How To Paint Ikea Furniture in 4 Easy Steps

[@saintbells]

Thank you for making this video! Now it’s not that scary to try to paint my own furniture 🙂

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

I'm so glad!! Good luck on your project!

[@DuboisDieter]

Love your honesty and ... avoid us from making mistakes :)

[@TheCraftedLife]

Thank you!! Nobody wants to repaint furniture twice, so I hope this helps!

[@jeranmcconnel319]

I've actually never painted IKEA furniture. But, this such great info. I guess I need to drive to IKEA!!!!!

[@TheCraftedLife]

I am so surprised by this!! I would absolutely love to see something in your shade of green!

[@carolb4881]

Wish I could give you 10 👍. Simple straight forward instructions. Followed your instructions. And my 4 compartment Kallax looks amazing and his now in my kitchen for storage. I have a couple more IKEA pieces that I am going to paint. Thank you Thank you🇨🇦👍

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

Carol that's AMAZING!!! Thank you for sharing, I'm so glad it worked out! Here's to adding more color to the world ❤

[@muthyalasreenivas1109]

The b and q paint section people advised that primer is not necessary with their Valspar paint - they were soooooo wrong. Two coats applied and everything easily peeled off! Whatever anyone says just follow the good advise here and USE the primer!

[@TheCraftedLife]

I'm so sorry they told you not to use primer!! That's so frustrating! I hope you were able to salvage the project

[@cdhn2009]

Whatever brand you use, what about if you use paint & primer combined? Some paints come like that. should we get same results?

[@amandaslaven4574]

@@cdhn2009 No, that’s what the commenter above is describing. It needs to be a separate step.

[@SelenaY.1331]

Thank you! I found a Ikea desk that I love but one of the default colors is a black/brown when I want only black colored desk not two colors. You explained the process of the DIY AND provided how the different methods of applying paint work super well.

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

I know exactly what you mean!! My husband had the black/brown cabinet and wanted a solid black look instead so I painted it with the same method. Hope your makeover goes well!

[@JuanAlvarez-km6dx]

Thanks for a honest advice and easily explained "how to do". Greetings from Barcelona, Spain. I look forward to paint my Ikea Besta Showcase following your advice. Thanks again!

[@TheCraftedLife]

thank you so much for being here!! And good luck with the project-- let me know if you have any questions!

[@carolb4881]

Thank right to the point without a bunch of theatrics...will be checking out some of your other videos

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

So glad you liked the video! Thank you so much for being here!

[@sakuna74]

Just came across this recently and I will be doing my first DIY on my black /brown PAX wardrobe! We got more PAX wardrobes however they discontinued this black/brown color so I have to paint my old ones to match the new Grey color that they come in. I found your tips super helpful! Wish me luck in advance. 😂 Thank you!

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

oooooo smart!!! Best of luck with the project, I hope it goes well!

[@Alexis-uz3hd]

Thanks so much for the tips! Going to try this today on an ikea bookshelf 😊

[@TheCraftedLife]

Amazing!! How did it turn out?!

[@barbaratells1285]

Great tips 😊thank you 😊 loving your channel 😊😊😊

[@TheCraftedLife]

thank you so much for being here!

[@barbaratells1285]

@@TheCraftedLife thank you so much for sharing 💗💗💗💗

[@Afaflens]

Thank you for tips 🙌🏻 I was looking for furniture in dark brown to match the rest of the room , but no I couldn't fined any , so I decided to search if it is possiable to dey them , I am gratefull I found your video 👏🏻😁 wish me luck in my first DIY !

[@TheCraftedLife]

Oh I'm so glad you found this video because it's definitely possible!! Best of luck with your project-- let me know if you have any questions as you're working!

[@julian-fricker]

Thanks, hopefully renovating a new house soon and this will be super useful.

[@TheCraftedLife]

What a fun project!! Best of luck with everything!

[@edabayaraydn496]

Thanks a lot for the useful tips! It will be my first diy project. Let’s see how it goes 🎉

[@TheCraftedLife]

YAY first DIY! That's so exciting! Hoping it turns out great-- let me know if you have any questions as you're working!

[@melissaoneil1129]

Will that sealant be good for kitchen cabinets where there's bound to be spills and I'm looking for wipeability?

[@xavieraaltena4316]

Hi there! Painting some IKEA furniture this next weekend! I was wondering: here in the Netherlands we have some different products, so my paint says it’s scratch & stain resistant. Is it necessary to do the last step and add the protective finish? Love to hear from you! ❤

[@TheCraftedLife]

hi! Im so sorry I'm just seeing your comment!! Hoping your project came out well

[@ml9673]

Thank you!! Fingers crossed I don't screw it up!! When you sand the first coat of the polycrylic, do you use the 120 grit sandpaper again?

