How to paint Ikea furniture

How To Paint Ikea Furniture - Step by Step Guide and the best products to use for a perfect finish.

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Painting Ikea Furniture on a Budget
Preparing Ikea Furniture for painting
Painting Ikea Furniture
Decoupage

Painting Ikea Furniture on a Budget

When we bought our house, we had only £2000 to furnish the entire place—bedrooms, living room, kitchen appliances, everything. Naturally, we had to shop sales and pick up a lot of KEA furniture. Don’t get me wrong: I love IKEA hacks and painting IKEA furniture because it’s a quick, budget-friendly way to personalize a space. But I do get bored after a while with the same finishes. Over time, we upgraded certain items whenever we could afford to, and one of the last areas on the list was our bedroom.

We initially went for the Aspelund range—bedside tables, Malm drawers, bed frame, and wardrobes. They’re perfectly fine furniture pieces, but I wanted something brighter and more modern. Since a brand-new bedroom set was out of the question price-wise, I decided to try my hand at furniture painting on these IKEA laminate surfaces. Many IKEA pieces (like IKEA Billy or Ikea Alex units) have a shiny surface or are made with particle board and laminate, so painting them can sound intimidating. However, paint and IKEA furniture can mix beautifully if you do the prep work correctly.

Preparing Ikea Furniture for painting

The key to painting IKEA laminate furniture (or any laminate furniture, really) is proper prep. First, place a drop cloth on the floor to catch any drips. Disassemble any removable parts if needed, so you’re left with an easier, flat surface. Next, use 120 grit sandpaper (or a sanding block) for a light sand—just enough to scuff sand the shiny surface so your paint has something to hold onto. Wipe off the remaining debris with a tack cloth or microfiber damp cloth to ensure you have a clean surface. Some people like to use shellac based primer (such as Zinsser Shellac or BIN Primer) first, especially on laminate furniture, to ensure the paint sticks well. A shellac primer helps create a durable finish and prevents paint chips later on.

Painting Ikea Furniture

Once your primer is dry—often 24 hours is recommended for the best results—it’s time to paint. You can use chalk paint, satin finish, or even latex paint; it’s really a personal preference. I went with a standard based paint in white for a bright, crisp look. I applied it using a smooth roller brush, though foam rollers or a paint sprayer also work well if you want an even smoother finish. If you prefer a traditional approach, an angled brush can help avoid brush strokes on corners and detailed spots. Remember to apply primer or paint in light coats, letting each coat dry fully before adding the next. In my case, two coats was all it took to get a gorgeous, professional finish on these IKEA laminate pieces. If you want extra protection, you can add a final coat of Minwax Polycrylic or varnish to seal your paint job.

Decoupage

As a fun accent, I decided to add wallpaper decoupage to some of the panels. It’s one of my favorite DIY projects and really gives your furniture a huge difference in style without a big cost. I simply measured the panel areas, cut my wallpaper to fit, and adhered it with a spray adhesive. Once in place, I used a topcoat (like a clear sealer) to protect the paper and keep everything looking fresh. This is such an easy DIY and transforms an ordinary IKEA piece into something uniquely yours.

Now, I absolutely adore my “new” bedroom. All it cost me was the price of a couple of tins of paint, a roll of wallpaper, and some basic supplies like a paint roller and primer. To top it all off, I found a Breville Teasmade on eBay for £20 (instead of £80) and set it on my freshly painted bedside table. Every morning, I wake up to a hot cup of coffee and read the news in bed. It’s bliss—and proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a stylish, refreshed look when you paint IKEA laminate furniture!