The Ultimate Gustaf Westman Decor Guide: Authentic Pieces, Collab Facts, and Ikea Hacks
By Sarah Jenkins
If purchasing an original piece proves cost-prohibitive or secondary stock remains scarce, you can assemble the wavy Nordic look using budget hardware and basic craft materials. Interior stylists have developed dependable methods to recreate these bubbly silhouettes at home.
The Architectural Wood-Trim Frame: Early internet hacks relied on messy expanding insulation foam, which degrades under UV light and gathers dust. For a clean, durable result, buy an unadorned flat-frame mirror like the $29.99 IKEA NISSEDAL. Trace undulating curves onto thin 1/4-inch MDF or birch plywood sheets using a jigsaw. Sand the wavy edges to a smooth rounded bullnose, adhere them directly over the frame with construction adhesive, apply high-build sandable primer, and finish with two coats of semi-gloss lacquer in pastel buttercup or mint.
Sculpted Chunky Handles: Transform standard white diner mugs or plain ceramic pitchers using bakeable oven polymer clay. Roll clay into thick, smooth coils, roughly 1.5 inches in diameter, and curve them into bulbous, undulating C-shapes. Bake them separately according to manufacturer specifications, then affix them over existing handles or onto smooth ceramic cylinders using two-part epoxy resin. Finish with porcelain enamel paint to achieve a seamless, high-gloss ceramic look.
Soft-Form Table Resurfacing: The chunky aesthetic relies on rounded thickness. To hack a minimalist flat-top coffee table like the LACK, glue rigid high-density foam half-rounds along the perimeter edges to build out a thick, rounded lip. Coat the entire surface in flexible joint compound, sand until completely smooth, and seal with durable moisture-resistant floor paint.
Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.
