ᐅ Which paints are suitable for painting Ikea HEMNES furniture?

Hello everyone, I am planning to paint some of my Ikea Hemnes furniture myself but am unsure which types of paint work best to achieve a long-lasting, good-quality result. My furniture is made of solid pine, partly with a surface that is lightly lacquered or oiled. I want to avoid the paint peeling or looking uneven after a short time. It should also be considered that the furniture is frequently used, so the paint needs to be durable.

Does anyone know of suitable paint types and brands that are especially good for painting Hemnes furniture? What kind of preparation is recommended, and are there specific shades that stand out? I am also interested in whether chalk paint or acrylic paint is better, particularly regarding durability and appearance.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

jogladston schrieb:
It should also be considered that the furniture is often used, so the paint needs to be durable.

This is exactly the crux of the matter: Many people choose chalk paints purely for stylistic reasons without realizing that they are not suitable for surfaces that are frequently used. In my opinion, it’s a waste of time and money if constant touch-ups are needed.

So why not go for a good, matte acrylic lacquer right from the start? It dries quickly, is durable, and relatively environmentally friendly. Another advantage: with good lacquer, you can also choose warm, homely colors without sacrificing strong color changes—especially for a classic like HEMNES.

Of course, painting with lacquer is not easy if you have no experience, but the results are more long-lasting. Chalk paints look nice, but only if the furniture is hardly used afterwards.

For clarification: Ikea HEMNES furniture is typically made of solid pine wood with a thin clear lacquer or glaze layer. For painting, the following preparation steps are important:
- Lightly sand the furniture to roughen the surface
- Thoroughly remove dust
- Use a primer, preferably alkyd- or acrylic-based, to ensure good adhesion
- Then apply a high-quality wood paint (acrylic or alkyd varnish) that is durable

Chalk paints are decorative but usually require a protective sealant, such as hard wax or clear lacquer, because they are otherwise not sufficiently abrasion-resistant. Anyone using chalk paints should therefore not skip the additional sealing step.

Overall, a matte or satin-finish acrylic varnish is most suitable for surfaces on furniture intended for use.

I would like to provide a brief guide that can help when choosing the paint and painting HEMNES furniture:

1. Preparation:
- Disassemble the furniture if possible for easier handling.
- Sanding: Start with fine sandpaper (P120–P150) to prepare the surface for the new finish. For painted surfaces, lightly sand the topcoat to ensure better adhesion of the new paint.
- Remove dust thoroughly, preferably with a damp cloth.

2. Primer:
- Use an appropriate wood primer on solid wood and varnished surfaces. This improves the durability of the topcoat.

3. Paint application:
- For high durability, I recommend a water-based acrylic paint with a matte finish.
- Alternatively, chalk paints can be used if an additional protective layer of hard wax or clear varnish is applied.

4. Drying and post-treatment:
- Allow paint layers to dry completely.
- Optionally, apply an additional protective layer (e.g., polyurethane varnish) if the furniture will undergo heavy use.

Common issues:
- Applying paint layers that are too thick can lead to flaking.
- Using no suitable primer causes poor paint adhesion.

Conclusion: The choice of paint should depend on the use and wear of the furniture. For frequently used pieces, a durable acrylic paint with primer is recommended.

Thank you for the helpful explanations so far! A few months ago, I also painted HEMNES furniture and was unsure about the paint choice.

At that time, I decided on a high-quality chalk paint because I like the matte vintage look. However, it was important for me to seal the furniture afterwards with hard wax. This way, they not only look great but are also durable enough for everyday use. The surface also feels good when cleaning; nothing peels or comes off.

So, when it comes to paint and practical usability, from my experience I can say: paint alone isn’t everything, the sealant makes the difference. However, you should be aware that chalk paint without protection is quickly vulnerable.

Acrylic paint works best when the wood is properly prepared. After sanding, apply a primer followed by two thin coats of paint. This provides long-lasting protection, looks good, and is easy to clean.