Hello everyone,
I would like to professionally repaint my Malm furniture from IKEA because I no longer like the original finish and want to give it a new look. It is important to me that the paint job is durable and even, without bubbles forming later or the surface becoming matte instead of glossy.
What is the best process for preparing the surface? Do I need to completely sand off the original paint, or is it enough to just roughen it? Which types of paint are best suited – acrylic, polyurethane (PU) paint, or nitrocellulose? And what about the individual layers: primer, intermediate coat, topcoat?
Another important aspect is the drying time and whether it is better to use spray paint or a brush.
I look forward to your tips, preferably from your own experience! Thank you very much!
I would like to professionally repaint my Malm furniture from IKEA because I no longer like the original finish and want to give it a new look. It is important to me that the paint job is durable and even, without bubbles forming later or the surface becoming matte instead of glossy.
What is the best process for preparing the surface? Do I need to completely sand off the original paint, or is it enough to just roughen it? Which types of paint are best suited – acrylic, polyurethane (PU) paint, or nitrocellulose? And what about the individual layers: primer, intermediate coat, topcoat?
Another important aspect is the drying time and whether it is better to use spray paint or a brush.
I look forward to your tips, preferably from your own experience! Thank you very much!
Hi goran44,
“How exactly should I proceed with surface preparation?” – Definitely start by sanding the paint, not just roughening it up. Malm furniture often has a melamine coating, which can be tricky. It’s best to sand the surface lightly with 180-grit sandpaper until it’s matte, otherwise nothing will adhere properly. Then remove the dust thoroughly, or you’ll run into problems.
Regarding paint: PU (polyurethane) paint is very durable and looks great, but you’ll need good ventilation because it has a strong odor. Acrylic paint is easier and more user-friendly, ideal for beginners as well. Nitro paint dries quickly but is less durable and better suited for professionals.
Primer is essential to ensure adhesion. It’s best to use a bonding primer designed for plastics/melamine.
Layer structure: primer, light sanding between coats, then 2-3 layers of topcoat. You can spray the paint for a smoother finish. Using a brush is possible but leaves more texture.
Make sure to follow drying times carefully to avoid tackiness or spotting.
Good luck, and equip yourself with good tools to make the process enjoyable! 🙂
“How exactly should I proceed with surface preparation?” – Definitely start by sanding the paint, not just roughening it up. Malm furniture often has a melamine coating, which can be tricky. It’s best to sand the surface lightly with 180-grit sandpaper until it’s matte, otherwise nothing will adhere properly. Then remove the dust thoroughly, or you’ll run into problems.
Regarding paint: PU (polyurethane) paint is very durable and looks great, but you’ll need good ventilation because it has a strong odor. Acrylic paint is easier and more user-friendly, ideal for beginners as well. Nitro paint dries quickly but is less durable and better suited for professionals.
Primer is essential to ensure adhesion. It’s best to use a bonding primer designed for plastics/melamine.
Layer structure: primer, light sanding between coats, then 2-3 layers of topcoat. You can spray the paint for a smoother finish. Using a brush is possible but leaves more texture.
Make sure to follow drying times carefully to avoid tackiness or spotting.
Good luck, and equip yourself with good tools to make the process enjoyable! 🙂
F
FABIAN_DEO8 Jun 2017 20:12Hello goran44,
I would like to go into more detail here, as the topic "properly painting Malm furniture" requires more than just general tips.
First, regarding preparation: The doors and surfaces of Malm furniture are usually coated with melamine resin or laminate. This means the surface is very smooth and not naturally suitable for painting. Therefore, you should carefully sand it first using 180-grit sandpaper. Important: Do not sand too roughly, as you can damage the surface, but also not too lightly, because otherwise the paint will not adhere properly.
Afterwards, remove the sanding dust very thoroughly with an anti-static cloth. Next comes the primer — I recommend a bonding primer specifically for plastics. Alternatively, adhesion primers are suitable to help the coating adhere well.
Once the primer is fully dry, sand it with very fine 320-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface. You should then spray the paint in several thin layers. Polyurethane-based paint is very durable, but requires patience during application because it needs longer drying times and good ventilation.
If you don’t have a spray gun and want to use spray cans, make sure to apply thin layers to avoid runs or bubbles. Brushing is less ideal because brush marks might remain visible and the finish won’t be as smooth.
Finally, once all paint layers are completely cured, you should treat them with very fine sanding fleece or 1500-grit wet sandpaper, and optionally finish with polishing compound if you want a high-gloss result.
One more question: Which rooms or furniture pieces exactly do you want to paint? If you plan to use furniture on floors, durable paints are especially important.
Best regards!
I would like to go into more detail here, as the topic "properly painting Malm furniture" requires more than just general tips.
First, regarding preparation: The doors and surfaces of Malm furniture are usually coated with melamine resin or laminate. This means the surface is very smooth and not naturally suitable for painting. Therefore, you should carefully sand it first using 180-grit sandpaper. Important: Do not sand too roughly, as you can damage the surface, but also not too lightly, because otherwise the paint will not adhere properly.
Afterwards, remove the sanding dust very thoroughly with an anti-static cloth. Next comes the primer — I recommend a bonding primer specifically for plastics. Alternatively, adhesion primers are suitable to help the coating adhere well.
Once the primer is fully dry, sand it with very fine 320-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface. You should then spray the paint in several thin layers. Polyurethane-based paint is very durable, but requires patience during application because it needs longer drying times and good ventilation.
If you don’t have a spray gun and want to use spray cans, make sure to apply thin layers to avoid runs or bubbles. Brushing is less ideal because brush marks might remain visible and the finish won’t be as smooth.
Finally, once all paint layers are completely cured, you should treat them with very fine sanding fleece or 1500-grit wet sandpaper, and optionally finish with polishing compound if you want a high-gloss result.
One more question: Which rooms or furniture pieces exactly do you want to paint? If you plan to use furniture on floors, durable paints are especially important.
Best regards!
Hello everyone,
I can only agree with the previous contributor and would like to add from my experience that preparation is key. Especially with Malm furniture, I experienced some frustration at first because I didn’t sand enough.
I fully agree with that.
What helped me: after sanding, wipe the surface with a damp cloth. This quickly shows if you’ve sanded everything matt. If there are still shiny spots, sand again.
For me, this step significantly improved the result — sanding the primer after the first drying to create a smooth base for the topcoat.
Good luck, goran44! With a bit of patience, it will work out great, and the result is well worth the effort. 🙂
I can only agree with the previous contributor and would like to add from my experience that preparation is key. Especially with Malm furniture, I experienced some frustration at first because I didn’t sand enough.
barge schrieb:
Definitely start by sanding the paint, not just roughening the surface. [...] It’s best to sand the surface matt with 180 grit sandpaper; otherwise, nothing will adhere properly.
I fully agree with that.
What helped me: after sanding, wipe the surface with a damp cloth. This quickly shows if you’ve sanded everything matt. If there are still shiny spots, sand again.
FABIAN_DEO schrieb:
Then use an antistatic cloth to remove the sanding dust thoroughly.
Once you let the primer dry properly, sand it with very fine 320 grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface.
For me, this step significantly improved the result — sanding the primer after the first drying to create a smooth base for the topcoat.
Good luck, goran44! With a bit of patience, it will work out great, and the result is well worth the effort. 🙂
B
barEsperan9 Jun 2017 10:03Lightly sand Malm furniture with 180-grit sandpaper before painting. Apply a primer. After drying, lightly sand again with 320-grit sandpaper. Spray at least 2 coats of topcoat. Strictly follow the drying times.
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