How to paint IKEA furniture successfully – 3 tips
Painting IKEA furniture and other furnishings is an easy way to add personality to your home.
Whether you're looking for the perfect paint color, a striking eye-catcher, or want to update an old piece of furniture, a little painting can do wonders for your old furniture.
Before you pick up the brush, check out these tips for a professional finish.
1. Careful preparation guarantees success
The importance of preparation cannot be overemphasized. While IKEA furniture often looks neat straight out of the box, its surface is usually smooth and even slightly waxy, making it difficult for paint to adhere without proper preparation. Without cleaning and sanding, the paint can easily chip and peel.
Start by cleaning the furniture thoroughly. Frenchic Sugar Soap is a great cleaner for this, as it effectively removes dust, grease and fingerprints. Even if the furniture is new, cleaning is an important step.
When the furniture is dry, lightly sand the surface with 120-grit sandpaper. The aim is not to remove the old finish, but to create a rough surface that the paint will adhere to better. So avoid excessive sanding. Finally, remove the dust with a damp cloth.
2. Less is more – thin and regular paint coats
When painting, it's worth remembering to test both the paint and the tools first so you can get a feel for your tools and achieve a result you like.
Frenchic paints do not need to be thinned. Too thin layers of paint dry too quickly and too thick ones dry slowly. Less is more. Too thick a layer of paint can cause runoff, streaks and visible brush marks. A better result is achieved with regular, slightly thinner and even layers of paint.
Even though you have to paint several thinner layers, the end result is rewarding with its smoothness and finished appearance.
3. Sand lightly between coats of paint
A perfectly smooth and flawless surface is created when you sand between coats of paint. Use fine grit sandpaper, such as 240 grit, and sand the surface lightly by hand. This removes any unevenness and creates a good adhesion surface for the next coat of paint.
Again, remember to remove dust with a damp cloth before applying the next coat of paint (only after the previous coat is completely dry).
Although this step may seem like extra work, it has a significant impact on the end result.
With these three tips, you can successfully paint IKEA furniture into striking and personal interior design elements.
Read more about painting laminate furniture here.