[@TheCraftedLife]

YOU'VE GOT THIS!!! And yes you can! The sanding should just be light to remove any imperfections that may have happened in the process. You can see how you feel after one coat (depending on how much traffic the piece will see, etc).

[@LetsExplore307]

You are a life savior, I started a room make over and most of my furniture are from Ikea and without even investigating first I head on and painted it and I was too desperate but now I know to finish it. Thank you.

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

AMAZING!! Hope the makeover is going well! Let me know if you have any questions

[@catdaredevil]

What type of paint should you use? Furniture paint or any emulsion?

[@Sagepolice]

heyyy can I use the Zinsser BIN Aqua Primer Sealer (green tub) instead of the Bin Primer normal (red tub)? Thats the only one I can get in my country, I'm in Spain! thank you

[@TheCraftedLife]

That's a great question! I think a shellac based primer will give you the best results. You might run into some scratches/wear with the water based. I guess it really depends on how much use the item you paint will get, but I can't fully recommend it (I haven't fully tested it in my own home). I wonder if there are other brands, but still shellac?

[@bslbbd]

Hi! Great video! Sadly I live in a country that doesn’t have the BIN shellac primer, do you have other recommendations for primer? I wanna paint my Kallax. Our hardware stores here mostly have primers that are epoxy, water-based, acrylic, and lacquer. Thank you!

[@TheCraftedLife]

This is a great question! I unfortunately have really had the best luck with the shellac based primer, so I can't confidently give a secondary recommendation. But! Maybe you can talk to an employee and see if they have anything they could suggest for laminate surfaces. Always work trying a test patch to see! Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

[@MyFallenAngel96]

Should you build the bookcase before you sand/repaint/ect or do each individual part first then put together?

[@TheCraftedLife]

If you’re buying it new, I would paint it before putting together! It will be so much easier for applying the paint without the corners!

[@bluejayjitsu4429]

I'm so excited to try this! Do you have any non-shellac primer recommendations? I'm vegan so can't use shellac. That blue is GORGEOUS btw!

[@TheCraftedLife]

Thank you so much!! I highly recommend that blue because it's somehow even better in person! I can't say that I've ever tested vegan primers (sorry!), but I think the BIN primer might actually come in a synthetic version. Would be worth exploring for sure!

[@andreiarolo]

Hiiii 😀 I liked your video soooooo much that I needed to subscribe 😂 Very informative and straight to the point. LOVED IT 🥰 I am looking forward to starting my ikea paint 🤗 Btw, take the opportunity to wish you HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉🥳

[@TheCraftedLife]

thank you so much! I'm so glad you found it helpful and are going to give it a try! Wishing you the best this year

[@annalisedelorenzo5417]

Any tips for keeping the pre-drilled holes free from primer/paint/sealer when painting furniture that has yet to be assembled?

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

yes!! First, you want to make sure your roller or brush isn't overly saturated! I would also suggest rolling up a bit of painters tape and placing inside the hole. You wont want so much tape that it stick out and leaves a ring from the paint, so just a small amount. For the most part, at long as you aren't applying a TON of paint in that spot, you should be okay!

[@lucyproctor7239]

Hi. I am currently following your video to paint my Kallax. I have don’t steps one and two (sanding and priming) My question is, do I need to do two coats of primer? I’ve currently done one and it seems to of covered well. Thank you! 😃

[@TheCraftedLife]

Hi Lucy! How fun!! If you've covered the entire surface, and your base won't bleed through your paint color, you should be okay to move forward. 2 coats will always give you more coverage, but you could get away with just one if you're shorter on time or energy

[@pernillenrskov1028]

Hi! Loved the video, so great tips 💪 i had to subscribe! 🤩 I'm wondering if you can use a spraycan primer and a spraycan laque for finish touch? 🤗

[@TheCraftedLife]

Oh yay! I'm so glad you're here! I do think BIN makes a spray primer but from what I've read, you would several coats. As for the sealant, I actually haven't tested the longevity of the spray version. I would assume again, it would take a few coats in order to get the same amount of coverage. Sorry I dont have a more specific answer!

[@biancakunzli241]

Hello! Do I need polycrilic also if I want a mat finish on the furniture? Or is the polycrilic only required for glossy finish? Thx

[@TheCraftedLife]

hi! Great question! Polycrylic does make a matte finish, but theres still a bit of sheen to it. I think it depends on how matte you want your pieces to be. Could be work exploring finishes since you'll definitely want to seal your work at the end!

[@julezny]

If you're painting two sides of a flat piece, do you have to let each side cure the full 24-48 hours before flipping and priming and/or painting the other side?

[@julezny]

For context, I plan to paint several Stuva drawer fronts.

[@aamc24]

I love your style, and thanks for the tips!

