ᐅ How can I easily paint IKEA Hemnes furniture with minimal effort?

Hello everyone, I would like to paint some of my IKEA Hemnes furniture to refresh their appearance. However, I don’t have the time or patience for extensive preparation and lengthy painting processes. Therefore, I’m interested in how to paint these Hemnes pieces with as little effort as possible without compromising the results. I’m especially looking for advice on simple preparation, suitable types of paint, and tips on how to avoid the need for tedious sanding or priming. What approach would you recommend for someone who expects a good outcome but wants to keep the effort as low as possible?

Hi, it’s best to lightly roughen the surface with a sanding pad before painting to help the paint adhere better. Then use a good primer, after which you can apply acrylic paint or water-based lacquer directly. This saves time and effort.

Hello RICOFAR, your question is very well considered, and I understand this well when you don’t want to spend too much effort. Hemnes has quite smooth surfaces, so usually sanding with fine sandpaper (P180–P220) is sufficient. Then use a special primer designed to adhere to MDF or veneered surfaces, which is often solvent-based. This allows you to paint directly over with high-quality acrylic paint in the desired color.

Make sure not to apply paint too thickly; it’s better to use several thin layers. For painting, good foam rollers or high-quality brushes are suitable. This method helps you avoid time-consuming stripping or complicated sanding down to the bare wood.

If you want to save time: clean the furniture thoroughly before painting, for example by wiping with a degreaser or a cloth soaked in denatured alcohol. This significantly improves adhesion without much effort.

RON57 schrieb:
Then use a special primer that adheres to MDF or veneered surfaces; this is often solvent-based.

That sounds reasonable, but isn’t solvent-based problematic in terms of odor and environmental impact? I wonder if there are equally effective water-based alternatives that produce less odor yet still ensure proper adhesion. Also, I’m curious whether it’s really necessary to use a primer 100% of the time on IKEA Hemnes furniture, or if there are paints that can adhere directly. There seem to be very conflicting opinions on this here.

Hello, I can confirm this from my experience: If you take the time for cleaning and light sanding, a good water-based primer is often enough to create a solid base for adhesion. Especially with Hemnes-style furniture that has a smooth surface, the paint often does not last if you skip this step. Nowadays, there are very high-quality renovation paints suitable for furniture that can be applied directly – but they work best with some preparation beforehand (sanding and cleaning), even if no primer is needed.

Those who want to avoid sanding entirely usually risk poor adhesion and won’t be satisfied with the result in the long run. I would still recommend investing the effort, because when done properly, it lasts for years.

You can also use spray paints that are specifically designed for furniture. These often have good coverage and require minimal preparation. Just clean and lightly sand – nothing more. The process is quite fast and results in an even finish.