ᐅ How can you give IKEA BRIMNES furniture a new look with DIY?

Hello everyone,

I am currently exploring how to give IKEA Brimnes furniture a new, personalized look through DIY methods. My idea is to enhance simple pieces like dressers or bed frames to match one’s personal style—without needing extensive carpentry skills or rebuilding the furniture from scratch. I am particularly interested in which materials (e.g., paints, laminates, handles) work best, how to achieve a clean finish that lasts, and whether there are specific techniques that are especially recommended. Maybe someone has already done DIY projects with BRIMNES or knows practical tips for making the relatively neutral, standard design more exciting. I would appreciate any advice or ideas, including comments on effort and durability. How can IKEA BRIMNES furniture be given a new look through DIY?

To effectively and permanently give IKEA BRIMNES furniture a new look with DIY, a combination of the following measures is recommended:

- Surface Preparation: Carefully sand the furniture, ideally using fine sandpaper (grit 220), to ensure better adhesion of new paint or finishes.
- Paint/Finish: Acrylic paint or chalk paint work well and are easy to apply. For long-lasting protection, a clear topcoat is recommended.
- Replace Handles: Swapping out handles for metal or wooden replacements significantly changes the character.
- Films or Wallpaper: Self-adhesive furniture films or decorative wallpaper on the front panels offer quick visual updates.

It is important to focus on thorough preparation to ensure the changes last. For a clean look, matte finishes are often better, as glossy surfaces tend to highlight wear more quickly.

You can sand the furniture, paint it, and replace the handles. Adhesive films are also an easy solution.

The idea of customizing IKEA BRIMNES furniture with DIY projects is fantastic! I would especially recommend starting by thoroughly cleaning the surface and lightly sanding it to ensure better adhesion for paint or adhesive films. Chalk paint is popular because it provides good coverage and gives the furniture a modern, slightly rustic look.

If you prefer not to use lacquer, heavily used areas can also be treated with wax, which protects and adds a pleasant texture.

Changing the handles can also make a significant visual impact. There are many options available in copper, brass, or even ceramic, which can give the furniture a completely different style.

If you enjoy upcycling or deliberately creating contrasts, try using different shades for the frame and front panels. This can create interesting effects.

I painted a BRIMNES shelf myself using chalk paint and replaced the handles with handmade wooden ones. At first, I wasn’t sure if just roughening the surface would be enough or if I needed to put in more work. The result really impressed me – it feels much more unique.

Sometimes we put too much pressure on having perfectly smooth surfaces. The main thing is that the paint holds well and the piece fits the feel of the room.

So: go ahead and don’t let doubts hold you back.

Don’t be misled into thinking you have to put a lot of effort into significantly transforming BRIMNES furniture. Often, simply covering the surface with a striking adhesive film and fitting unique handles is enough – and done. I find the traditional “sanding and painting” method often overrated, especially for inexpensive plastic materials like those used in BRIMNES.

So why not choose a minimalist approach and avoid overcomplicating things?

Sometimes less is more – pure design frugality can also look very stylish.