How to Paint IKEA Furniture: Step by Step Plus 13 Ideas

Painting IKEA furniture is one of the quickest, cheapest ways to give a room a new look. A tired white bookcase can become a deep green feature, a plain chest of drawers can look like a vintage find, and a wardrobe can blend into the walls. The secret is preparation, because most IKEA furniture has a smooth, shiny finish that ordinary paint won't stick to.

In this guide I'll share whether you can paint IKEA furniture, how to tell what it's made of, a step-by-step method that works, how to paint IKEA furniture without sanding, and 13 painted IKEA furniture ideas to inspire you.

The quick answer: Yes, you can paint IKEA furniture. Clean it thoroughly with sugar soap, lightly scuff the surface with fine sandpaper, then apply a bonding primer made for laminate, melamine or shiny surfaces. Once the primer is dry, apply two thin coats of furniture paint with a foam roller and a good synthetic brush, and let it cure fully before heavy use. Solid wood pieces are even easier, needing only a light sand and a standard wood primer.

Can You Paint IKEA Furniture?

Yes. Almost any IKEA piece can be painted, but the method depends on what it's made of.

To check your piece, look at the edges and the back. A smooth, plastic-feeling surface with a paper-like edge is usually laminate or foil, while visible grain on the edge means solid wood. The product name and description on IKEA's website will also list the materials.

How Easy Is It to Paint IKEA Furniture?

It's a very manageable weekend project for a beginner. Solid wood pieces are the easiest. Laminate and melamine take a little more patience, because the right primer is essential, but none of the steps need special skills. The most common reason a painted IKEA piece fails is skipping the cleaning, scuffing or priming.

What You'll Need

• Sugar soap or a degreasing cleaner
• Fine sandpaper (around 120 to 180 grit) or a sanding sponge
• Bonding primer suitable for laminate, melamine or shiny surfaces
• Furniture paint in a satin or eggshell finish
• A small foam roller and a good synthetic brush
• A screwdriver to remove handles and doors
• Dust sheets, a tack cloth and decorator's tape
• Optional: a clear water-based topcoat for tops and handles

How to Paint IKEA Furniture Step by Step

1. Take it apart. Remove handles, knobs, doors and drawers. Put screws in labelled bags so reassembly is easy.

2. Clean thoroughly. Wash every surface with sugar soap to remove grease, dust and fingerprints. Rinse with clean water and let it dry completely.

3. Scuff the surface. Lightly sand everything with fine sandpaper. You aren't removing the finish, just dulling the shine so the primer can grip. Wipe away dust with a tack cloth.

4. Prime. Apply a thin, even coat of bonding primer. On laminate and melamine this is the most important step. Let it dry for as long as the tin recommends.

5. Paint. Apply the first coat of furniture paint with a foam roller on flat areas and a brush on edges and corners. Keep coats thin to avoid drips.

6. Add a second coat. Lightly sand between coats if needed, wipe away dust, then apply the second coat for full, even coverage.

7. Let it cure. Paint can feel dry in hours but takes much longer to harden fully. Reassemble carefully and treat it gently for the first couple of weeks, especially on tops and drawer fronts.

How to Paint IKEA Furniture Without Sanding

You can skip most sanding if you use a bonding primer made specifically for shiny surfaces such as laminate, melamine and glass. You'll still need to clean the piece thoroughly with sugar soap, and a very light scuff with a sanding sponge will always improve grip, but heavy sanding isn't necessary.

• Clean well. Grease and dust are the main reasons paint peels.
• Choose the right primer. Look for one labelled for laminate, melamine or tiles.
• Test first. Paint a small hidden area, let it dry for a day, then try scratching it with a fingernail.
• Be patient. Give the primer and paint their full drying and curing times.

13 Painted IKEA Furniture Ideas

1. A sage green chest of drawers. Soft sage with brass knobs turns a plain chest into a calm, vintage-feeling piece. It's the same colour that makes sage green kitchen cabinets so popular.

