DIY Greenhouse Storage: IKEA MOPPE Drawers Hack
Today I want to show you how I hacked these IKEA MOPPE drawers to fit in perfectly with my new greenhouse vibe. A greenhouse needs storage for all the little bits and pieces that accumulate when gardening, and I wanted to DIY something to go with my herbology-meets-Narnia-meets-Danie theme (lol).
I knew when I saw this mini organizer from IKEA that it was perfect for what I needed! Let me share how I hacked these drawers and give you more ideas for how you could customize them differently, just for you!
Choose your MOPPE style
When I was shopping at IKEA and came across the MOPPE unit in the storage section, I knew exactly what I was going to do for storage for my greenhouse! (IKEA products are always a great idea for projects like this because they are so easy to customize.)
I picked up two MOPPE wood boxes with drawer storage. These MOPPE storage chests come in two different sizes. I picked the one that is longer than it is tall so that I had a variety of different drawer sizes to work with:
Three small drawers on the top,
Two slightly larger drawers in the middle, and
One long drawer at the bottom.
If you choose the tall MOPPE mini drawer unit, you get six small drawers that are all the same size. So, the same number of drawers but different sizes! Think about what you want to store and then purchase accordingly. I liked the look of the different-sized drawers, plus I had no idea what I was going to keep in them so it made sense to give myself a few options.
Then, I had to decide how I wanted my drawers to look when I was finished! I decided an apothecary style would be best. To achieve this look, I decided to stain the boxes and then add some apothecary-style hardware.
How I transformed my MOPPE chest
The easiest way to change the look of almost anything is to change the colour! The MOPPE system makes this easy to do because it is made of untreated wood. This means these drawers are a blank canvas for anything you want to do. I began my apothecary DIY by staining the boxes using Puritan Pine, which is a nice light rustic brown colour. First, I took all the drawers out of the frame. Then, I wiped the stain on with a soft cloth and wiped off any excess.
Next, I added some metal label holders to all the drawer fronts. This really gave the front of the drawers the apothecary look I was going for!
The labels I purchased came with their own screws. This was nice because I knew the screw heads would match the metal and it would all blend together. I used a screwdriver and hand-screwed these into the wood (I haven't done that for so long!). I would avoid using power tools for this because the wood is just not strong enough to handle that pressure.
I used the labels to create a “look”, not really for function. So, I opted to leave the center of them blank. If you actually wanted to label your drawers, you can simply write on the little paper tabs and put them inside. Alternatively, you could also use a leather strap as a pull on each drawer to create a similar effect if you aren't really concerned with labelling.
That's it! I turned these plain and boring boxes into a gorgeous customized storage system, all through the power of this super simple mini drawer hack.
More IKEA MOPPE hack ideas
When I was looking at Pinterest and the internet in general for ideas for turning these drawers into the ideal storage solution for my greenhouse, I found so many neat MOPPE hacks that I want to share with you! There are so many little things you can change about this basic set of boxes to make them your own. Here are some ideas for you to try:
Add hairpin legs to the bottom to raise the box and use it anywhere
Add fun hardware to the door fronts like drawer pulls
Add interesting contact paper to the inside and/or sides of your drawers
Add a couple of coats of paint in a colour that complements your existing decor
Paint the second row of drawers with chalkboard paint for a neat contrast
Use a fun stencil to paint the drawers
Channel your inner creative and make a fun abstract design on the front using paint or decals
You get the idea! Maybe you've read this far and you're thinking, "But Danie, I don't have a greenhouse! Where would I put my MOPPE drawers?" The good news is that anywhere you might need to store small items, you can use this great little piece of furniture to do it. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Use it as a desk organizer in your home office
Use it to store craft supplies like popsicle sticks and other smaller items
Put it on a bookshelf in a living room to hide matches and other bits and pieces
This MOPPE chest of drawers can be used to create stylish storage for any style or purpose in your home! I am so pleased with how this simple DIY turned out in my own space, and I know it will be so useful to have extra storage in my greenhouse. I would love to see the different ways you hack your own set of drawers! Tag me @diydanie with pics of your creations.
