ᐅ Painting IKEA MALM Furniture – DIY or Professional?

Hello everyone, I am planning to paint my IKEA Malm furniture to make the surfaces more durable and personalized. My question is whether painting a Malm sideboard or bed frame is more of a DIY project that can be successfully done with some basic craftsmanship skills and the right materials, or if, in terms of quality and effort, it is better to have it done by a professional. I am particularly interested in which preparatory work is needed (sanding, priming, etc.), how demanding the painting process really is, and whether a DIY paint job can achieve a long-lasting result. Another important point for me is: roughly how do the costs and time required compare to hiring a specialist company? I look forward to your experiences and professional assessments!

Basically, painting IKEA MALM furniture is quite doable as a DIY project if you follow some important steps. First, sanding the surfaces is essential because the original melamine finish is very smooth and difficult to paint. I recommend using 120- to 150-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface. After that, apply an appropriate primer (e.g., adhesion primer for melamine) to ensure better paint adhesion.

The paint itself should ideally be an acrylic paint suitable for furniture, with good hardness. Spray paints are convenient but usually produce a less even surface compared to rollers or brushes. It is also important to allow enough time for drying and intermediate sanding.

Regarding costs: material expenses are relatively low, especially if you already have the necessary tools. However, the time required can take several days because multiple coats and drying times are necessary.

With professional painters, you can expect a very high-quality and particularly durable finish. Their prices depend on the amount of work and the specific piece of furniture but often fall within the three-digit range. In summary: for ambitious DIYers, doing it yourself is feasible and more cost-effective; for absolute perfection and durability, a professional is recommended.

I agree with the previous speaker but would like to add: If you don’t repaint regularly, you should be aware that the effort, especially the preparation work, is often underestimated—particularly when removing the original melamine or foil surface on MALM furniture.

Tip: There is special sandpaper designed for melamine, and a high-quality primer is really the key to success. It’s also recommended to work in a space with dust extraction or at least good ventilation.

bupar schrieb:
Spray paints are convenient but usually result in a less even surface compared to rollers or brushes.

This is important: although spray paint sounds tempting, a more professional finish is often achieved using a paint roller and a brush for the edges.

Regarding durability: When painted carefully by yourself, the finish can last several years. However, for furniture subjected to heavy use, minimal chipping should be expected.

This topic is fantastic! :-) Six months ago, I painted my MALM bed frame — a complete DIY project using sandpaper, primer, and acrylic paint from the hardware store. The result absolutely blew me away!

Of course, it requires patience, since the sanding alone took almost a full day. But I found it really motivating to do the work myself and end up with a unique piece of furniture.

A tip from me: always apply at least three thin coats of paint, lightly sanding between each one. And don’t skimp on the primer! Otherwise, you’ll have problems with adhesion later on.

I think it’s totally worth it for the pride and the final result. And the cost? Pretty low — except for the time invested. But I really enjoyed that part 🙂

vinpau schrieb:
My MALM bed frame painted – entirely DIY using sandpaper, primer, and acrylic paint from the hardware store.

Very inspiring! I’m also curious whether you completely disassembled the bed beforehand and how you handled edges and corners?

Additionally: Did you encounter any particular challenges with painting both sides of surfaces, like drawers or back panels? I ask because I’m not sure if you really need to sand and paint everything or if there are areas that can be left untreated.

olivernu schrieb:
When done carefully, DIY paint jobs can last a few years. However, for heavily used furniture, you should expect some minor chipping over time.

What has your experience been? Which furniture pieces have you painted, and how well do they hold up in everyday use?

I recently painted a MALM dresser set myself and can definitely recommend it! 🙂

Regarding disassembly: I took the furniture completely apart – this makes sanding and painting much easier and more thorough. The edges are often the trickiest areas. For corners, I used a small foam roller to apply the paint evenly.

For protection and durability: After painting, I applied a clear furniture varnish. This significantly improves resistance.

Piet-fra58 schrieb:
How about you? Which furniture pieces have you painted, and how well do they hold up in everyday use?

My paint jobs are now about 8 months old with no signs of wear or damage – even the drawer fronts still look great. It’s important to allow the paint to fully cure (at least 7 days, preferably 14).