Hello everyone,
I’m currently exploring ways to make my IKEA Hemnes furniture more sustainable as part of a DIY project. I’m especially interested in options to enhance the durability, resource efficiency, and ideally the environmental friendliness of the furniture.
My goal is not only to improve the appearance but also to enhance the material quality through additional measures or to use natural wood protection methods.
How do you approach this? Do you have any tips on which products work best for treating the Hemnes series, or suggestions for replacing individual parts with more sustainable materials?
Thank you in advance for your ideas and experiences!
I’m currently exploring ways to make my IKEA Hemnes furniture more sustainable as part of a DIY project. I’m especially interested in options to enhance the durability, resource efficiency, and ideally the environmental friendliness of the furniture.
My goal is not only to improve the appearance but also to enhance the material quality through additional measures or to use natural wood protection methods.
How do you approach this? Do you have any tips on which products work best for treating the Hemnes series, or suggestions for replacing individual parts with more sustainable materials?
Thank you in advance for your ideas and experiences!
pakokla schrieb:
Linseed oil preserves the natural character of the wood better than wax, which can appear darker.Thank you, that sounds reasonable. I would also like to know whether it is better to sand the piece of furniture roughly before treatment or to use fine sandpaper to avoid losing the wood’s texture?
R
REOHEINRIC18 Sep 2021 13:02Toleke schrieb:
whether it makes sense to roughly sand the piece of furniture before treatment or rather to use fine sandpaperFor a sustainable and gentle treatment, it is always recommended to start with fine sandpaper (grit 180-220) to roughen the surface without removing too much wood. Coarse sanding should be used mainly for heavy wear or damages.
I would also add that IKEA Hemnes often combines solid wood with laminate. Sustainability measures should therefore take the different materials into account. For example, linseed oil works great on real wood but not so well on coated surfaces.
It is also worth considering replacing individual wooden parts with FSC-certified local wood if the necessary craftsmanship skills are available.
It is also worth considering replacing individual wooden parts with FSC-certified local wood if the necessary craftsmanship skills are available.
Hi everyone, I’m taking a relaxed approach to this topic too:
- My advice: just be bold and sand down old surfaces!
- Then, refresh the wood look using eco-friendly oil products.
- And: swap handles for vintage-style ones – this usually looks more elegant and adds a cool DIY vibe.
It’s fun, doesn’t cost much, and is good for the environment. You can definitely combine sustainability and style!
- My advice: just be bold and sand down old surfaces!
- Then, refresh the wood look using eco-friendly oil products.
- And: swap handles for vintage-style ones – this usually looks more elegant and adds a cool DIY vibe.
It’s fun, doesn’t cost much, and is good for the environment. You can definitely combine sustainability and style!
I need to share my provocative opinion:
All these "natural" oils and waxes are often just marketing gimmicks. In reality, using standard natural oil can even void the warranty on furniture.
If you really want to be more sustainable, you should consider upcycling old furniture or buying local used solid wood furniture instead of spending hours modifying IKEA pieces.
What do you think?
All these "natural" oils and waxes are often just marketing gimmicks. In reality, using standard natural oil can even void the warranty on furniture.
If you really want to be more sustainable, you should consider upcycling old furniture or buying local used solid wood furniture instead of spending hours modifying IKEA pieces.
What do you think?
rebufar schrieb:
If you really want to be more sustainable, you should consider upcycling old furniture or buying locally sourced solid wood furniture instead of spending hours modifying IKEA pieces.That is fundamentally true, but not everyone has access to these alternatives. Often, IKEA remains a practical and affordable option. Sustainable improvements to Hemnes furniture can therefore be quite reasonable, as they extend lifespan and reduce resource consumption.
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