ᐅ How do I repair Ikea HEMNES furniture after transportation damage?

Hello everyone,

I recently had our Ikea Hemnes furniture transported during a move, and unfortunately, one of the pieces sustained visible transport damage – mainly scratches on the surface and the joints between components seem a bit loose, with some small wood splinters.

I am interested in knowing the best way to repair such damage myself without compromising the stability or appearance of the furniture. What materials and tools are recommended for this?

Are there any tips for neatly reinserting wood chips into the wood, or for securing the joints again properly without having to disassemble or completely replace the furniture?

I look forward to your advice and experience sharing so I can repair the damage as effectively as possible. Thanks in advance!

TAGIFU schrieb:
What materials and tools are useful for this?

Hey, great that you want to tackle this yourself! For minor scratches, a furniture touch-up marker in wood color is very helpful. If you have deeper scratches, wood filler can be the solution – and if the finish is missing, fine sandpaper will help.

TAGIFU schrieb:
Are there any tips for reinserting wood chips cleanly back into the wood?

Yes, if the wood chips are still intact, you can glue them back in with some wood glue and gently sand afterward once it’s dry. A bit of patience is needed here!

For the joints between parts: check if the screws can be easily loosened and tighten them again if necessary. Then apply some wood glue to the joint, press firmly together, and if needed, clamp them.

My tip: get some fine sanding sponges for the finish; they conform well to curves and create a smooth surface.

Good luck – you can do it! Feel free to share how it goes if you like.

TAGIFU schrieb:
Above all, there are scratches on the surface and the joints between individual parts seem slightly loose

Regarding the scratches: There are several options depending on the depth of the damage.

- For fine scratches, a wax stick in a matching color helps to conceal the spots well and also provides some protection against moisture.
- For deeper scratches or missing wood fibers, you can use wood filler. It is important that the filler is suitable for the type of wood used (e.g., beech, pine, or whatever HEMNES specifically uses).
- After drying, the filler should be carefully sanded to restore a smooth surface.

As for the connection points:

- First, check all screws to see if any have loosened or come undone. HEMNES furniture often uses cam locks and dowels, which require precise fitting.
- If the joints are loose, removing and replacing wood chips or dowels that have fallen out or been damaged often helps.
- These should be dried beforehand and reinserted with wood glue.

My recommendation: Always use clamps to firmly press the joints together until the glue is fully dry. This provides maximum stability.

For the finish: You can then optionally use suitable furniture oils or stains to visually match the repair.

I am still wondering which HEMNES piece it is exactly— a wardrobe, dresser, or bed? The type of connections can vary depending on the item.

kibutar schrieb:
I’m still wondering which exact HEMNES piece of furniture this is – a wardrobe, dresser, or bed?

Good point, it’s a dresser with several drawers. The drawers themselves are still okay; the issues are mainly with the side and bottom joints of the carcass frame and the dresser’s base. There are also visible outer scratches in those areas.

I also remembered that the joint on the underside is partially chipped, meaning some small wood pieces are missing. Is it sufficient to just use wood glue here, or should this area also be filled with wood filler?

Maybe you or others have more detailed advice on how to repair such a part with minimal effort and as durable as possible. Thanks!

If I were you, I would first coat the subfloor from the inside with wood glue and secure it with clamps. Use wood filler for any gaps or holes, let it dry, sand it, and then adjust the color as needed. Done.

TAGIFU schrieb:
Maybe you or others have more detailed instructions on how to repair such a part with minimal effort and as durable as possible.

Here is a structured approach for repairing the base of your HEMNES dresser:

- Step 1: Cleaning and preparation
Thoroughly clean the repair area – remove dust, dirt, and loose wood fibers.
- Step 2: Treating the chips
Apply wood glue into the damaged areas first; if the chipped pieces are still available and fit properly, carefully press them back in.
- Step 3: Filling with wood filler
If the area remains hollow or damaged after gluing, fill it with a wood filler of the same base. To ensure optimal stability, apply several thin layers and let each dry.
- Step 4: Sanding
After complete drying, sand the area smooth using fine sandpaper (grit 180–220) so it becomes visually inconspicuous later.
- Step 5: Securing joints
Check screws and dowels. For loose connections, I recommend loosening all screws, applying wood glue to the dowel joints, reassembling the parts, and then clamping with screw clamps until the glue cures.
- Step 6: Surface finish
Touch up with a furniture marker or matching varnish pen and apply several layers for protection.

A small tip: For HEMNES, wood tones like “birch” or “pine” often match well – always test on an inconspicuous spot before the final coating.

If you pay close attention to these steps, you will achieve a particularly durable repair that remains hardly visible.