A modern home office space with a sleek IKEA Rast desk featuring a laptop, a small plant, and decorative items. A metal chair with a black and white patterned cushion sits nearby. The wall is painted dark green, contrasting beautifully with the light wooden flooring.
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IKEA Rast Desk Hack

ByLisa
6 Comments

Week 4 of the One Room Challenge is here and we took a little bit of a detour. I know you were expecting a closet but instead you are getting an IKEA Rast desk hack. Confused? Me too. Let’s just say that I apparently forgot how to measure things accurately. On the positive side, we did manage to source several things from IKEA, including this week’s Rast hack. If you missed the week one,  week two, or week three,  check those out first. While this week didn’t turn out exactly as I had planned, I still checked another item off the list, so I am calling it a win. Do you wanna see it? 

A chest of drawers showcasing an IKEA Rast hack doubles as a desk. The top half boasts a white frame with horizontal wooden slats, while the bottom remains unfinished. This inventive design stands out against a dark green wall, providing both style and functionality.This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my policies.

Last week we we built bunk beds in the left corner of the room. This left us with just over five feet of space in the right hand corner on the same wall. I must admit, I had a hard time deciding what to do here. Because we still need access to where the ladder will be for the bunk beds, I had limited depth to work with.

A small room featuring a dark green accent wall and a wooden bunk bed on the left, complemented by shiny hardwood floors. An IKEA Rast desk rests against the wall, while a bright triangle of sunlight on the floor offers a warm contrast to the deep wall color.

Since this is a guest room, I didn’t feel the need for a ton of storage here. But an extra desk space would be nice since we both work at home regularly now. We do have a dual home office, but sometimes we need to be on conference calls at the same time, so it would be nice to have a secondary option to take our laptops when those situations arise. Let me show you how we did it. 

IKEA Rast Desk Hack

Step 1 – Go to IKEA. We had a pretty full car load on this trip but we didn’t have to strap anything to the roof, so that’s good! I chose the IKEA Rast because of it’s low profile. As I mentioned above, we have limited depth to work with before we run into where the ladder will be for the bunk beds.

An SUV with the rear hatch open is filled with IKEA Rast flat-pack furniture boxes and a rolled carpet. It's parked in an indoor garage next to a pricing sign, possibly ready to transform into a stylish desk ensemble.

Step 2 – Build the IKEA Rast. I know many people enjoy this step the least, but after building bunk beds from scratch, this seemed like a cake walk. Note, do not attach the included knobs. 

A simple, natural wood dresser like the IKEA Rast with three drawers stands on a wooden floor against a dark green wall. The room, which could also feature a sleek desk, has a minimalistic and modern design with a cozy, warm ambiance.

Step 3 – Paint it. I had a specific look in mind and was going for a two tone look (this will make sense soon) so I used the left over paint from the fireplace and the kitchen backsplash and painted the entire frame and drawer fronts. 

A garage workshop showcasing the assembly of a partially built white cabinet on a workbench is reminiscent of an IKEA Rast project. Various tools, alongside ladders, are neatly arranged on the wall in the background.

Step 4 – Pole wrap. If you watch my Instagram Stories you saw this already and probably had questions. Pole wrap is exactly what it sounds like. It is meant to wrap poles in basements. Think 70s/80s style. But they still sell this bendy, fluted wood which is perfect for a mid century look! I chose to use it horizontally. 

A long wooden tabletop, reminiscent of an IKEA Rast desk, with evenly spaced grooves sits on a workbench in a workshop. A pencil and ruler are nearby, suggesting ongoing measurement or construction work. Wood cabinets and tools are visible in the background.

You will need to cut the pole wrap to fit the size of the drawer fronts. I used our miter saw with a fine finish  blade to make the cross cuts and a utility knife to cut between the pieces of wood. You can also use it vertically but will have more cuts. 

A DIY cabinet desk in progress features a plywood frame and a slatted wooden top, reminiscent of an IKEA Rast piece. It stands surrounded by various tools and wooden planks in the vibrant atmosphere of a workshop.

Full disclosure, this is 16 inches wide and our 12 inch miter saw doesn’t make cuts that wide so I had to flip it over and make a second pass to cut all the way through. 

Step 5 – Glue to drawer fronts. With the pole wrap cut to size, I used wood glue to attach the pole wrap to the IKEA Rast drawers. I spread the glue almost to the edges with my finger. I chose the wood glue because of it’s strength, but I didn’t want it to set too fast so I would have time to position the pole wrap just right. 

A DIY project in progress showcases a wooden tabletop, possibly from an IKEA Rast, coated with glossy white epoxy resin. Ripples and reflections play across its surface while various garage tools and supplies sit in the background, ready to transform this piece into a stylish desk.

Step 6 – Let it set.  I let mine set overnight and used clamps and weights to keep it in place. Be very careful that you don’t have any glue leaks. I missed one and didn’t see it until it was dry and it was a little hard to get off. 

A woodworking project in progress features wooden boards clamped on a table, reminiscent of an IKEA Rast assembly. Various weights, including pink dumbbells, apply pressure. In the center, a bottle of "Titebond III Ultimate" wood glue ensures a sturdy build for this potential custom desk.

Step 7 – Add hardware. Once all the glue was dry, I added these black finger pulls. Since this is not where the original holes were, I had to drill new ones. I first found the center of each drawer and then measured to make sure each handle was the same distance to each edge. 

