ᐅ After Painting, the KALLAX Has the Wrong Gloss Level – What Can Be Done?

After painting my IKEA KALLAX shelf, I had an issue with the surface sheen – I wanted to achieve a matte to satin finish, but somehow the result always looks either too glossy or too dull, depending on which clear coat I use. I have also tried different types of varnish, from polyurethane to acrylic lacquer, but none really match the desired sheen. My question to you is: How can I achieve a consistent, suitable sheen on my painted KALLAX shelf? Are there any specific tips or types of varnish that work particularly well? And what should I generally pay attention to during surface preparation and application to control and reproduce the desired sheen? I sanded the shelf thoroughly beforehand and made sure the surface was dust-free. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello Zikmund51,

First of all, great job sanding and cleaning the shelf thoroughly before painting—that's essential for achieving an even finish.

Regarding your issue with the gloss level: There are generally different types of clear coats (such as glossy, satin, and matte), each providing a base level of gloss. If you’re still not getting the desired gloss, several factors could be responsible:

1. Type of paint: Acrylic finishes tend to be more matte, while polyurethane finishes can offer higher gloss. Make sure you select the right clear coat with the gloss level you want.

2. Number of coats: Applying more layers usually increases the gloss. For a very matte finish, a single thin coat is often sufficient.

3. Sanding between coats: Lightly sanding between layers using very fine sandpaper (for example, grit 400–600) helps prevent glossy bumps and results in a matte or even finish.

4. Application method: Spraying often delivers a more uniform result than brushing or rolling.

In summary: Choose a clear coat with the gloss level you prefer, apply thin layers, sand gently between coats, and keep your application method consistent. This approach should help you control the gloss level effectively.

Good luck!

LOJOPAR schrieb:
Basically, there are different types of clear coats (e.g., gloss, satin, matte), which always define the base level of gloss.

Exactly, that is the most important point. If the paint itself was not purchased in the correct gloss level, it is very difficult to adjust the gloss afterward.

Another fact: KALLAX furniture is made from particleboard-like material with a melamine coating. This surface must be thoroughly sanded and degreased to ensure optimal paint adhesion. Poor adhesion can also result in uneven gloss.

For a matte finish, I recommend explicitly using a mattifying clear coat and avoiding excessive layers, as multiple coats tend to increase gloss.

Hey Zikmund51, that already sounds quite specific! 🙂

It’s also important to let each coat of paint or lacquer fully dry before applying the next one. Especially with a matte finish, doing a light sanding polish at the end with an ultra-fine sanding pad can really help – it makes the surface wonderfully even and reduces the shine even more!

I once did this with my KALLAX and was very happy with the result! You can really control the sheen, it’s not accidental.

Keep at it, it’s going to turn out great!

If you can’t find the right gloss level, try a test coating on a similar board with different types of paint and gloss levels. This way, you can quickly see what works best.

Zikmund51 schrieb:
My question to you: How can I achieve a consistent, matching gloss level on my painted KALLAX shelf? Are there any specific tips or types of paint that work particularly well?

I want to go into a bit more detail here because the materials and painting processes are often underestimated.

The IKEA KALLAX is made of particleboard with a melamine resin-coated surface. This surface is extremely smooth and has a satin to glossy finish, which makes applying paint more difficult because paints adhere poorly to it.

Steps I recommend:

1. Sanding: Lightly sand the surface with at least grit 220–320 sandpaper. Don’t sand too aggressively, or you will damage the top layer.

2. Degreasing: Clean thoroughly with a suitable solvent (e.g., isopropanol) because otherwise, the paint will not adhere evenly.

3. Primer/adhesion promoter: Some acrylic paints have poor adhesion without a primer; here I recommend a primer suitable for melamine surfaces.

4. Paint type: For matte or satin finishes, water-based acrylic paints designed especially for furniture work well. With polyurethane (PU) paints, matte finishes are less common as they usually dry glossier.

5. Application: Apply several thin coats instead of one thick one. Lightly sand between coats with grit 400–600.

6. Final treatment: If the paint seems too glossy, you can polish it with ultrafine abrasive pads or use special matting pastes.

Ask yourself if you know exactly which paints you have used—that could help further!