I currently have the Malm (from Ikea) bedroom set. I love the style (modern and simple) but I am not crazy about the colour- I have the light wood veneer.
Is it possible for me to paint it? I really like the dark, rich brown colours that are 'in' now...
Would I have to sand, prime then paint or just paint and prime?
Would I have to put a sealer over it at the end to ensure it doesn't chip?
Should I use flat or sheen? or does it depend on my preference?
(anyone ever paint their own ikwa furniture?)
Thanks.
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Hi,
I painted an old Ikea pine veneer desk in a dark espresso brown (RL Turret Stair from HD). I had the primer tinted dark also - and you need a high adhesion primer. I can't remember if I sanded - if so, it was a very light sanding at most. I did 2 coats of paint (think it was an egshell? - not very glossy) and then coated with a water based topcoat in a satin finish. If doing it again, I wouldn't do the finish coat with a brush (as HD advised) since it left brush marks. Maybe I didn't stir enough - that stuff went on pretty thick. Next time I'd use a sponge roller or a staining sponge for the finish coat. Not sure if you really need the topcoat - they never seem to use on the TV shows - but I wanted to protect the surface. But even with the botched topcoat, the desk looks 100% better - in fact, the brushmarks sort of look like graining so it looks like its stained and not painted.
Susan
and paint should be fine!
Are you sure it is veneer? Or is it melamine made to look like veneer?
And whatever colour you choose--use gloss or semi-gloss latex for furnitre.
And if you have to use melamine paint it only comes in the one finish--and can't be custom mixed to a darker colour--something about how the pigment doesn't bind with the paint. BM does make a black and a dark burgandy pre-mixed in melamine. (and they can advise you whether to sand. I think I did, whenI painted my white "billy" bookcase but I don't remember--I think I did --just a light "scuff, and with melamine it didn't need priming!
hth.