Apartment Therapy readers are an amazingly helpful and knowledgeable group - over the years, they have stepped up and provided answers to all sorts of questions about how to do things around the house better, where the best sources are and, of course, what color to paint the walls of your (fill in the blank). In honor of their willingness to help and to continue to spread the brainy-ness, we're putting together some reader intelligence reports, this first one on painting IKEA shelves, such as the LACK or EXPEDIT.
If you want to makeover your IKEA shelving in a different color (such as the amazing wall-matching set-up shown above), apparently, the one word you need to know is PRIMER!
• From quiltmaster
The secret is the primer. You must use a shellac based primer. B.I.N. by Zinsser is a common one. It is even used to paint laminate. After the primer dries, you cna use any kind of paint you like. I definitely recommend spraying the paint for a nice even finish. A sponge brush or roller will work too.Most of all allow plenty of drying time for the paint to fully cure. Cure times is one of the most understimated facrots in paint durability. And the companies rarely talk about it. I would dry the primer overnight and leave the painted shelf empty for at least a week, two if I could.
It really is easy. Have no fear!
• From missallfun
You can totally paint the shelves. Im a set designer and have painted mine about 5 different times. Primer is the key.
• From Jckry
I painted the lack shelves that I have in my store and I used a good quality primer, and a HIGH quality paint. I used a Ralph Lauren Metallic. I would also use a nice roller and use full strokes....Should come out smooth.
• From DARinNYC
I have painted many an IKEA item. The absolute key is primer as quiltmaster indicates! I would qualify though and suggest using "high adhesion" primer. It's designed for use on plastics and other surfaces and this will create a nice smooth surface for paint to adhere.
• From boston brit
I want to echo what quiltmaster said - Primer! And let it dry for a long time! We painted some Ikea bureaus a few years ago and our downfall was that it was humid when we did it and it took too long to dry. Good primer and plenty of time to dry, and you should be all set!
And, our readers also kindly provide the proof that primer really DOES seem to be the key:
• From mh330
Despite a lot of internet research, i made some mistakes: - USE PRIMER! i skipped this step, since i've never used primer for anything and never had a problem... until now. I figured that since the paint was sticking as i was painting, all was good. But i have to say that without primer (and proper sanding apparently) the paint is very fragile and likes to chip easily.
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Agreed! I have done both - with an without primer! I spray painted a set of Malm dressers without primer and it was not successful long term... major chipping. Recently I painted some Lack shelves and used primer... they came out well, although the finish is a little rough to the touch. Perhaps I didn't use the best primer or didn't wait for it to fully dry before putting on the final coat... either way, they still look great on the wall.
yes, primer. i sanded a little before and after as well. i have to say that my biggest issue with the lak shelves has been hanging them so that they don't droop. the solution to that: toggle bolts!
so does one still need to sand the item before the primer is spayed/painted on?
I hate the look of chipping painted furniture. Lightly sanding for good adhesion before applying two light coats of spray B.I.N. primer will make ordinary latex paint stick to just about anything. I either add some water-based poly to my paint (less than 20%), which then requires at least three coats, or I top two coats of undiluted paint with a few coats of spray sealant - these methods work great with matte poly if you need to match a flat finish. The biggest mistake people make when painting furniture is to assume that good results can be achieved quickly and easily in one afternoon; it takes ample preparation, multiple products, good technique and a couple of days to achieve a long-lasting professional looking finish on furnishings like shelves that will see any amount of wear.
This is perfect! I was just planning on painting a Billy bookcase this coming weekend! Primer, it is!
Laura
http://www.justalittlebit.net
I was too afraid to attempt to paint my Expedit, so I bought an extreme amount of contact paper and covered each piece with contact paper before putting together. It took forever, but I was really happy with how it turned out!
Awesome! Also, I never thought to store records that way. I dig it.
excellent advice here. i would just like to add that lightly sanding between coats smooths out any brush strokes and really makes that high gloss shine.
And paint before you put it together.
So for those that have painted Ikea shelves (like an Expedit), did you take it apart before painting? Seems like you would get more even coverage doing it that way, but then you've had to paint and let each side of each shelf dry before doing the other. What's the best approach?
So I should have listened to my husband! Good thing he doesn't really read this blog so he wouldn't know that I'm admitting that he was right : ) Now I know: primer, primer, primer!
Primer. Got it.
This is good to know, as I plan on painting a lot of our Ikea stuff when we move.
So good to know! I have a few Ikea items that I still want to work on and this will now be one step I do not skip!
http://ruleroftheelves.com
Don't know about anyone else... but I like to use primer. LOL And yes, paint prior to assembly. You can't get good painting done inside an expedit cubicle. Unless you hire a rather tiny little man. Don't know where you would find one...
Does that mean no sanding required?
Just primer and paint?
I've been putting off transforming my Billy bookcase (from birch effect to a vintage white) because I don't feel like sanding it.
Just say the word, and I'll be off to buy primer and paint..
I've got an ikea table, unfinished surface that I've been thinking of painting. Does the statement paint first then assemble applies to tables too? My concern is how to manage the legs without it sticking to the surfacel Try to prop it against something, then wait for it to dry before painting the propped up portion? Or is painting after assembling easier for tables? I've got it assembled anyway. Sorry if I sound silly, I'm very inexperienced with such stuffs.
Here you can see my Expedit painted deep grey to match the wall: http://ministryofdeco.blogspot.com/2010/01/expedit-de-camuflaje.html
Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know about painting IKEA metal powder-coated furniture such as the PS cabinet? I've had mine since 2001 and am getting a bit tired of the red. I know they're only about $90 but I would prefer painting it white to buying a new one. Thanks.
Whenever I have painted something with a smooth finish, like a laminate or veneer, I have had the best luck with spraying - Spray primer, then spray paint. Every time I use a brush or a roller on a smooth surface, I end up with brush strokes. This might also be because I live in a hot climate where paint dries and becomes tacky within minutes.
"One of the most understimated facrots"?? I know that you're quoting directly from someone, but come on, the job of an editor is to fix any spelling mistakes before publication, or at least to insert a 'sic' after them.
I also say the primer is important. Just as important is surface preparation: sanding, filling in any voids, sanding again, get all dust off. Sanding generally is needed to scuff the surface to give the primer something to stick to. Especially important when painting a shiny surface. I always try to get a nice even scuff going before I paint.
Also think ahead about where you will let the stuff dry. Make it a spot where there won't be too much risk of bumps or pet hair or dust.
To the poster asking about painting a powder coated cabinet: I would definitely recommend a good sanding with a fine grip paper then thoroughly wiping down the shelf to get rid of all dust. Dry completely and prime/paint away! Will look great.
...proofreading is for sissies...
Anybody ever tried to dye a LACK shelf? I know it's a very thin wood lamination. I wonder if the dye would come out nice?
****To remove all the dust, after sanding, before painting - use a tack cloth. They're like sticky papertowels and work very well. I know you can get them in the paint section at a marine supply store. I use them before varnishing anything on our boat whether or not I have sanded the surface first. Lowe's or Home Depot may carry them, I don't know.
I'm planning on painting a laminate cabinet today, and found a great tutorial for it, although the comments at the bottom gave great ideas for adjustments:
http://livingwithlindsay.com/2009/05/how-to-paint-laminate-furniture.html
Has anyone ever tried to paint on the inside cubes of the Expedit bookcase? I can't imagine spray paint would be easy in this situation.
I tried painting 10 Billy Bookcases using Behr primer. It was a DISASTER. It refused to stick, and I had to sand it all off, and then use BIN primer instead. Wish wish wish I had read this post before undertaking such a huge project! BIN and only BIN!!!