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Painting Ikea furniture is a simple and cost-effective way to personalize and update your home decor. Here’s a brief guide on how to paint Ikea furniture:
1. Preparation: Clean the furniture thoroughly and remove any hardware or accessories. Sand the surface lightly to create a smooth base for the paint.
2. Priming: Apply a coat of primer to help the paint adhere better and ensure an even finish. Use a brush or roller for larger surfaces and a small brush for detailed areas.
3. Painting: Choose a high-quality paint suitable for the material of your Ikea furniture. Apply thin, even coats using a brush or roller, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.
4. Finishing touches: Once the paint is dry, you can add additional decorative elements like stencils or decals. Seal the paint with a clear topcoat for added durability.
5. Reassembling: Once everything is dry, reattach any hardware or accessories that were removed.
With these simple steps, you can transform your Ikea furniture into unique pieces that fit your style and taste.
Have a Malm dresser that needs a new look? Interested in painting your Pax wardrobe? If you’re not satisfied with the standard colors of your Ikea furniture, you can easily add some personality by giving it a fresh coat of paint. Ikea furniture is ideal for repainting because it is mostly made of particle board or softwood, both of which can be easily painted. There are numerous design ideas available online, with many websites dedicated to this project.
You can choose to paint using a brush, roller, or spray. The method you select will depend on the desired outcome as well as the type of paint you use. Spraying lacquer or colored polyurethane will give your furniture a glossy, new appearance, while a brush is best for latex or low-VOC enamels. Some people prefer the textured look achieved by using a roller, even on furniture. Any type of furniture paint will work, but if you’re not staining an unfinished dresser unit like Tarva or Rast, it’s recommended to apply a coat of primer first. Even before applying primer, you’ll need to prepare the old finish by using cleaning supplies and sandpaper.
The Basic Steps for a Makeover
If you’re painting new furniture, it’s better to do it before assembling the pieces.
Image Credit:
Ikea
It’s perfectly fine to paint Ikea furniture after assembly, but if you want a truly professional makeover for a newly purchased item, it’s best to paint it before tackling the assembly instructions. This will ensure better coverage, especially in tight corners, and give you more control, which is important if you’re using multiple colors. It also reduces the chances of sags and drips.
Unpack the furniture piece and separate the parts that need to be painted from those that don’t, such as drawer interiors. The other parts usually have a factory finish on both sides, so refer to the manual to determine which sides will be visible.
Materials You’ll Need:
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Newspapers or plastic sheeting
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Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
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Rubber gloves
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Bucket
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Sponges
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180- and 220-grit sandpaper
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Clean cloth
Step 1: Preparing the Workspace
Find a dry, well-ventilated, and well-lit area to work in. Cover the floor with newspapers or plastic sheeting. Arrange the furniture pieces in a systematic manner that allows you to identify each one, either by lining them up against a wall or laying them out on a workbench. If you’re painting an already assembled piece, remove the drawers, handles, doors, and hinges.
Step 2: Removing Gloss and Cleaning the Surfaces
Use fine sandpaper to scuff up the existing finish. Mix about 1/2 cup of trisodium phosphate with a gallon of warm water in a bucket, and use this solution to wipe down the surfaces you plan to paint. TSP acts as a de-glossing agent and a strong detergent that removes oils and grime from used furniture. Make sure to wear rubber gloves while using it.
Take another bucket and fill it with clean water. Then, use a different sponge to rinse off the TSP. Make sure the sponge is damp, but not excessively wet. Allow everything to dry completely, and then lightly scuff the finish using either 180- or 220-grit sandpaper. You can do this by hand, there’s no need to use a sander.
Step 3: Apply a Primer
Apply primer to the surfaces using a brush, roller, or spray can. Regardless of the application method, ensure that the primer you use is a high-solids latex or shellac-based primer. This will allow it to bond to the finish and enable the new paint to adhere to it. One thin coat of primer is sufficient.
After the primer has dried, lightly scuff it using 220-grit sandpaper. Scuffing between coats makes a significant difference in achieving a smooth finish. Use a damp cloth to remove any sanding dust.
Use a high-solids stain-blocking primer specifically designed for previously finished Ikea furniture.
Image Credit: Major Painting
Step 4: Paint, Scuff and Paint Again
Purchase a spray handle that fits onto aerosol cans to make spraying easier.
Apply the first coat of the desired color finish using a brush, roller, or spray method. When using a brush or roller, always apply the paint in the same direction to avoid noticeable cross-strokes once the finish dries. If spraying, it’s generally best to maintain a consistent direction, but if you need to change directions to fill in missed spots, it won’t be noticeable. The goal is to apply a full wet coat without any drips or sags. However, if you do encounter any drips or sags, you can sand them with sandpaper before applying the second coat.
Once the first coat is dry enough to touch without leaving a fingerprint, lightly scuff the surface with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe the surface with a clean cloth and apply a second coat of paint. Be cautious to avoid any sags in this application. If any sags do occur and are noticeable, you’ll need to sand and apply a third coat to correct them.
Adding Pop to Your Project
Image Credit: Home Depot
After completing the basic procedure, you will most likely be satisfied with the updated furniture. However, if you have a creative spirit, the fun is just beginning. Since Ikea dressers and nightstands lack trim or moldings, it’s easy to paint stripes using masking tape, create designs using stencils, or even freehand your own artistic creations. You can also use various faux finishing techniques to give your furniture a textured look resembling marble, slate, weathered wood, or even antique it.
If you decide to add a design, consider purchasing a can of spray-on or brushable polyurethane finish to provide a protective coat over the design.