Close-up of a modern wooden bed frame with a slatted design, reminiscent of the IKEA Rast series. A black metal bracket accents the edge. The background reveals a glimpse of a room with wooden walls and another bed, alongside a sleek desk completing the cozy setup.

 

DIY Desk Top 

It was my intent to make a faux concrete desk top like I did for the pizza oven table, but that didn’t go exactly as planned. So keep that in mind as I walk you through it. As I mentioned above, we had limited depth so I decided to make the desk top just under 13 inches. I achieved that by joining a 2×8 and a 2×6 I had left over from the bunk bed build. I did this with pocket holes and my Kreg Jig.  

A workbench, reminiscent of an IKEA Rast, features a wooden board clamped for drilling. Surrounded by an array of tools and accessories, the table sits in a garage with various items neatly organized on shelves in the background.

Once I drilled the holes I used my 24 inch clamps to hold it together and screw it in.

A workshop scene featuring two wooden boards clamped together on a sturdy desk. A yellow cordless drill rests on the boards, with a garage door and an IKEA Rast unit filled with various tools in the background.

Next came the faux concrete. I must say, I am definitely not skilled in skim coating. This was only my second time using the feather finish and while I did mix it thinner than last time which did help, I still had a hard time getting it completely smooth.

A long wooden board with a textured gray painted surface rests on sawhorses in a garage workshop, resembling an IKEA Rast desk project. Power tools and a St. Louis Cardinals banner are also visible in the background.

I tried wiping it down with a wet sponge after it dried for a bit and that did help some. Once it was completely dry, I did hit it with my orbital sander. Unfortunately I managed to sand off some of the finish, lol!

In a workshop, an IKEA Rast desk is being sanded. The long tabletop boasts a light wood color atop a black and white speckled surface, while an orange and black sander sits ready on the left edge of the table.

Needless to say, I wasn’t happy with how this looked. Plan B. Paint it black. While I liked how this looked in general, I didn’t like how it looked in the room. Ugh! Did I mention this was Wednesday morning that I decided this? True story. So I went for plan C. Paint it white. This was better. Thank goodness because I didn’t have time to come up with a fourth plan!

A metal chair with a black and white patterned cushion sits beside an IKEA Rast shelf. On the shelf are two white vases and a small photo frame. The wall is painted half white and half dark green, creating a striking backdrop for the minimalist desk area.

We attached the desk top with brackets that are hidden under the desk and attached to the studs to give it the appearance that it is floating.

A close-up of a wall with two sections painted in dark green and light beige. Two small metal brackets, reminiscent of those found on an IKEA Rast desk, are attached to the wall. The lower left corner features a watermark saying "Garrison Street design studio.

Somehow this week that was supposed to be easier than last, turned into one headache after another. Never underestimate the “easy” stuff I guess! You can catch all the behind the scenes in my Instagram stories.

A woman with long, curly hair sits barefoot at an IKEA Rast desk, facing a laptop in her cozy office. The wall behind her is dark green, and the desk features wooden drawers. Decor includes a plant and white vases.

A modern setup features an IKEA Rast wooden desk with a small chest of drawers, a white and gold lamp with a marble base, a potted plant, and a square sign in cursive on a white background. The grey wall complements the sleek, white surface perfectly.

The IKEA Rast-inspired wooden dresser, echoing a modern, minimalist desk aesthetic, features three drawers adorned with sleek horizontal lines. The "before" inset displays a plain wood version labeled "before," set against a dark green wall.

A modern office setup features an IKEA Rast wooden desk against a dark green wall. The desk holds a laptop, a small plant, a lamp, picture frame, and two vases. A sleek metal chair is tucked neatly under the desk.

I would tell you what we will be working on next week, but I honestly don’t know at this point! We still have to finish Barry’s closet and I hope to add a dresser to the other wall, but I truly have no plan right now. If I don’t show my face next week, you will know I didn’t figure it out, lol! To be continued…..

A woman with long curly hair, dressed in a polka dot sweater and jeans, sits on a metal chair in a modern, minimalist room. An IKEA Rast desk with drawers holds a small plant and decorative items, set against the backdrop of a dark green wall.

If you enjoyed this post, IKEA Rast Desk Hack, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends! Also, make sure you don’t miss any of the progress and sign up here to get notifications delivered straight to your inbox.  It’s going to be a wild ride!  

 

Don’t forget to stop by the One Room Challenge to check out all the featured designers and other guest participants and give them some encouragement. I am sure they are feeling just as stressed as I am right now! Garrison Street Design Studio - IKEA Rast Desk Hack

A modern home office features a DIY IKEA Rast desk with light wood drawers and a white surface. A lamp, plant, and framed artwork adorn the top. A metallic chair with a patterned cushion sits beside it. Dark green walls and wooden flooring complete the setting beautifully.

This post, IKEA Rast Desk Hack appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

6 Comments

  1. I love a good IKEA hack and this looks great! I tackled a few IKEA hacks for this challenge as well in my daughters room! 🙂

    Reply

  3. Did you attach it to the dresser in any way? This looks great! I’m looking to do something similar in my bedroom where I don’t have space for a dresser and a desk but I have absolutely no experience with power tools.

    Reply

    1. I did not attached the dresser, however, it butts up against the bunk bed wall. IKEA does recommend attaching all their dressers to the wall.

      Reply

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