ᐅ Do the compartments in the Kallax unit change color or show discoloration if you paint them?
Created on: 16 Mar 2022 10:17
K
klason
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!
I really appreciate that this topic is discussed here in such great detail! 🙂
Here’s a little fun tip: If you want to be absolutely sure, you can also try using paint markers or spray paint for the compartments – these usually apply a thinner layer and create a cool, even finish without the risk of bleed-through.
But yes, be careful with the edges, as they are often the weak spots in Kallax units. A bit of patience during drying works wonders!
Good luck with the painting, and who knows, maybe your shelf will become the next eye-catcher :-)
Here’s a little fun tip: If you want to be absolutely sure, you can also try using paint markers or spray paint for the compartments – these usually apply a thinner layer and create a cool, even finish without the risk of bleed-through.
But yes, be careful with the edges, as they are often the weak spots in Kallax units. A bit of patience during drying works wonders!
Good luck with the painting, and who knows, maybe your shelf will become the next eye-catcher :-)
theo63 schrieb:
Some paints can chemically react with the coating, causing shadows or discoloration.I agree. You should definitely avoid using aggressive solvent-based paints because they could damage the melamine surface.
Another point: Has anyone checked whether the Kallax really has the same surface quality everywhere? Especially with older models, manufacturing tolerances might affect the outcome.
I’m also interested in whether UV light might later affect the paint color when the compartments are exposed and the light hits them.
Garry schrieb:
best to use acrylic paint or a wood varnish suitable for coated surfaces Thanks, that helps me a lot.
I will also take Nofege’s advice about the edges into account, as I don’t only want to paint the fronts but also the inner edges of the compartments.
Back to your point, ODINFLO: The compartments to be painted are new, so they should all have the same quality standard. Still, I will start by testing on a single compartment – I also want to check the UV resistance.
Do you have any recommendations on how to best treat the edges with primer so that there are no blotches?
klason schrieb:
Do you have any suggestions on the best way to treat the edges with the insulating primer to avoid patchiness?Apply the insulating primer thinly and evenly, preferably with a fine brush. Make sure to wait until it is completely dry before sanding and applying the next coat of paint. Applying it too thickly can cause surface irregularities and patchiness.
Additionally, it is worthwhile to do an intermediate sanding with very fine sandpaper to achieve a smooth primer layer.
I painted my Kallax shelves with a 2-component acrylic lacquer. No staining or discoloration occurred. The key was really sanding and applying thin layers of lacquer.
The edges also turned out perfectly after priming with an isolating primer.
So: yes, it works easily if you work carefully.
The edges also turned out perfectly after priming with an isolating primer.
So: yes, it works easily if you work carefully.
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