Hello everyone,
I have a basic question about repainting my Ikea Malm dressers: Is it possible to repaint Malm dressers in color without damaging the surface or affecting their functionality? I am especially interested in what preparations are necessary (e.g., sanding, priming), which types of paint are suitable, and whether there are any common pitfalls that non-professionals should be aware of. I would prefer not to start painting directly on the surface and risk annoying bubbles, peeling, or constant touch-ups.
If anyone has experience with Malm furniture, a brief assessment or a simple guide would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!
I have a basic question about repainting my Ikea Malm dressers: Is it possible to repaint Malm dressers in color without damaging the surface or affecting their functionality? I am especially interested in what preparations are necessary (e.g., sanding, priming), which types of paint are suitable, and whether there are any common pitfalls that non-professionals should be aware of. I would prefer not to start painting directly on the surface and risk annoying bubbles, peeling, or constant touch-ups.
If anyone has experience with Malm furniture, a brief assessment or a simple guide would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!
I would be careful in your situation. Malm dressers usually have a melamine coating, which is not known for having good paint adhesion.
Additionally, there is also the question of whether sanding the dresser makes it vulnerable to moisture. For me, this is more of a risk that has to be carefully considered when altering the original condition.
bigau schrieb:That’s exactly the point. Melamine surfaces need to be sanded very thoroughly and primed with a special bonding agent for your paint to have any chance of adhering permanently. Regular emulsion paints or even varnishes without primer are useless, as the paint will peel off again soon.
… what preparations are necessary (e.g., sanding, priming), which paints are suitable …
Additionally, there is also the question of whether sanding the dresser makes it vulnerable to moisture. For me, this is more of a risk that has to be carefully considered when altering the original condition.
Hey bigau, it’s great that you want to repaint the Malm chest of drawers yourself! 🙂
I’ve done this before and can tell you: with the right preparation, it works really well! The important thing is to first roughen the surface with sandpaper (grit 120 to 180) so the paint can adhere properly. Then apply a primer – I always used a two-component primer, which is really durable.
For the paint, you can use furniture paint or acrylic lacquer. I used spray paint because it’s easy to apply and looks great. Make sure to apply it in thin layers and let each one dry thoroughly!
Don’t worry about bubbles or peeling if you follow these steps; the finish will hold up well. Try it out first on a small or less visible area to gain confidence. Good luck – it’s really fun to customize your furniture like this!!!
I’ve done this before and can tell you: with the right preparation, it works really well! The important thing is to first roughen the surface with sandpaper (grit 120 to 180) so the paint can adhere properly. Then apply a primer – I always used a two-component primer, which is really durable.
For the paint, you can use furniture paint or acrylic lacquer. I used spray paint because it’s easy to apply and looks great. Make sure to apply it in thin layers and let each one dry thoroughly!
Don’t worry about bubbles or peeling if you follow these steps; the finish will hold up well. Try it out first on a small or less visible area to gain confidence. Good luck – it’s really fun to customize your furniture like this!!!
For clarification and elaboration:
Malm dressers are usually made of particleboard coated with melamine resin. This coating is extremely smooth and non-porous, so the adhesion primer is crucial. Proper sanding (e.g., with 150-grit sandpaper) is necessary to create a surface profile for painting. Be careful not to sand too aggressively, as the particleboard underneath must not be damaged.
It is also important to use a suitable adhesion primer (also called a "promoter") to ensure proper paint adhesion. Afterwards, an acrylic or two-component (2K) paint is recommended, as these are well pigmented and durable.
Common problems such as peeling and blistering mainly occur when the adhesion primer is missing, incorrectly applied, or when the surface has not been thoroughly cleaned.
Conclusion: Yes, Malm furniture can be repainted in color if the surface is carefully prepared, properly sanded, and suitable materials are used. Areas subject to heavy wear on the furniture (drawers, edges) should be taken into account, as paint damage from constant friction needs special prevention.
Malm dressers are usually made of particleboard coated with melamine resin. This coating is extremely smooth and non-porous, so the adhesion primer is crucial. Proper sanding (e.g., with 150-grit sandpaper) is necessary to create a surface profile for painting. Be careful not to sand too aggressively, as the particleboard underneath must not be damaged.
It is also important to use a suitable adhesion primer (also called a "promoter") to ensure proper paint adhesion. Afterwards, an acrylic or two-component (2K) paint is recommended, as these are well pigmented and durable.
Common problems such as peeling and blistering mainly occur when the adhesion primer is missing, incorrectly applied, or when the surface has not been thoroughly cleaned.
Conclusion: Yes, Malm furniture can be repainted in color if the surface is carefully prepared, properly sanded, and suitable materials are used. Areas subject to heavy wear on the furniture (drawers, edges) should be taken into account, as paint damage from constant friction needs special prevention.
Peose schrieb:
… With the right preparation, it works great! …
You can use furniture paint or acrylic lacquer as color. …That sounds optimistic, but I would also add that besides proper preparation, the type of paint and primer used is very important. Not every primer works on melamine, and DIY users often underestimate the complexity, especially when using cheap paints from hardware stores.
Also, what’s missing in the enthusiasm is the advice to keep furniture surfaces as dust-free, grease-free, and completely dry as possible—otherwise, adhesion will be compromised. And with low-cost furniture like Malm, the melamine coating can warp or even dissolve under the influence of solvents, which may cause deformities or stains.
Blavin schrieb:
It is also important to use a suitable adhesion primer (also called a “promoter”) to ensure paint adhesion.That is a point not to be underestimated. Maybe bigau should also check if there are special products from Ikea itself or forums that recommend tested primers and paints.Similar topics