hands for this part!
Now that your shelves are installed, decorate them with as many pretties as you’d like. And you’ve got yourself custom distressed wooden shelves for a fraction of the cost!
More Easy Ikea Hacks
- Our Kids Playroom Idea With Faux Built Ins
- DIY Ikea Drawers: How To Make Easy Rattan Drawers
- How To Hack A Rattan Ikea TV Unit
- DIY Ikea Bar Cart
- DIY Dressing Table: How To Make An Ikea Vanity Hack
DIY Ikea Hack Distressed Wooden Shelves
Equipment
- Sandpaper
- Paint brush
- Hand towel
Materials
- Wood stain A medium brown works best for a vintage look. We opted for Early American Stain from Minwax.
- Ikea Ekby shelving brackets Or any shelving bracket of your choice. You can also switch out the boards for any wall shelf like the Ikea Bergshult/Granhult.
- Untreated wooden shelves Ikea has a lot of options like the Billy Shelf or you can use your own wood from the hardware store.
Instructions
- Using random tools and utensils (like screws, a hammer, sand paper, or punches), begin marking and scraping the unfinished wood pieces
- Use the sandpaper to round out the edges a bit and smooth out any major bumps caused from distressing the wood
- Once the wood is distressed as much as you’d like for it to be, brush stain onto the wood. Allow to dry to the touch in between coats.For the second coat, only apply in certain areas, and use the hand towel to blend the edges of the second coat into the first.This will make certain spots a bit darker than others giving a reclaimed wood effect by having a variety of colors and will give interest to the distressed areas.You can also use the Ikea clear glaze finish to seal the wood from water as well.
- Once the stain has dried completely, install the EKBY shelving ends according to the instructions on the package.You’ll definitely want an extra set of hands for this part!Now that your shelves are installed, decorate them with as many pretties as you’d like. And you’ve got yourself custom distressed wooden shelves for a fraction of the cost!
Be sure to share your DIY Ikea Hack Distressed Wooden Shelves with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves, so we can follow along, too! We always love seeing all of your creations!
Lovely! Would love to know the name and brand of stain!! Thanks
Hey Yaz, glad you like it! Here is a link to the stain we use and it’s in the color “Early American.” xo
I’m a DIY newbie.. this is an awesome starter project for me. Thanks!
This is so awesome to hear, Tina! Hope you love DIYing as much as we do! xo
Wow, these look spectacular!
My wife is a big fan of the distressed wood look, she will love these.
So glad! xo
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to new posts.
Hi there! We’d love if you’d follow along on twitter. Our username is @SugarAndCloth :)
Very good information. Lucky me I recently found your site by chance (stumbleupon).
I’ve book-marked it for later!
So glad you found us!! There’s a lot of other projects in our DIY section to check out as well :)
So these brackets recommended will not fit the shelves recommended
wow, these are awesome! They look great and are a fantastic way to reuse old buckets. Love it!
Pretty! I always love distressed wood.
I bought the 11inch brackets and am having a difficult time finding wood to fit! Any recommendations on where to go? Everything at Lowes is 12″
You’ll need to buy 12 inch boards then rip them to the right width, one nice thing about that is you can get whatever length you want. Plus you can get a thickness that is closer to what the brackets take than the boards that are too thin from ikea, they also make really cool stainless steel planks FYI.
Are those the 7 1/2in or 11in brackets?
I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I saw these brackets and just happened to stumble on to this post!
I think I’ll spray paint the brackets oil rubbed bronze or copper though… haven’t decided yet!
Love this! Where is the letter A from?
This is exactly what I was looking for in my kitchen. Inexpensive & so stylish! Beats the ones from West Elm–thank you =)
Hi. Just found your blog and its fantastic. Could you tell me where the dinosaur print is from? I love it.
Thanks so much for posting this, this is exactly what I have been wanting to do! Do you mind me asking where you bought your actual shelves?
I’ve been looking at putting shelves up in my new place. Think I’m going to try this. Thanks!
I would like to point out that not only is this DIY pretty awesome, but I am even more in love with how you styled your shelves. I want every single thing you have on there. :D
The shelves turned out beautifully. All of your white accessories look so pretty on the wood. I might have to try this project!
haha, itsnt hard for me to be excited again because I have slowly faced short term memory moments and thought this was one great DIY…
This was new to me! :) Love the idea!