ᐅ What should I keep in mind when painting Ikea Brimnes furniture?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to paint my Ikea Brimnes bedroom furniture set to give it a more personalized look. My question is: What should I absolutely keep in mind when doing this?

I have done some research and know that the surfaces are often melamine-coated, but I am unsure whether I need to sand them first or apply a primer. Are there specific types of paint that adhere better? How should I treat edges and corners, which are often tricky?

Has anyone had experience with this exact type of furniture and can offer tips on which preparation steps are really worthwhile and what should be avoided?

Thanks in advance!

nongi3 schrieb:
I am planning to paint my Ikea Brimnes bedroom furniture set to give it a personalized look.

Very nice project! When painting Ikea Brimnes furniture, which actually has a melamine or foil-coated surface, preparation is crucial. Generally, I recommend the following steps:

- First, you need to sand the surface thoroughly, ideally with fine sandpaper (grit 220 to 320), to roughen the smooth, glossy layer. This improves the paint adhesion.
- After that, a primer is essential—specifically one designed for plastics or melamine-coated furniture (for example, a bonding primer based on alkyd or acrylic).
- For the paint, I recommend water-based acrylic paints, which are easy to apply and more environmentally friendly. Keep in mind, you should lightly sand between each coat.
- Pay special attention to sanding edges and corners carefully, as the foil can be thinner there and may peel off more easily.

One last note: before painting the entire piece, be sure to test on an inconspicuous area.

I would also be interested to know how you plan to apply the paint—brush, roller, or spray? Depending on that, I can give you more tips.

Dilen schrieb:
When painting Ikea Brimnes furniture, which actually has a melamine or laminate surface, preparation is key.

I can only agree! I also tried painting a Brimnes door without thorough sanding and without a proper primer – the result was very frustrating because the paint started peeling off after a while.

I would also pay attention to the type of paint you choose. Water-based paints are great because they are environmentally friendly, but I sometimes had issues with durability, especially on edges and corners. In one case, I tried alkyd paint, which holds up better but has a stronger odor.

Another thing I learned: the room where you paint should be well-ventilated and as dust-free as possible. Otherwise, you can quickly get tiny dust particles in the fresh paint.

I want to encourage you—it will get better the more careful you are. I know the feeling of being afraid to mess something up. But it’s definitely worth the effort!

Hello,

here is a brief, structured guide, as the correct procedure makes a big difference:

1. Cleaning: Thoroughly degrease furniture with a mild all-purpose cleaner (e.g., alcohol or special cleaning wipes for furniture).
2. Sanding: Lightly roughen the melamine surface using 220 grit sandpaper. Avoid sanding too aggressively to prevent damaging the surface.
3. Remove sanding dust: Wipe off dust from edges and surfaces with a damp cloth and, if needed, a brush.
4. Priming: Apply an adhesion primer – specifically designed for plastics or melamine-coated surfaces. Pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions and drying times!
5. Intermediate sanding: After priming, lightly sand with 320 grit sandpaper.
6. Painting: Use acrylic paint (water-based) or alkyd paint depending on the desired durability. Apply preferably in several thin layers and allow to dry thoroughly.

My tip: If you plan to use multi-component paints, be very precise with the mixing ratios. Mistakes often occur during application.

In conclusion: Handle coating on edges with care, as the paint is most vulnerable there.

Jensson schrieb:
6. Painting: Use acrylic paint (water-based) or alkyd paint depending on desired durability.

I have to disagree here. Most DIY experts recommend water-based paint, but honestly, it doesn’t hold up very well over the years on furniture surfaces with minimal texture.

For me, it makes much more sense to use a high-quality 2K polyurethane (PU) paint from the start. It may be a bit more demanding to apply, but it’s unbeatable in terms of durability and longevity, especially on heavily used furniture parts like drawer fronts.

Also: Sure, you need to sand, but not too much! If you treat the melamine-hard finish too aggressively, you damage the surface and risk moisture penetration. That can actually lead to blistering. A very light intermediate sanding with very fine sandpaper followed by the right primer is the way to go.

So, if you want something robust for the long term: water-based systems are a nice experiment, but for everyday furniture use, I only trust professional-grade paints!