ᐅ Is it possible to change the color of IKEA BRIMNES furniture after purchase?

Hello everyone, I recently purchased some furniture from the IKEA Brimnes series and am now considering changing their color. My specific question is:

Is it basically possible to treat the surfaces of the BRIMNES furniture so that they get a new color permanently, without causing any damage to the furniture from painting or coating?

I am particularly interested in the material properties, whether it is possible to do the work myself (e.g., sanding, priming, painting or coating), and how the results turn out in terms of durability, appearance, and maintenance.

Does anyone have experience or recommendations, maybe even tips on suitable paints or techniques? I want to avoid the furniture becoming unattractive later on due to warping, chipping, or blistering.

The IKEA BRIMNES furniture is usually covered with a foil coating that does not take paint well. Sanding, priming with an adhesion primer, and then painting works, but it is time-consuming. A specialized furniture or spray paint is best suited.

Your question is very valid because BRIMNES furniture is mostly made of particleboard with a melamine resin coating. This means:

- The surface is quite smooth and dense, which makes direct painting difficult.
- Before painting, the coating must be thoroughly sanded to ensure adhesion. Be careful not to sand too deeply to avoid swelling the particleboard underneath.
- Afterwards, it’s recommended to use a primer designed for challenging, smooth surfaces.
- Paint systems based on acrylic or polyurethane are highly suitable but should be applied thinly and evenly to prevent cracking.

I would also suggest paying special attention to furniture parts subject to high mechanical stress (e.g., tabletops), as these surfaces experience greater wear.

Could you tell me which specific pieces from the series you plan to work on? This will help assess the requirements.

Palenar schrieb:
Can you tell me which pieces of furniture from the series you want to work on exactly?

Sure, I am mainly focusing on two dressers and a bed frame. The furniture surfaces are quite large and in some areas subject to stress, such as drawer fronts and bed rails. I am envisioning a satin finish that is easy to clean. It is especially important to me that the final result is not too prone to scratches or that it easily peels off when exposed to moisture.

This is a good project and definitely doable if you carefully carry out a few basic steps.

- First, you should thoroughly clean all surfaces to remove dust, grease, and silicone residues.
- Sanding is crucial to roughen up the existing laminate. A 240-grit sandpaper is ideal, but avoid sanding too deeply to prevent damaging the wood underneath.
- After that, you can apply a primer specifically designed for plastics or laminated furniture.
- For painting, I recommend a water-based furniture paint, which produces less odor and is more environmentally friendly.
- Apply the paint in several thin layers, allowing each layer to dry completely.
- To protect the surface and increase scratch resistance, a clear topcoat can be helpful.

Make sure the rooms are well ventilated, and it’s best to work outdoors or in a workshop.

reinald schrieb:
I imagine a satin finish that is easy to clean.

For a satin, low-maintenance finish, varnishes or polyurethane coatings are recommended. These are more durable than standard wall paints and provide better moisture resistance.