Ikea Hack: Malm Mirrored Dresser

Hey Everyone!  I'm so flattered by everyone's interest in how to do my latest DIY project! You guys make me feel so fancy :).  Anyway, I figured this would be the easiest way to explain to everyone how to do it.  I could have given a quick run down on Instagram but there were a few things I would have done differently if I had to do it again so I'll be sure to explain those.  Also, I wish I had taken pictures but I didn't know this would be so well received!  So I'll try my hardest to explain things but feel free to comment with questions.  Thanks again for loving my project, guys!

MALM IKEA HACK ...AND A COUPON CODE!!!!!!!

Total Cost: $103.00-$153.00 depending on the furniture you choose.

Do you love it, Dolls? I had been seeing these mirrored dressers around...

Like these ones.  For $500 and $800, respectively. And those were the low prices I found! Yeeeah.  Not in MY budget.  Then I found these overlays on Pinterest:

My Overlays: Decorative Fretwork Panels

Seriously, these girls are geniuses.  How their company works is s follows:  They make these overlays that are made to fit Ikea furniture.  On their website, you can even shop by Ikea piece!!! Also, if you already have a piece of furniture that's not from Ikea but needs some sprucing up, they do custom orders. The other thing I love about this company is that their customer service is wonderful.  I contacted them with a few questions and they were so prompt and friendly!  I recommend these girls and their company to anyone! Also, when they heard I was doing a blog post about this project, they offered to give me a coupon code to share!!!  Scroll down to the bottom to find it! Tell your friends! They really are the greatest. 

Anyway, back to business.

SUPPLIES:
-Dresser or other Ikea piece, or any ugly piece of furniture, for that matter. 
-Overlays from myoverlays.com
-Mirror cut to desired size
-Liquid Nails or similar construction-duty adhesive
-Rubbing alcohol
-Gloves (optional but recommended.)

STEP ONE: Get a dresser.

I needed a dresser/table/something to replace the U-G-L-Y fishtank stand in my living room.  So, for the space, the 3-drawer Malm dresser fit my needs perfectly!

This baby retails at Ikea for $79.99 and comes in a few different colors. That's not a bad price for a dresser. But of course, even $80.00 seemed a little pricey for this cheapskate so I took to ksl.com .  I got really LUCKY and found this exact one, only a few months old and untouched for $30.00.  I have seen them periodically since but you need to keep your eye out. They go pretty fast! 

STEP TWO: Order your overlays.

I snatched the used dresser up and ordered my overlays. 
I chose the Jasmine but they have a million cute patterns on their blog.  Literally the hardest part of this project is choosing which pattern you want.  It took me days. 

STEP THREE: Get your mirror.

When my shiny new overlays arrived, I headed to Lowe's.

 

Life Pro Tip: Did you know Lowe's sells big sheets of mirror and WILL CUT THEM TO SIZE FOR FREE???

 

That's right.  And don't let the grumpy ladies in the carpet department tell you they don't have mirror to cut, only glass. They are wrong.  You might, however, take that mirror that you had cut (you know, the mirror that carpet ladies said they don't have) back to them to prove a point...

 

If you live by me, the glass cutting is on aisle 15. Just so you know. 

 

The size you need for this project is the 30" x 24" piece.  Guess how much that piece costs?  $11.50.  You read that right.  $11 American dollars.  It seems like robbery doesn't it?  This size is almost meant to be for this dresser because you just happen to need three 8"x30" strips.  So you have it cut and there's no waste.  Don't worry if the glass cutting guy is a little inexperienced and chips the edges, they won't show. 

 

STEP FOUR: Don't leave Lowe's without your adhesive.

 

You need glue for this project.  My Overlays recommends using Liquid Nails construction adhesive.  This is the kind I used:

 

I think it was about $3.00-ish.  A sound investment because I didn't even use half the tube.  Because I'm helpful, here is a tip: the Lowe's by me has this by the paint.  It's DIFFERENT than the caulk-style liquid nails on a different aisle.  This stuff is by the Gorilla Glue.  Ask a friendly Lowe's associate...not the grumpy ladies in the carpet section.  Not that I am bitter.

