ᐅ Are there any upcycling ideas for IKEA Hemnes wooden furniture?

Hello everyone,

I am currently exploring sustainable furniture design and specifically looking for upcycling ideas for IKEA Hemnes wooden furniture. Since this series often features sturdy, classic wooden elements, I am interested to hear if anyone in the forum has experience or creative suggestions for redesigning or enhancing these pieces.

Specifically, I am looking into how to transform Hemnes dressers, nightstands, or even bed frames to extend their lifespan—whether through new surface treatments, modifications, added functions, or artistic interventions. It is important to me that the wood grain is preserved or at least used meaningfully to promote sustainability.

I look forward to your suggestions, tips, or practical examples, including recommendations for tools or materials that work especially well.

Thank you in advance!

I simply treated the surfaces of the Hemnes dressers with wood oil to enhance the grain while providing good protection. Additionally, you can make practical boxes for small items out of the drawers.

Hello Mortensau,

Regarding your topic of upcycling IKEA Hemnes solid wood furniture, I would like to share some technical details and approaches that I find very helpful.

First: The Hemnes series primarily consists of fiberboard with a real wood veneer surface, mostly pine. This makes the material quite stable for simple modifications but also sensitive if handled incorrectly. If you plan to refinish the surface, you should first conduct a thorough cleaning. It is best to use fine sandpaper (grit 220 or higher) to remove old paint layers or dirt without damaging the veneer.

Upcycling examples:
- Drawer replacement: Remove the basic drawer fronts and replace them with plywood panels showing natural wood grain. This increases durability.
- Additional joints: Attach decorative moldings or edge profiles, e.g., made from solid beech, to give the furniture more character.
- Functional conversions: For a nightstand, you could add an extra internal shelf to enable cable management or provide additional charging space for smartphones.

One tip: When repainting, apply several thin coats and allow them to dry thoroughly between each. Also, when redesigning, it’s important to pay attention to the origin of the materials used – FSC-certified wood, for example, is a sensible choice to ensure sustainability.

What type of Hemnes furniture do you want to modify in particular? Do you already have tools or experience with woodworking and painting materials?

That would help in providing more precise suggestions.

I agree with Noahlu and would like to add a few structured points for upcycling Hemnes furniture:

- Material structure: Hemnes features a real wood veneer surface, which makes redesigning easier compared to fully coated particleboard.
- Surface treatment: Sanding, applying wood oil, or furniture wax is recommended for a natural look.
- Function expansion: Convert drawers into drawers with compartments, or transform doors into open shelves.
- Decoration: Use leftover wallpaper or fabric inside drawers to create visual highlights.

Depending on the concept, it is helpful to analyze the furniture type (chest of drawers, bed frame, wardrobe) before starting and prioritize the functions that are still useful.

This provides a solid foundation to extend the furniture’s lifecycle and save resources.

Noahlu schrieb:
A tip: When painting, apply several thin coats and let each one dry thoroughly.

Absolutely right, that’s the key to a great result! Last year, I painted my Hemnes dresser with chalk paint and then sealed it with wax – it looks fantastic, almost like a vintage piece! 😊

Transforming the drawers into small shelves or adding hooks to create improvised storage solutions is also really practical! Just go for it and start experimenting, it’s a lot of fun and adds so much character to your home!

If anyone needs tips on paints or waxes, feel free to reach out, I’m always happy to help!