ᐅ Do the compartments in the Kallax unit change color or show discoloration if you paint them?

Hello everyone, I am planning to customize my Kallax shelf a bit. I’m considering painting the individual compartments, meaning the inserted cubes, to give them a different color. My specific question is: Do the compartments bleed color when painted? In other words, does the paint show through the wood or the edges, or does it stay evenly colored without unwanted spots or discoloration? Has anyone had experience painting the Kallax compartments, especially when they are later placed inside the shelf? I want to avoid the wood swelling or any unsightly marks caused by the paint or moisture. Thanks in advance for your advice!

Basically, the Kallax shelf is made of coated particleboard, which actually has a very stable surface. If you plan to paint the compartments, you should lightly sand the surface beforehand to ensure good adhesion of the paint.

Regarding staining: Since it is not solid wood but a melamine-coated board, the paint does not soak into the wood, and usually there is no staining effect. It is important to choose a suitable paint—preferably acrylic paint or a wood paint designed for coated surfaces.

Be careful with the edges, as they are sometimes not fully sealed. To be on the safe side, you can treat the edges with a primer (sealing primer) before painting.

I will summarize the topic clearly, as there are several points to consider when painting Kallax compartments:

1. Material: The Kallax is made of MDF or particleboard with a melamine coating. This surface is usually non-porous, so the paint does not penetrate the material, and typically there is no bleeding of color.

2. Preparation: Always lightly sand the surface to improve paint adhesion. Sandpaper with a grit of about 120-150 is ideal.

3. Edges: These are sometimes open-pored or foamed. Paint or varnish may penetrate the material here and cause slight swelling. Therefore, I recommend smoothing the edges beforehand with wood or acrylic filler and treating them with a primer/sealer.

4. Type of paint: Water-based acrylic or acrylic paints are recommended, as they are not aggressive and do not damage the material.

5. Painting: Apply several thin coats rather than one thick layer to ensure an even finish.

6. Pay attention to drying times to prevent edge swelling.

Conclusion: Generally, your compartments should not show discoloration if you proceed correctly, especially with proper preparation and appropriate paint.

If swelling does occur, it is usually due to excessive moisture absorption at the edges.

In short: No, the panels do not bleed if they are properly painted, meaning with a primer and a good quality paint. The sealing of the edges is especially important.

Nofege schrieb:
Conclusion: In general, your shelves should not discolor if you proceed correctly, especially with good preparation and the right paint.

I can confirm that. I painted my Kallax shelves a few months ago and did not notice any discoloration.

Also interesting in this discussion is how "bleeding through" is defined. Is it only about the paint being visually transparent? Or does it refer to whether the paint permanently changes the surface texture?

Some paints can chemically react with the coating and cause a shadow or discoloration. Without information about the paint brand and the exact material properties, this is difficult to assess.

Additionally, with particleboard, the edges are often more sensitive and can discolor or swell if painted while too wet.

Therefore, I would carefully check which paint products are being used and possibly conduct tests on spare parts beforehand.