One of my favorite purchases was a set of Ikea desks. They were easy to assemble and come in five different colors! I love having the option to change the design of my desk. However, I was looking to change up our office space and thought it might be easier if I just painted them.
So I went online and found that there are many different ways to paint Ikea furniture. There’s even a YouTube video of how to do it.
In this article, I am going to discuss about how to paint your Ikea Desks.
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Can Ikea desks be painted?
The simple answer it is yes, you can repaint an Ikea desk. You can paint them, sand them, make changes. But the question is what method should you do? The options below mention the best ideas and how-tos.
You just need to follow these easy steps:
Clean the surface with a damp cloth and water-based cleaner
Yes, Ikea Desks can be painted. However, before you paint the desk, it’s important to clean off any dirt or residue that might have accumulated on the surface of your desk. Use a damp cloth and water-based cleaner to wipe off any dirt or residue from the surface. Once you’ve wiped down your desk, it’s time to apply the primer!
Apply primer
Just like any other furniture, you can paint Ikea Desks with a coat of primer and your desired color. If the wood is too rough for painting, sand it down first to create a smooth surface.
Why applying primer is important?
Ikea furniture is made of particleboard, which means that it’s not natural wood. Particle board contains glue and other synthetic materials like formaldehyde resin. This makes the surface sticky and rough and the paint will not adhere to it as well.
The better option is to use a primer for this type of furniture before painting. If you do, make sure that you let it dry for at least 24 hours before applying the paint.
Paint in your favorite color
One of the easiest ways to paint your Ikea desk is to simply use a latex primer and then top coat it with a clear sealant.
If you want more color, use acrylic paints, but be sure to use an acrylic primer first.
Another option is to paint the desk with one color and then put a clear top coat on it for shine, or you can even try out two colors.
Seal it with a clear coat
Ikea desks are made with a lot of particle board and the paint is just on top. In order for your desk to be water resistant, you’ll need to seal it with a clear coat. This is the only way to make your desk last if you want it to be water resistant.
Can you paint over laminate finish?
Laminate has a finish that is easier to clean and resist stains. This makes it ideal for the kitchen, bathroom, or other areas with heavy traffic. Laminate is also more resistant to scratches than wood, so you can paint over laminate without fear of damaging your furniture.
It does not have a porous surface like other surfaces, so it’s impossible to paint over. But there are still ways that you can add color and character to your Ikea desk or table by painting the edges of its legs with contrasting colors.
How to check what material your IKEA piece is made of
Some Ikea products, such as desks and tables, come in different materials. For example, the one shown is made of particleboard and laminated MDF. It’s important to know the material used to make your IKEA product before you can paint it or refinish it. Additionally, many pieces are not painted at all; they’re just made from a certain material that has been treated with an oil finish to give it an attractive look without painting anything on top of it.
The best way to check what material your IKEA piece is made of, is by checking out the product description on the homepage or website. You can also use a paint sprayer in order to see if you are able to get away with painting over it without damage.
What kind of paint will stick to laminate?
Latex paint is the best type of paint to use on laminate surfaces because it adheres well.
You can still paint your Ikea desks – it’ll be easier now because you will want to use paint specifically made for the laminate surfaces! Latex paint is affordable and much better than acrylic and oil-based for this and many other projects.
Latex paint specially made for Ikea surfaces comes in a can and will give you a smooth finish because it dries quickly and doesn’t require sanding.
It’s best to paint the desk with two coats of this latex-based paint for full coverage and a smooth finish, using a roller or brush depending on which you prefer.
You can paint your Ikea desk in so many ways, but the easiest way is to use latex-based paints. To apply, use a brush or roller and you will need two coats for maximum coverage.
The paint can be either a latex or acrylic primer, which will stick to the laminate. It is recommended that you use ProClassic Interior Acrylic Latex Enamel and All Surface Latex Enamel Base because they are suitable for interior surfaces of all types.
Assemble or disassemble the desk before painting?
If you buy furniture from Ikea and want to paint it, painting assembled IKEA furniture is not as easy as you think. However, if you take the pieces apart first and paint them separately before reassembling them, it will make your life a lot easier. It’s hard to get all of the spots on small parts like doors or drawers so trying to do it when they’re connected together might be difficult.
If you already know that you are going to paint your Ikea desk, then it’s easy. You can either purchase a pre-assembled piece or assemble the pieces yourself and take them apart when they arrive at your home before painting.
Do I need to sand my Ikea Desk first before painting?
A common question that comes up is whether to sand or not before painting an Ikea desk. Generally speaking, if you’re painting a larger item, you’ll need to lightly sand or de-gloss the surface with a fine grit sanding block first before getting started.
Sanding is not necessary before painting Ikea desks. If you’re painting a small shelf or low-traffic item, sanding isn’t necessary. Remember though, if you’re painting a larger item and it will be used heavily, lightly sand or de-gloss the surface before starting with paint.
This helps give the paint more adhesion and prevents any issues of color bleeding.
