Hello everyone,
I am currently planning to modify furniture from the IKEA Hemnes series for my guest room but am unsure about the best approach.
Specifically, I want to transform the classic white FINNSTA HEMNES wardrobe or dresser into a more personalized and functional version tailored to the guest room. I would like to adjust or expand the storage space, possibly add shelves, or replace doors with drawers to create more specific uses for guests.
I am especially interested in which tools and materials have proven effective, the best way to approach disassembly and reassembly, and whether there are any special IKEA tips for modifying the furniture parts without losing stability.
Additionally, I’m curious how others have handled the visual aspect: solid white feels too sterile for me, but which colors or surface treatments work well without damaging the furniture or taking too much time? Also, how about combining different Hemnes models to optimize the design of the guest room?
Thank you in advance for your tips and suggestions!
I am currently planning to modify furniture from the IKEA Hemnes series for my guest room but am unsure about the best approach.
Specifically, I want to transform the classic white FINNSTA HEMNES wardrobe or dresser into a more personalized and functional version tailored to the guest room. I would like to adjust or expand the storage space, possibly add shelves, or replace doors with drawers to create more specific uses for guests.
I am especially interested in which tools and materials have proven effective, the best way to approach disassembly and reassembly, and whether there are any special IKEA tips for modifying the furniture parts without losing stability.
Additionally, I’m curious how others have handled the visual aspect: solid white feels too sterile for me, but which colors or surface treatments work well without damaging the furniture or taking too much time? Also, how about combining different Hemnes models to optimize the design of the guest room?
Thank you in advance for your tips and suggestions!
Hello tan67,
I’d like to give you a detailed answer because this topic really involves many aspects, especially when it comes to modifying IKEA furniture. The HEMNES series is of good quality, but you need to be quite careful when making alterations.
- First, you should carefully examine which piece of furniture you want to modify. HEMNES dressers or cabinets are usually assembled with wooden dowels, screws, and some metal fittings. For disassembly, it’s best to have a cordless drill with the right bits and possibly an Allen key ready.
- The dismantling works best when done systematically, labeling the individual parts (e.g., doors, shelves, side panels) appropriately—using Post-it notes, for example—so that reassembling manually or in a new configuration is easier later on.
- For replacing doors with drawers: HEMNES offers some ready-made drawer modules, but if you want to improvise, you’ll need to remove the doors including the hinges and make or adjust the drawer fronts. This can be done with a router, though it’s not entirely straightforward. Alternatively, you can use standard drawer boxes from other series and simply fit new fronts.
- Colorwise: HEMNES can be altered effectively by painting or glazing. It’s important to prepare the surface properly: lightly sand (grit 120–180), then apply a primer that’s suitable for laminated wood. Acrylic or chalk paints are popular because they provide good coverage and are relatively easy to work with.
- When combining different models from the series, pay attention to the dimensions of each part. HEMNES does use varying depths and heights, which can look harmonious if you consider the room layout, but quickly appear unbalanced if, for example, you place cabinets that are too wide or tall on small wall sections.
- If you want to increase storage space, you can add extra shelves. Here I recommend checking the load limits beforehand (about 15 kg (33 lbs) per shelf in HEMNES). Also, use the standard drill holes in the carcasses to ensure the dowels hold firmly.
Do you already have a clearer idea of how the furniture should look or function after the modification? And are you experienced with tools like a router, sander, or paint sprayer, or would you prefer to stick to manual work?
In any case, I would recommend making a detailed plan on paper first and even laying out parts to test before making any permanent changes.
I hope this helps you so far.
I’d like to give you a detailed answer because this topic really involves many aspects, especially when it comes to modifying IKEA furniture. The HEMNES series is of good quality, but you need to be quite careful when making alterations.
- First, you should carefully examine which piece of furniture you want to modify. HEMNES dressers or cabinets are usually assembled with wooden dowels, screws, and some metal fittings. For disassembly, it’s best to have a cordless drill with the right bits and possibly an Allen key ready.
- The dismantling works best when done systematically, labeling the individual parts (e.g., doors, shelves, side panels) appropriately—using Post-it notes, for example—so that reassembling manually or in a new configuration is easier later on.
- For replacing doors with drawers: HEMNES offers some ready-made drawer modules, but if you want to improvise, you’ll need to remove the doors including the hinges and make or adjust the drawer fronts. This can be done with a router, though it’s not entirely straightforward. Alternatively, you can use standard drawer boxes from other series and simply fit new fronts.
- Colorwise: HEMNES can be altered effectively by painting or glazing. It’s important to prepare the surface properly: lightly sand (grit 120–180), then apply a primer that’s suitable for laminated wood. Acrylic or chalk paints are popular because they provide good coverage and are relatively easy to work with.
- When combining different models from the series, pay attention to the dimensions of each part. HEMNES does use varying depths and heights, which can look harmonious if you consider the room layout, but quickly appear unbalanced if, for example, you place cabinets that are too wide or tall on small wall sections.
- If you want to increase storage space, you can add extra shelves. Here I recommend checking the load limits beforehand (about 15 kg (33 lbs) per shelf in HEMNES). Also, use the standard drill holes in the carcasses to ensure the dowels hold firmly.
Do you already have a clearer idea of how the furniture should look or function after the modification? And are you experienced with tools like a router, sander, or paint sprayer, or would you prefer to stick to manual work?
In any case, I would recommend making a detailed plan on paper first and even laying out parts to test before making any permanent changes.
I hope this helps you so far.
lisku schrieb:
- Remove doors, buy drawers, or add shelves.That is true, but I strongly recommend not simply swapping doors for drawers without carefully checking the material thickness and mounting details beforehand. It depends on the type of hanging hooks and cutouts.
lisku schrieb:
- Lightly sand the furniture and paint it with chalk paint.That’s a good starting point, but it is important to clean and degrease the furniture thoroughly beforehand; otherwise, the paint will not adhere well.
Additionally:
- When choosing the paint color, consider the room: a guest room can benefit from warmer or muted tones, not only white or black.
- When optimizing storage, you can also integrate internal inserts like organizers or pull-out functions. Although HEMNES does not provide these by default, you can retrofit them using small wooden boxes and fittings.
Ask which specific modules you want to modify! That way, you can get more targeted advice.
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