ᐅ Are there special paints or finishes recommended for Malm furniture?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to repaint some Malm furniture (IKEA dressers) to give them a more personalized look. I’m wondering: are there actually special paints that work particularly well on Malm furniture, or can I simply use standard wood or all-purpose paints?

My main concerns are durability and achieving a smooth, even surface without bubbles or cracks. Does anyone have experience with suitable paints for this specific type of furniture, or are there special preparations needed to get a good result?

I look forward to your tips and advice!

bubipeo schrieb:
Are there really special paints that work particularly well for Malm furniture?

Oh yes, combining Malm furniture with paint can be a bit of an adventure! These pieces often have a melamine coating or veneer, so many standard paints won’t adhere very well.

Personally, I recommend acrylic paints designed specifically for coated surfaces. They adhere best and are less likely to bubble.

If you want to make things easier, definitely sand the surface lightly beforehand, but not too deeply. Otherwise, it gets tricky with the veneer.

A little tip: a matte acrylic paint also creates a super modern finish if you’re looking for something cool ;-)

I am very familiar with this problem. Some time ago, I tried painting Malm dressers using conventional wood lacquer. However, after a while, the paint didn’t adhere well and developed unattractive chips.

meGreg schrieb:
Personally, I recommend acrylic paints specifically designed for coated surfaces.

I can confirm that as well. For a laminated surface, you really need paints that adhere strongly.

Additionally, the furniture should be thoroughly dusted after lightly sanding and primed with an adhesion primer to ensure better durability.

Do you have any tips on the best way to prepare the surface? I wasn’t completely satisfied with my approach back then.

Here is a summary of some optimal steps for painting Malm furniture:

1. Clean the surface thoroughly: Remove grease and dust carefully, for example with a mild detergent and follow up with alcohol treatment.

2. Lightly sand with fine sandpaper (grit 220–320) to slightly roughen the glossy foil. Avoid sanding too much to prevent moisture infiltration.

3. Use a primer: Apply an adhesion promoter specifically designed for plastics or foils (e.g., plastic primer).

4. Paint with an acrylic paint suitable for foils or plastics (available at hardware stores, often labeled as "bonds to plastic").

5. When applying multiple coats, sand lightly and remove dust between layers.

In my experience, this method achieves good durability and a smooth finish.

Important: Avoid oil-based paints as they can peel off or damage the foil.

Good luck!

Regular wood paints rarely work well on Malm furniture because the surface is laminated.

It’s best to use acrylic paints specifically designed for laminated or plastic surfaces.

Don’t forget the primer.

I would also recommend using only special plastic coatings.

If you work with mixed paints, you often get bubbles or uneven layers.

Preparation is key: clean, sand, apply a primer – then it will work well.