2. A navy bookcase. Painting a white bookcase deep navy makes books and ceramics stand out, and it's one of the most popular ways to paint a BILLY bookcase.

3. A terracotta bookcase. Warm terracotta gives shelving an earthy, Mediterranean feel.

4. A two-tone pine chest. Paint the body of a pine chest soft white and stain or oil the top for a cottage look.

5. A colour-matched wardrobe. Painting a wardrobe the same colour as the walls helps it disappear, which is ideal in a small bedroom. Choosing one of the best white paint colours keeps things light.

6. A muted blue wardrobe with new knobs. A soft blue with wooden knobs gives a wardrobe a calm, Scandi feel.

7. A black bedside table with cane. Paint a small bedside table black and add a cane-effect panel for a chic, hotel look.

8. An olive green sideboard. Deep olive green with brass handles looks rich and grown-up in a dining room.

9. A pastel children's storage unit. Soft pink, mint or butter yellow cubes make children's storage cheerful without being garish.

10. A butter yellow desk. A pale yellow desk brings sunshine to a home office corner.

11. A painted bed frame. A simple bed painted in a soft grey or white makes a bedroom feel calm and fresh, much like these white bed furniture ideas.

12. Colour-blocked shelves. Paint the inside back of a bookcase in a contrasting colour for a subtle pop.

13. A vintage-style cabinet. Paint a cabinet in a soft putty colour, distress the edges lightly and add an aged mirror, using these tips on how to antique a mirror.

Best Paint Finishes for IKEA Furniture

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping the primer. Paint applied straight onto laminate will peel and scratch.
• Painting too thickly. Thick coats drip and stay soft for longer.
• Not cleaning properly. Even invisible grease stops paint sticking.
• Rushing reassembly. Drawers and doors can stick together if the paint hasn't hardened.
• Pouring leftovers away. Store leftover paint for touch-ups or pass it on. According to Community RePaint, "Community RePaint schemes across the country accept usable leftover paint from manufacturers and businesses."

How I Approach Painted Furniture

After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, I've painted a lot of furniture, and I love how much difference one well-chosen colour makes.

• I pick the colour in the room. Look at the paint sample next to your walls and floor in daylight and in the evening.
• I keep it to one statement. One painted piece in a strong colour looks intentional, while several can feel busy.
• I change the hardware. New knobs or handles are the finishing touch that makes IKEA furniture look bespoke.
• I style it with flowers. As a florist, I always finish a newly painted chest or sideboard with a vase of branches or seasonal flowers on top.

The same paint-and-hack approach works in small spaces too, as in these IKEA campervan furniture ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you paint IKEA furniture?

Yes. With good cleaning, a light scuff and a bonding primer, most IKEA furniture can be painted, including laminate, melamine and solid wood pieces.

How do you paint IKEA furniture without sanding?

Clean it thoroughly with sugar soap, then use a bonding primer made for shiny surfaces such as laminate and melamine. A very light scuff still helps, but heavy sanding isn't needed.

What paint do you use on IKEA furniture?

Use a bonding primer first, then a furniture paint in a satin or eggshell finish. Water-based paints are easy to use and dry quickly.

How hard is it to paint IKEA furniture?

It isn't hard. Most pieces take a weekend, and the key is careful preparation and patience between coats.

Can you paint a BILLY bookcase?

Yes. BILLY bookcases are usually foil or laminate, so clean, scuff and use a bonding primer before painting.

Can you paint an IKEA wardrobe?

Yes. Remove the doors and paint them flat, use a bonding primer, and give the paint time to harden before rehanging.

How long does painted IKEA furniture take to cure?

It can feel dry within hours, but most paints take a couple of weeks to cure fully, so treat it gently at first.

Give Your IKEA Furniture a New Life

Painting IKEA furniture is an affordable, satisfying way to make a room feel new. Clean well, scuff lightly, never skip the primer and keep coats thin, and your flat-pack basics can look like bespoke pieces made for your home.

And if you'd like help choosing colours for your furniture and rooms, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.