ᐅ How do I repair dents and scratches on Ikea HEMNES furniture?

Hello everyone,

I have noticed some unpleasant marks on my Ikea Hemnes sideboard, including scratches, dents, and small chips on the corners. Since the piece is made of solid pine wood with a white paint finish, I’m unsure how to best repair these marks discreetly, without causing large-scale damage to the surface or leaving uneven patches afterward.

Does anyone have experience or advice on how to professionally touch up typical signs of wear on HEMNES furniture? Which materials (e.g., paint pens, wood filler, special waxes) would you recommend, and are there any proven techniques to make the repair particularly durable?

I look forward to your suggestions and a practical step-by-step guide.

Thanks and best regards!

Hello,

for small scratches on HEMNES, I recommend a white touch-up paint pen, which you can also find at Ikea or a hardware store. For dents, simply use some wood filler, sand it smooth, and then touch it up with the paint pen. It is important to clean the area beforehand to ensure proper adhesion.

SAWYERR schrieb:
For dents, simply use some wood filler, sand it smooth, and then touch up with a paint pen.

That initially sounds practical, but I would additionally recommend carefully matching the paint pen color. Even slight color differences can stand out sharply against the white paint finish. Moreover, dents can sometimes be difficult to make completely invisible, especially when the wood grain is pronounced. There is also the question of how durable such repairs are under everyday wear. In some cases, it might be worth considering replacing the damaged parts.

I think that with HEMNES furniture, every little flaw adds character to the piece – but of course, not everyone wants that 😊!

My personal recommendation:

- For small scratches: white furniture touch-up pens or even a bit of white wax paste, which can be nicely shaped.
- A trick: apply some mayonnaise to the scratch, let it sit briefly, then wipe it off – it’s said to make the fibers swell and reduce the appearance of marks.
- For deeper dents, use wood filler, finely sanded afterward.

And don’t forget: after repairing, gently polish a little, and it will shine like new again. No need to play wood surgeon right away 😉.

Hello Waltonbu,

I have also repaired several HEMNES parts. It is important to thoroughly clean the damaged areas beforehand to ensure no dirt interferes with adhesion. For painting, I often use a matching Ikea touch-up pen, as the color closely matches the original furniture.

For dents caused by pressure, sometimes lightly sanding while damp can help, followed by gently moistening the wood so it expands slightly and lifts.

If you use filler, I recommend a fine wood filler that is easy to sand, as coarse products can make the surface uneven. Afterwards, be sure to use fine sandpaper (grit 240 or finer).

If you like, here is a brief step-by-step guide:
- Clean the surface
- Apply wood filler (if needed)
- Sand after drying
- Apply touch-up pen or paint
- Gently polish after drying

I hope this helps!

An important aspect that is often underestimated is preparation.

Takutau schrieb:
It is essential to thoroughly clean the damaged areas beforehand

to prevent adhesion problems.

For larger chips, I also recommend using a good, scratch-resistant clear coat as a final layer. Especially with HEMNES, which is heavily used, this significantly increases the durability of the repair.

When matching the color, applying paint with a small brush sometimes works better than using a pen, provided you find a suitable color. A bit of patience during drying pays off.