ᐅ Malm furniture is peeling – how can I protect the finish?

Hello everyone,

I have a Malm dresser set from Ikea, and I recently noticed that the finish is peeling off in several places. Especially along the edges and on the surfaces, small spots are forming where the finish is coming off. I’m interested in knowing what options there are to protect or repair the finish on this furniture so that the peeling stops or doesn’t get worse. Are there suitable sealants or special paints that can be applied afterwards without negatively affecting the appearance? Should the surface be sanded or prepared in any other way beforehand? I want to keep the effort as low as possible while achieving long-lasting results. Who has experience with this? Looking forward to your tips!

sojasar schrieb:
I’m interested in knowing what options there are to protect or repair the finish on these furniture pieces to stop the paint from peeling or to prevent it from getting worse.

You’ve definitely chosen a classic challenge! 🙂 My advice: First, gently smooth the affected areas with fine sandpaper (grit 400 or higher) to remove any loose paint flakes. Then you can use a clear hard wax or a specially designed furniture touch-up pen to reseal the surface. For IKEA furniture, these DIY solutions usually work best since you don’t want a thick, visible top layer. A tip: always allow it to dry thoroughly and avoid applying too much—this way, the finish stays looking natural.

Use matte clear varnish, applied thinly. Lightly sand beforehand. This effectively prevents flaking.

LUKO45 schrieb:
First, gently smooth the spots with fine sandpaper

That is correct and essential. I recommend sandpaper with a grit of around 320-400. After sanding, the surface should be cleaned of dust, preferably with a damp cloth, to ensure proper adhesion of the subsequent paint layer.

KauNicklas schrieb:
Use matte clear coat

A solvent-based acrylic clear coat or a two-component clear coat is best suited, as these are durable and long-lasting. Alternatively, a water-based clear coat can be used, though it is less resistant.

Also, make sure environmental conditions are appropriate before application: dust-free, temperatures around 20°C (68°F), and moderate humidity are ideal.

In summary: sand, remove dust, apply thin and even coats, and follow the recommended drying times.

Oh, that’s an exciting task! 🙂 I often notice with Malm furniture how the finish can suffer even with careful use. What really helps is applying a layer of furniture wax after your clear coat treatment. This gives the finish a protective barrier that helps prevent peeling. Plus, the surface feels wonderfully soft and smooth!

Give it a try – a little patience is important, but the result is definitely worth it! 🙂

Be careful with excessive moisture! Malm furniture often uses MDF, which swells significantly when wet. Apply protective varnish only in a thin layer and allow it to dry thoroughly.