I Was This Close to Regretting the Whole Project
If you’re searching for an Ikea hack that turns a Hemnes dresser into a budget bathroom vanity, you’re in the right place. I found the idea on Pinterest, got excited, bought the dresser, and then immediately made three dumb mistakes before the first coat of paint dried. Honestly, I almost gave up. But after a few curse words and a trip back to the hardware store, my small bathroom now has a vanity that looks way more expensive than it was. That before was sad beige linoleum and a cheap pedestal sink. The after is white marble-look counter with soft grey drawers, and I saved about 400 bucks compared to a real vanity. Here’s the thing though: most tutorials skip the screw-ups. So I’m sharing the ones I made, plus what I’d do different.
Picking the Wrong Hemnes Dresser Size for Your Small Bathroom
Look, I walked into Ikea and grabbed the 8-drawer Hemnes without measuring my bathroom. Dumb move. My bathroom is 5 feet wide, and that dresser is almost 4 feet. It fit, but just barely. And then I couldn’t open the toilet lid all the way. That’s not a good morning.
A common mistake is thinking bigger equals more storage. Sure, more drawers mean more stuff. But a Hemnes dresser vanity is meant for tight spaces. The 3-drawer model is 31.5 inches wide, and the 6-drawer is around 47 inches. For a small bathroom, go with the 3-drawer or the 4-drawer tall chest if you want vertical height. Measure your room, including door swing and toilet clearance. Then add two inches. Seriously. You’ll thank me when you don’t have to suck in your stomach every time you walk past.
Skipping the Waterproofing Step (Yes, Ikea Furniture Needs It)
Ikea furniture is particleboard wrapped in foil. Splash some toothpaste water on it and that foil lifts. Not pretty. I learned this when my faucet splashed near the back edge and the wood started swelling. A week later it looked like a sad croissant.
Ok so here’s what you actually do: seal the entire dresser top with a clear polyurethane or marine varnish before installing the countertop. Also seal the inside of the cabinet where the plumbing runs. I used a brush-on waterproofer for outdoor furniture. Took an hour. Smelled terrible. But now water beads off the surface like a duck. Also, put a waterproof liner under the sink area. A cheap plastic tray from the dollar store works. Just cut a hole for the drain.
Forgetting About Plumbing Access (Don’t Be Me)
I finished the whole thing, installed the countertop, and then realized I couldn’t reach the shut-off valve without pulling the whole dresser out. The drawers blocked everything. So I had to cut a hole in the back of the dresser (fine) but then I couldn’t access the plumbing from the front because the back panel was now open and ugly.
- Cut an access hole in the back panel before you assemble the dresser. Use a jigsaw. Make it big enough to get your arm and a wrench inside.
- Install drawer stops or use a removable false front for the drawer that sits in front of the plumbing. I just removed that bottom drawer entirely and put a small cabinet door over the opening. Looked custom.
- Don’t glue the countertop down permanently. Use silicone caulk so you can lift it if you need to replace the faucet later.
One more weird thing: I used a bucket to catch drips while I worked. My cat knocked it over. Water everywhere. So maybe don’t leave a bucket near the project. Just saying.
Choosing the Wrong Countertop Material (That Faux Marble Look Took Trial)
I wanted marble. Real marble is expensive and stains like crazy. So I bought a prefab laminate countertop from a big box store. It’s a thin sheet of plastic over particleboard. Looks decent but the seam where it meets the dresser top is a dirt magnet. Next time I’d build a wood frame and use a solid surface like acrylic or even butcher block sealed with epoxy.
That said, the marble-look countertop I ended up with is from a local remnant store. I paid 50 bucks for a cut piece of quartz that someone returned. It’s heavy so I reinforced the dresser top with a piece of 3/4 inch plywood screwed into the sides. Pro tip: measure for the sink cutout before you buy the counter. I ordered a VasagΓΆ sink from Ikea (the round one) and then realized the countertop had to be at least 22 inches deep to fit the clip system. Mine was 19. Had to return the sink. Annoying.
Painting the Hemnes Dresser Without Proper Prep (Chipped Within a Week)
I wanted a soft grey, so I slapped on some latex paint straight onto the foil surface. Big mistake. Two coats later and the paint peeled off in strips when I taped the drawer fronts. The Hemnes dresser has a smooth laminate finish. You have to scuff sand it with 120 grit, wipe with TSP substitute, and then use a bonding primer. I used Zinsser BIN shellac primer. Expensive but worth it. Then two coats of high-gloss cabinet paint. Rolled with a foam roller for that smooth finish.
And don’t paint the drawer slides. I did. Had to scrape paint out of the tracks. The drawers still stick sometimes. I should have taped off the metal tracks. That’s the kind of detail the big blogs skip.
Not Measuring the Sink or Faucet First (Rookie Error)
I bought a Vessel sink because it looked cool. But Vessel sinks sit on top of the counter, so the faucet has to be extra tall. I didn’t measure the height from the counter to my mirror. Now when I wash my face I bump my forehead into the faucet spout. Not ideal.
Measure everything: sink diameter, faucet reach, drain tailpiece length. And check that the drain pipe lines up with the existing plumbing in your wall. The Hemnes dresser has a shallow top drawer, so I had to cut a notch in the back of that drawer to allow the tailpiece to pass through. A hole saw works. Wear goggles because plastic shards fly everywhere.
Oh, one more thing about the faucet. I got a touchless one. Battery died two weeks in. Now I have a weird black sensor box hanging under the sink. If I were you, I’d get a simple chrome or matte black lever faucet. Mechanical. Reliable. No batteries. But you do you.
Final Thoughts (And a Small Ask)
So that’s the ugly truth about my Hemnes dresser turned budget bathroom vanity. It saved me money and gave my small bathroom a whole new look, but the process had plenty of facepalm moments. Honestly, I’d do it again, just smarter. If you plan the plumbing access, waterproof everything, and measure three times before cutting, you’ll end up with a vanity that feels custom without the price tag.
Got a similar project in mind? Drop a comment below or tag me on Pinterest if you try it. I’d love to see your own before and after. And hey, pin this post so you don’t lose the tips. Good luck with your DIY bathroom makeover, you’ve got this.
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