ᐅ After a family gathering, the Kallax unit got scratched – any tips for repairing the finish?

Hello everyone,

A few days ago, I had a family gathering at my home, and unfortunately something unpleasant happened: my white painted Kallax shelving unit got quite scratched on the outer frame and visible surfaces. The family was quite lively, and I assume that keys or rings lying around caused the damage.

I would like to know what painting tips you can give me to repair or at least conceal the scratches. Are there special repair kits for painted surfaces of Kallax or similar furniture? Is it better to brush, paint, or use a special touch-up pen?

The scratches vary in depth; some are rather superficial, others a bit deeper. The surface is quite smooth and glossy.

I look forward to your experiences and advice, including recommendations for the right tools, suitable paint types, drying times, and possibly useful surface preparation steps. Thanks in advance!

Kone6 schrieb:
The scratches vary in depth; some are rather superficial, while others go a bit deeper.

This is important information because the approach depends on it. For superficial scratches, a gentle cleaning followed by polishing with a special care product for synthetic resin surfaces is recommended.

For deeper scratches, I suggest the following:
1. First, very carefully sand the area with fine sandpaper (grit 400-600) to remove loose paint residues without damaging the particleboard.
2. Then, apply a primer suitable for plastic surfaces, since Kallax is usually a particleboard coated with melamine resin.
3. After that, I often use acrylic paint in the matching color (e.g., Pure White RAL 9010). It is important to ensure good coverage and a finish ranging from satin to glossy.
4. Apply the paint preferably with a fine brush or a foam roller to minimize brush marks.
5. Once dry (at least 12 hours), a second coat can be applied.

Important: Please test the paint first on an inconspicuous spot. And if there are multiple smaller scratches, it’s better to work section by section to avoid color differences.

I’m curious how exactly your Kallax is painted or coated? Original Kallax has a melamine resin coating, which requires different treatment compared to classic acrylic or synthetic resin paint.

Johnathon schrieb:
Kallax has a melamine resin coating, which requires different treatment than traditional acrylic or synthetic resin paint.

Exactly, the most important thing to know upfront: IKEA Kallax features a melamine resin surface that is very resistant to scratches but cannot be easily repainted if severely damaged.

For minor surface scratches, the following helps:
- Gentle cleaning (with a mild cleaner or mineral spirits)
- Then polishing with a standard furniture polish that fills in micro-scratches

For deeper scratches, there are no conventional touch-up pens that reliably adhere to melamine long-term. My recommendation is:
- Carefully smooth the scratch with fine abrasive pads (around grit 800–1000)
- If needed, try using a specialized melamine repair pen from a furniture specialist store

Alternatively, furniture wax or spray wax can be applied. Complete repainting, however, is labor-intensive and rarely feasible with typical DIY methods; in such cases, consider either applying a laminate film or replacing the affected parts.

Therefore, I suggest starting with cleaning and polishing, and for very significant damage, seek professional help or replacement.

Kone6 schrieb:
The family was quite lively, and I guess keys or rings lying around caused the damage.

Oh dear, sounds like there was quite a bit of activity! 😉 I had something similar last year with my Kallax; a furniture touch-up pen from a well-known store did the trick. The color matched quite well, and after a few days I planned to gently polish the spots to soften the transition.

My advice: Don’t stress too much about repainting the entire surface—it usually leads to a worse result. It’s better to fix small blemishes spot by spot.

At the same time, I would recommend kindly asking the family members to keep keys and jewelry away from the shelf in the future—that saves a lot of trouble.

And a little bonus tip: you can use furniture wax (available with a slight sheen) as a finish; it refreshes the white nicely and protects against new scratches. 🙂

Hello Kone6,

I’d like to add that repairing melamine resin-coated furniture, like the Kallax, requires some careful handling.

If you decide to use a touch-up pen, be sure to match the color shade precisely. It’s best to test with a sample pen (available from some manufacturers) before applying the final treatment to ensure the color fits perfectly.

Also, after applying a repair paint or touch-up pen, the surface in the repaired area should be treated gently—meaning no harsh cleaning agents or vigorous rubbing.

If the surface has a slight gloss, a transparent, matte, or semi-gloss protective finish is recommended to make the paint look more uniform.

And if none of this works, Kallax shelves can also be covered with adhesive films available in white or wood finishes to conceal the damage without repainting.

I hope these tips help! If you like, feel free to share which paint brands you’re considering, and I can offer more specific recommendations.