If you love getting a high-end look for less, painting IKEA furniture is a great option to achieve that. This allows you to get a custom look on a smaller budget, especially if you can purchase the furniture second-hand! Learn how to paint your IKEA Pax wardrobe, Hemnes dresser, and other items with a long-lasting finish.
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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Top tip for Painting IKEA Furniture
One of the most important things that you can do when painting IKEA furniture is picking the right primer. Primer is the key to ensuring that you don’t end up with scratches on your Pax wardrobe or Hemnes dresser from day to day use.
The tried and true primer that you should consider when painting your IKEA furniture is the BIN Zinsser primer. This is my go-to primer for painting furniture and cabinets because it holds up well and it hides stains, seals knots, and is a synthetic shellac.
Painting IKEA Pax Wardrobe
An easy way for you to get a high-end look for less is by painting your IKEA pax wardrobe. It doesn’t matter what IKEA Pax doors your pick you need to prime with BIN Zinsser Primer. Using primer is the first step that is critical to your project! It is not necessary to sand the wardrobe prior to painting it but you should ensure that it is clean and dry.
You’ve picked a paint colour but you don’t know what paint sheen you should use? Learn all about paint sheens and which one you should use for your project here.
You should use a foam roller to apply the primer to the IKEA Pax wardrobe to ensure you get a smooth finish. This primer is a little messy so be prepared to throw away the roller that you apply it with. Paint in a well-ventilated space and read the instructions for more application details.
Once you have primed your wardrobe, you should pick a paint colour. There are two paint sheens that you should consider using for painting your IKEA Pax wardrobe: Pearl or Semi-gloss. Learn more about the perfect sheen for your project here.
Thinking about adding moulding to your pax wardrobe but want to keep it white? I would recommend that you paint the moulding only. Have the pax wardrobe colour-matched and pick a pearl or semi-gloss finish. For the FORSAND Pax doors, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is a great match. This means you get to keep the IKEA factory finish but still have a high-end look that the moulding gives.
Want to learn more about upgrading your IKEA pax wardrobe? Learn more here.
Painting IKEA Hemnes dresser
Another way to upgrade your IKEA furniture is by painting your Hemnes dresser. IKEA furniture acts as a great building block for any project. Painting your IKEA Hemnes dresser is another easy upgrade and is similar to painting a Pax wardrobe.
If you have not built your IKEA Hemnes dresser, I would recommend painting it first. If it is already assembled, remove the drawers first before you paint it.
Start with BIN Zinsser Primer to ensure that your finish does not scratch and chip. Apply the primer with a foam roller to ensure your finish is smooth. Then pick a Pearl or Semi-gloss finish for your hemnes dresser. This will make it easier for you to clean and maintain a smooth finish over time.
PRO TIP: For a higher end look, add moulding to your IKEA pax wardrobe or Hemnes dresser before painting! Then, swap out the hardware.
FAQs
YES! With the right primer, you can achieve a high-end-looking wardrobe on an IKEA budget.
The perfect primer is key to painting your IKEA pax wardrobe, I would recommend a shellac base primer like BIN Zinsser.
Yes, IKEA units can be painted. To ensure your furniture doesn’t scratch, use a good primer before painting.
There are many different whites used on IKEA products. The Pax units are a great match for Benjamin Moore Simply White in pearl finish. The Pax door “FORSAND” matches well with Benjamin Moore’s White Dove.
Refer to the instructions on the can of primer. If the piece of furniture has a very high gloss to it, it would be a good idea to give it a light sand before painting. Ensure the furniture is smooth before priming so that the primer and paint go on smoothly.
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Do you need to sand the ikea hemnes dresser first if it has a shiny finish? I have an old one from 15 years ago which has a glossy finish. Can the bin primer work on that? Thanks for your help. Love your work 🥰
Author
I don’t think it’s necessary, but I’d just do it a bit to dull the finish. Give it a light sand but nothing too intense. Just to be safe!
Can you use your wall paint to paint over the primer or does it have to be a specific paint? Want the colour to match the walls so wondering if I can use the same one?
Author
It probably wouldn’t be the best choice because likely the paint sheen on your walls is something around eggshell and for a wardrobe or other furniture you would want Pearl. I am not sure the brand of paint you are using, but I usually ask the paint department when they are mixing the colour for me. I just tell them what I am trying to paint and they recommend a paint line that would work best!
For the FORSAND Pax doors, you noted that Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is a great match if you just want to paint moulding. what sheen did you use?
Author
I’m not sure it’s a perfect match but I found it matched really well considering I already had some on hand! I would do a Pearl finish!