ᐅ How can I make an IKEA Hemnes DIY project more sustainable?

Hello everyone,

I’m currently exploring ways to make my IKEA Hemnes furniture more sustainable as part of a DIY project. I’m especially interested in options to enhance the durability, resource efficiency, and ideally the environmental friendliness of the furniture.

My goal is not only to improve the appearance but also to enhance the material quality through additional measures or to use natural wood protection methods.

How do you approach this? Do you have any tips on which products work best for treating the Hemnes series, or suggestions for replacing individual parts with more sustainable materials?

Thank you in advance for your ideas and experiences!

Hello Toleke,

to make the IKEA Hemnes furniture more sustainable, I recommend the following steps:

- Surface treatment with natural oils such as linseed oil or beeswax instead of synthetic varnishes. This protects the wood and is environmentally friendly.
- Replace metal handles with ones made from recycled or sustainable materials.
- Carry out repairs yourself to extend the furniture’s lifespan.
- Sand and refinish parts as needed to prevent wear.

If you want to change the color of the furniture, I suggest using solvent-free wood stains or chalk-based paints with natural ingredients.

In addition to REOHEINRIC’s suggestions, I can offer the following advice:

- Use environmentally friendly sanding methods, such as sandpaper made from sustainable sources.
- When building furniture yourself, replace the chipboard used by IKEA in auxiliary furniture with solid wood.
- When purchasing varnishes or oils, look for certifications like "Blue Angel" or "ECOLABEL."

This way, you can significantly improve the environmental footprint of your furniture.

This is a great topic, thanks for bringing it up! For me, sustainability with Hemnes is not just about the material, but also the emotional connection to the piece of furniture.

Some time ago, I treated my dresser with natural linseed oil after carefully sanding it down — the result was very satisfying. This significantly extends the maintenance intervals. However, I was also concerned about whether I would change the character of the wood.

How do you handle altering the surface? Does the natural quality of the wood matter more to you than a perfect finish?

elgla schrieb:
But I was also concerned about changing the character of the wood.

That’s a very good question. I think preserving the natural character of the wood is important to me, but I also want to protect the furniture in the long term. Maybe it’s a matter of using the right product and technique – for example, applying only very thin layers.

What are your experiences with different types of oils or waxes that maintain the natural appearance?

Linseed oil preserves the natural character of the wood better than wax, which can appear darker. For water protection, simply apply several thin layers of linseed oil and allow each to dry thoroughly.