Hey everyone! I'm about to dive into a DIY project by painting my new IKEA Hemnes bedside table, which is made of pine wood and originally comes in white. I'm considering colors like deep forest green or light olive green. Since I'm a total newbie at painting, I was planning just to clean it up and apply paint directly over the white. But now I'm wondering if I should take more steps like sanding or using a primer first. Would skipping those steps really affect the final look? Also, any extra tips on how long to wait between paint coats, how many layers of primer and paint I should use would be awesome. Thanks a lot!
2 Answers
For a smoother finish, I'd say sand the surface lightly before painting. It helps the paint stick better and reduces those brush strokes. I usually do 2-3 coats of paint after primer, allowing a good amount of drying time. Just keep an eye on it and test in a small area first to see how long you need. You’ll get a great finish if you take these extra steps!
I totally second that! Some light sanding goes a long way.
I tried this with my Hemnes table and I definitely recommend priming it first! I used BIN shellac primer and it made a huge difference. The paint went on smoother and the color turned out vibrant. Skipping this step might save time, but trust me, priming saves you from potential issues later on. Plus, it helps with adhesion! Also, I usually wait about 2-4 hours between coats, depending on the paint, but make sure to check the instructions on your specific paint can.
Absolutely agree! BIN is the way to go for painting IKEA furniture.
Yeah, using a primer really helps. I didn't prime my last project and it wasn't as nice.
Good call on sanding! It really does make a difference in how it looks.