[@TheCraftedLife]

thank you so much! I'm so glad they were helpful!

[@boojeecloset]

Love this tutorial 🩷🩷 I have a few ikea tables I want to re-redo and this has helped a lot 🩵

[@TheCraftedLife]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad it was helpful! Best of luck on your project 💕

[@briannesimon5862]

Do the poly and primer smell/gas? Do they need to be done outside? Thank you!

[@TheCraftedLife]

I think painting outside is always preferable for ventilation! If you have to paint inside, be sure to at least have your windows open and be able to air out the space. Protective gear is always handy too!

[@reneenel4338]

Thank you for your very informative video. I have IKEA JOKKMOKK dining chairs which according to the IKEA website, are solid pine. What would the preparation process be for this kind of surface? Thank you.

[@TheCraftedLife]

So glad the video was informative! Is there any finish on the chair at all? If not, you can absolutely still follow these steps. The materials would all still work fine! If there's a finish (or shiny covering), you may just have to sand a bit better in the beginning to remove it.

[@Timetraveler1111MN]

You suggested sanding been primer with a satin finish and then paint it and then poly finish coat on top?

[@mariepoumeyrol9756]

for the color part, if you paint with the roller, you apply one coat or two? thank you in advaaaance! love your videos

[@mariepoumeyrol9756]

also how much time do you wait between a step and the next one? :)

[@TheCraftedLife]

Thank you so much! With a roller, you'll need two coats with the third being for touch ups. And for wait time, I did each step on a different day to allow time for the paint to cure. You can prime one day, paint the next. I would let the paint cure for at least a few days to help with long term durability!

[@mariepoumeyrol9756]

@@TheCraftedLife thank you!! 😍

[@Timetraveler1111MN]

What color did people paint theirs? I want to paint the scenery of nature from a place that’s like Scotland or beautiful scenery like Ireland this mountain I climbed. I just have a cheap particleboard to Door Small cabinet that I use for laundry 🧺

[@ami2846]

Is your desk made with an ikea worktop? I would love to know which one you used and how long it is. Thank you for the painting tips!

[@TheCraftedLife]

hi! It's actually plywood I had cut to size at the hardware store. I wrote a full post about the desk in case you want to recreate it yourself: thecraftedlife.com/custom-ikea-desk/

[@roksolanakohaykevych9975]

Im planning to paint my ikea pax sliding door the same colour as our walls. Would it be ok if i use Dulux wall paint? Thank you ❤

[@TheCraftedLife]

I love that idea!! I think you should be okay! What finish is the paint?

[@roksolanakohaykevych9975]

Silk Oatcream colour. Do you think I still should apply sealant at the end? I'm very excited to have it done 😊 thank you for your reply.

[@klaudiabzdel1614]

Oh great.... So sad that I didn't watch your video BEFORE I paint my whole Ikea kallax 4x4.... I was wondering why the surface is little bit sticky.... I didn't applied primer. But I used sand though.... Do you think that I can use protective finish and it will work?

[@TheCraftedLife]

Sorry I'm just seeing your comment! I unfortunately don't think the finish would be enough. One way to think about it is if the paint doesn't have the primer to stick to, anything on top of it would just slide off the same

[@jadricklata3658]

So helpful!!

[@TheCraftedLife]

I'm so glad!! Happy painting!

[@Dawkinzz]

Such great advice because I don't always love the default color options of IKEA furniture! Now I can paint it any way I want :)

[@TheCraftedLife]

yes!! We need more options than white and fake wood!

[@vilavg3657]

What do you suggest the process might be for IKEA metal or steel cabinets?

[@TheCraftedLife]

I haven't done it myself, but I think you would be fine to follow any DIY for painting metal (usually involves a different primer specific for metal, a different grade of sandpaper, and metal sealant). Sorry this isn't more helpful, but I hope your project turns out well!

[@gp745]

Is this method suitable for kitchen?

[@TheSeibold6]

Thank you ! What spray gun do you use ?

[@TheCraftedLife]

I used the Critter Spray Products 22032 118SG Siphon Gun, but it does need an air compressor!

[@graziellaperig]

How long does it take for the primer and painting to dry?

[@Colorousme95]

I've just finished painting a little ikea cabinet and want to seal it. Do I need to sand before I seal it or am I good to go once the paint is fully dry?

[@TheCraftedLife]

Oh how exciting!! I would say it really depends on the finish. If there are bumps or imperfections that you want to remove, sand. If not, I think you'd be good to seal!

[@Marobar2000]

Love your video, how many layers of primer do you recommend, is one enough?

[@TheCraftedLife]

Thank you so much!! So the piece I'm painting is white, I typically stick to one coat. If you're working with anything darker and are going to a lighter color, you might want to consider two coats just for better paint coverage. The BIN primer is thin and dries quickly, so you'll get a better sense after your first coat!

