ᐅ How do I repair scratches and dents on IKEA Hemnes wood furniture?

Hello everyone, I have a Hemnes wooden dresser from IKEA that has unfortunately developed several scratches and a few small dents over the past few months. Since the surface of Hemnes furniture is usually lacquered or waxed, I’m wondering what the best way is to repair these damages without the touch-ups being clearly visible or damaging the finish. Are there any proven methods or products suitable for small to medium scratches and dents on the wood of this series? Also, does anyone have tips on preparing the areas before repair to achieve the most professional result possible?

Hello Jannekkla! Your question is exactly my area of expertise 😉 For Hemnes wood, a simple wood wax stick, available in different shades, often helps. You can sometimes raise dents by gently warming the area and moistening it with a damp cloth – this makes the wood a bit more flexible. Then touch up again with the wax stick and polish everything nicely. This usually makes a surprisingly big difference without having to sand or repaint everything. 🙂

Repair scratches with furniture wax or wood repair sticks from the hardware store. You can gently treat dents using a damp cloth and an iron, then touch up with wood wax.

I can confirm that especially Hemnes furniture surfaces are usually treated with lacquer or oil. It is important to clean the area before repairing to avoid trapping any dirt. Very fine sanding pads or sandpaper with a 320 grit are suitable for gently roughening the surface—this helps the repair material adhere better. Sand very lightly to avoid damaging the lacquer too much. For larger dents, it is worth using wood filler or putty, then color match accordingly. If only the surface is affected, hand wax or color markers often work very well.

In summary: Hemnes wooden furniture is usually made from solid pine or beech, which can be either lacquered or oiled. For scratches, it is recommended to:
- Clean the surface
- Gently sand with sandpaper, grit 320 to 400
- Use furniture wax or appropriate wood repair filler/markers

For dents:
- Moisten the affected area
- Briefly treat with an iron (medium temperature) to raise the wood
- Follow up with a wood wax stick

These methods are gentle, preserve the texture, and minimize color differences.

Simply take wood repair wax in the matching color and press it into the scratches. For dents: place a damp cloth over the area, iron it, then fill with wax.