ᐅ Renovating Malm Furniture Yourself – Is It Possible?

Hello everyone,

I’ve been considering refurbishing my IKEA Malm furniture for a while now, as I want to refresh the look a bit. However, I’m wondering how practical this really is. The surfaces are usually laminated or painted—what does that mean for refurbishment? What types of preparation, sanding, or priming are necessary to ensure that new paint or varnish adheres well and doesn’t peel off?

Also, I’m curious if regular DIY paints from a hardware store are suitable, or if there are special products recommended for this type of furniture material. Has anyone had experience with the durability of such refurbishments or any issues like blistering or cracking with Malm furniture?

And how does the effort compare with buying new furniture? I would like to get a clear idea of the work and materials involved to weigh up whether it’s worthwhile.

Thanks in advance for well-informed opinions and helpful tips!

MALM furniture usually has a smooth foil surface. This must first be mechanically roughened; otherwise, paint will not adhere. Afterwards, apply a primer and then use acrylic paint. DIY store paints are often too weak.

The effort is considerable but doable.

KESIRI schrieb:
MALM furniture usually has a smooth film surface.

That is true; however, I believe the common advice that you absolutely must sand the film is somewhat oversimplified. There is also the question of the proper sanding technique, as sanding too much can damage the film.

It should also be kept in mind that MALM is known for its low prices mainly because of the materials used. The fact that these pieces require a lot of preparation during renovation can certainly be seen as a counterargument to whether the effort is worthwhile at all – often, the end results aren’t as durable as with solid wood.

What are your experiences with the long-term durability of renovations on furniture with film surfaces? Is this more of a temporary solution, or can it truly be done permanently?

Hello gladoreen,

I would like to summarize what to consider when renovating MALM furniture on your own:

1. Understand the material: MALM furniture is usually made of particleboard with a plastic laminate surface. This laminate is quite smooth and prevents paint from adhering properly if not pretreated correctly.

2. Preparation: It is important to lightly sand the surface. Fine sandpaper with a grit of 220 to 320 is recommended; work carefully to avoid sanding off the entire laminate.

3. Cleaning: After sanding, thoroughly clean the surface to remove all dust and grease, otherwise dirt will get trapped under the paint and affect durability.

4. Primer: Applying an adhesion-promoting primer (e.g., acrylic or synthetic resin primer) is essential for good paint adhesion.

5. Paint application: For furniture, I recommend high-quality acrylic enamel or specialized furniture paint. Standard store-brand paints are sometimes too thin or not durable enough.

6. Multiple coats: Depending on coverage and color, 2 to 3 coats may be necessary. Lightly sanding between coats with fine sandpaper improves the finish.

7. Drying time: Allow each coat to dry fully to avoid cracking or blistering.

8. Protective topcoat: Optionally, a matte or gloss clear coat can be applied to protect the surface, depending on your preferred finish.

Conclusion: Renovation is technically feasible but requires patience, careful work, and suitable products. A simple overcoat without preparation will not hold. Whether the effort is worthwhile depends on the condition of the furniture and personal expectations.

With good preparation and technique, the result can last several years, but it is not comparable to the durability of high-quality solid wood.

If you are interested, I can also offer tips on the best products to use.