[@ladie45456]

Can we use paint that has primer instead of applying primer separately?

[@TheCraftedLife]

This is a great question! Unfortunately if the primer inside isn't shellac based, it will most likely just chip as well. They key is the shellac vs primer in general!

[@rekinekA]

Thank you😊

[@TheCraftedLife]

I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@cosplaydevotee]

I'm at my limit with this Shellac stuff. I've tried so many different paint brushes, foam rollers, and fluffier ones. It doesn't matter what I do, it makes a horrible finish. It looks like my driveway full of holes and obvious lines. What am I doing wrong? I've already confirmed the BIN primer is brand new from the paint store I purchased it from, the hand brushes make obvious lines, the fluffier brushes literally fall apart inside the Shellac and the foam ones you are using make blobs/globs of hard kernels that make the surface abrasive. 😭 Please help!

[@TheCraftedLife]

Oh no! I’m sorry you’re having trouble with application. Two things I would suggest: give it a light sanding once it’s dried overnight. You could also use a paint sprayer for a flawless finish!

[@JessicaCrafternoon]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@TheCraftedLife]

I hope this was helpful!! ❤️

[@therizz-z5r]

so i want to repaint my ikea desk because it has scratches and dents, what would u recommend I do to cover the scratches?

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

great question!! Are the scratches slight, surface level? Or are they a bit deeper? Just wondering if you could sand them out or if you would need to fill them

[@VictorGarcia-zd7ie]

Is the sealer needed? Like what happens if I don’t use the sealer ?

[@TheCraftedLife]

I think you should always seal your work! It adds longevity to your paint, protects it from scratches, and makes it easier to clean

[@VictorGarcia-zd7ie]

@@TheCraftedLife thank you for the advice!

[@Euphoric.Transcendence]

Does this apply to their metal frame furniture too? Like the vittsjö collection?

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

This tutorial is just for their particle board collections! Metal follows similar steps (sanding, priming, painting, and sealing), but you would use a different materials.

[@CaIIOut]

what grit sand paper do you use on the polycrylic step?

[@TheCraftedLife]

You want to be really fine (220 at the MOST, but you could use anywhere to 400). And sand gently by hand! You're in the finishing stages, so you don't really want to remove anything!

[@Jjlooking]

Is this true for the solid wood stained hemnes collection too?

[@TheCraftedLife]

Yes! The process could work. There's still a finish with the Hemnes collection. The Tarva line is untreated and could use any type of primer.

[@Jjlooking]

@@TheCraftedLife thank you that's actually more what I'm looking for. Looks like it's not available in my country though! Shame

[@TheCraftedLife]

@@Jjlooking Oh bummer!! Hoping they expand their collection soon!

[@gerrykenney3875]

How do you know if you have sanded enough?

[@TheCraftedLife]

Great question! You're really just scuffing up the surface (instead of trying to remove all the coating or smooth out like you would on a traditional wooden surface). If you rub your hand across the surface after a light sanding, you should be able to cover the surface of your hand with the dust. But you don't have to do more than that! Hopefully that helps!

[@kimballchristensen360]

Im painting a Tv stand and Ive primed but the edges won't adhere any suggestions?

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

Oh! Do you have the name of the tv stand? And do you mean the primer wont adhere to the edges of it or the paint?

[@picklejar462]

how long do i need to sand? how do i know when it’s done?

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

It's really just a light sand across the entire surface! You're not looking to remove the coating entirely; just scratch it up ever so slightly to give the primer something to stick to.

[@picklejar462]

@@RachelSmiththecraftedlifethank you!!

[@VTK72]

❤❤❤

[@AncientYouth64]

i'd either wrap a desk or but a new one

[@TheCraftedLife]

That's definitely the easier option! Painting the piece yourself gives you the ability to have a custom color that's perfect for your space

[@AncientYouth64]

@TheCraftedLife no hate I appreciate the skill and effort you have put in, nice job.

[@HeatherValentineMsFoodie]

Crap! I bought BULLS EYE 123 😢

[@stevej4328]

Painting IKEA furniture isn’t easy as if you do it before building then good luck with getting it all to connect together. Any areas where the paint has gathered will cause you a headache when it comes to building it. I had to hammer areas just to get it all to fit together. Not good. Absolutely best to spray paint a very light coat.

[@TheCraftedLife]

I'm sorry you had an issue putting everything together! It definitely helps to not paint over where the hardware will go. Spray paint unfortunately will chip if you don't prime or follow the process I mentioned.

[@itsme_kseniia]

thank you for the advices 🫶🏻 can’t wait to start a great makeover for my flat☺️

[@RachelSmiththecraftedlife]

You're so welcome!! Good luck with the makeover!