STEP FIVE: Glue everything together!!!

First, tip the dresser so it's lying on its back.  Science tells us that trying to glue things while the dresser is upright will only result in disaster due to the natural phenomenon called gravity.  For your convenience, I have linked the wikipedia page on gravity so you can find out more.

Tips for Glue Success:

So you have your dresser on its back.  First, rub everything down with rubbing alcohol.  The mirrors (front and back) and the overlays (back) and the dresser drawers so everything is squeaky clean and ready to stick.  Don't use windex or anything else.  Just rubbing alcohol.  It preps the surfaces nicely for adhesion.

When I cleaned the mirrors, I wore some gloves.  Actually, I wore gloves the whole time.  Mainly to prevent getting fingerprints on everything the second after I cleaned it.  I recommend this method. 

First thing you will notice: the mirror is about 1/2" too short on either side. No need to panic! the border of the overlay will cover this. 

According to the online tips for the Liquid Nails, you should put a bead of glue on the surface to be glued, apply to the surface to which you are gluing, then immediately pull it apart again, count to 3 and place it back down.  Since I read this AFTER I completed the project, I didn't do this.  I think mine took longer to dry this way, but it still worked. The choice is yours.

So place a thin bead of glue all around the edge of the back of the mirror.  Then, if it gives you a sense of peace (like it did for me), draw a big "X" across the back of the mirror.  You only need a very thin bead of glue.  I only used about half the tube for this project.  Keep this in mind and don't get crazy. Again, I only used about half the tube for this project.

Once you have your mirrors glued onto the dresser, clean them one more time for good measure.  It will be a lot harder to clean them once the overlays are on, so best to do it now. 

On the back of the overlays, draw another bead around the border of the overlay.  Then, dot the glue in increments and in the corners/edges of the pattern.  Especially if you have littles, you want to make sure all the edges are glued down so little fingers can't pry the overlay off...or the vaccum to get caught on an edge and rip it off...There are several scenarios ending in disaster.  Just make sure all the edges are glued.  Again, don't get crazy with the glue. Especially at this point in the game.  The glue is going to spread when you press it on the mirror and you don't want globs of glue pressing out from underneath the overlays.  It dries clear, but it's still visible against the mirror.  Trust me, a little dab'll do ya. 

Once you pressed the overlays to the mirrors, check for any spots of glue that may have overspilled the edges of the overlays and, using your nail, scrape it off while it's still wet and and clean the smudge you left behind with alcohol. 

STEP SIX: Weigh down.

Now, gather some heavy items.  Preferrably in your immediate area so you don't have to walk around too much.   Oh wait, maybe that's just my laziness.  Some recommendations: coffee table books, potted plants, canned goods, an old dog that doesn't move very often, milk jugs filled with water, the list could go on..

STEP SEVEN: Wait.

This part is painful.  You should wait AT LEAST 24 hours.  Since I didn't do the method of pulling the surfaces apart and sticking them back together, mine took about 48 hours to dry.  The dresser sat on its back in the living room for two days straight with books on it like a monument to my DIY neuroticism.  I put a "Pardon Our Dust, We're Remodeling to Serve You Better" sign on it just in case company arrived. 

Once the appropriate amount of time has elapsed, gird up your loins, hold your breath and tip the dresser back upright.  Everything will be fine but in the moment, I'd say a brief second of panic is normal. 

Once all these steps are completed, you are done!  Congratulations!!! Now, please roll your mouse over the fish widget below and enjoy the relaxing scene as the fish follow it. My gift to you.

 

***GUESS WHAT!!!!***

Cheryle at myoverlays.com is offering a discount on your order just for being my friend!!! Enter CheapoCopyCat15 at checkout for a 15% discount!!! What did I tell you, these girls are GREAT.