Painting Your MALM Dresser: Simple Instructions & Tips

In Painting - How-To · 5 min reading time

We love them - our IKEA furniture. They are quick to buy, don't have long delivery times and fit into almost all households thanks to their mostly timeless look and practical dimensions. However, the colour selection is quite limited. With our paints, it's easy to repaint or varnish IKEA furniture. Using the IKEA MALM chest of drawers as an example, we show you how you can easily adapt the furniture to the individual look of your home with a new coat of paint.

1. Turning old into new: photos of MALM chests of drawers from our painting community
2. Which paint is suitable for painting an IKEA MALM chest of drawers?
3. Painting a MALM chest of drawers the right way: step-by-step instructions by MissPompadour
4. FAQ: Frequently asked questions
5. These are the accessories you need to paint your MALM chest of drawers

Turn old into new: photos of MALM chests of drawers from our painting community

The MALM chest of drawers is an absolute IKEA classic. It can be found in children's rooms, bedrooms and living rooms, and can be converted into a changing unit or a TV table. Depending on its function, our MissPompadour painting community has given it a new coat of paint - from gaudy modern to shabby chic to cosy country house style.

MissPompadour Beige with Sand

MissPompadour Green with Grey

MissPompadour Green with Forest

LittlePomp Apricot & Cheerful

MissPompadour Green with Jade

MissPompadour Green with Moss

What colour is suitable for painting an IKEA MALM chest of drawers?

We generally recommend painting the MALM chest of drawers. We have put together a selection of our products for you

varnishes in a satin matt look
Silk matt varnishes are best suited for painting, as they give you an easy-care and hard-wearing surface. For a silky matt look, we recommend our MissPompadour Eggshell varnishes.

Painting with matt varnishesn
You can also paint the IKEA MALM chest of drawers completely matt. Then use our MissPompadour Matt Varnish. However, matt surfaces are less stable than semi-gloss or glossy surfaces. We therefore recommend that you apply an additional topcoat.

Paint with chalk varnish
You can also paint your IKEA MALM chest of drawers with chalk paints. Use the colours from the CosyColours or LittlePomp collection, for example. These rich, warm chalk paints create a perfectly velvety surface, which is also perfect for the vintage or shabby chic style. Heavily used furniture should be additionally sealed at the end. You can also apply a layer of wood wax to the chalk paint.

Painting the MALM chest of drawers the right way: step-by-step instructions by MissPompadour

Painting the IKEA MALM chest of drawers - just like other IKEA furniture - is quick and easy with our step-by-step instructions. The special thing about the chest of drawers is that it is not made entirely of wood but of chipboard and is covered with plastic. That's why you need a primer to make the paint last - without sanding the furniture first.

If you want to paint or varnish IKEA furniture that is made of solid wood, you can find instructions in the article on painting wooden furniture.

Step 1: Choose varnishes or chalk paint

In principle, you can use any of our products to repaint your IKEA MALM chest of drawers. However, to achieve a hard-wearing and easy-care surface, we recommend using a semi-gloss varnish. Simply choose your favourite shade from our large colour scheme. If you find it difficult to decide, our colour cards will certainly help you. You can paint the IKEA MALM chest of drawers, just like other IKEA furniture, without sanding it.

Step 2: Preparation

Remove handles, hinges and anything that is not to be painted. Also protect the floor by covering it with cardboard or foil. You can cover parts that cannot be removed with tape. If you only want to paint the carcase, for example, it is advisable to remove the drawers beforehand.

Step 3: Clean the workpiece

The surface should be completely free of dust and grease - it is best to treat it with To Clean - MissPompadour Cleaner. It is important that all corners and edges are cleaned properly. Clean your furniture thoroughly even if it is completely new. Because even new furniture has residues of grease or silicone. Finally, clean the entire surface with clear water so that there are no more residues of the cleaner and allow the piece of furniture to dry thoroughly.

Step 4: Prime the surfaces

As the surfaces of the IKEA MALM chest of drawers are covered with plastic veneer, paint has difficulty adhering without pre-treatment. Therefore, always prime with MissPompadour To Bond & Block. This primer creates a perfect base for all varnishes. Use clean tools and let it dry for at least 3 hours.

Step 5: Paint the furniture

Now apply the paint to the MALM chest of drawers with other clean brushes and Rollerrs. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the result. Often, 2 coats are enough for an opaque finish, but you may need to paint your IKEA furniture a third time for perfect coverage. This may only be necessary in certain areas. Each coat should dry well, usually 4 to 6 hours is sufficient. The varnish hardens better with each day, making the surfaces more stable and making them shock-resistant after 10 to 14 days.

Step 6: Seal the varnish

If you have opted for the satin matt varnish quality Eggshell Varnish, you basically don't need a topcoat. When using matt varnishes or if you expect very heavy wear, you are on the safe side with To Seal - MissPompadour Topcoat and thus reinforce the protection.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

In case you still have questions about painting your MALM chest of drawers, we have compiled the most frequently asked questions for you here:

Which colour shade should I use?

It depends on whether you want to set a colour accent in your room or whether you want the MALM chest of drawers to be more subdued. Depending on this, you can choose a strong or a subtle colour shade. If you paint your chest of drawers tone-on-tone with the wall behind it, it will look particularly inconspicuous.
Bright colours are also suitable for children's rooms, while pastel shades can add a touch of country house style to your living room.

If you need help choosing a colour, please contact our colour consultancy!

What paint is suitable for painting an IKEA MALM chest of drawers?

We generally recommend varnishing the MALM chest of drawers. For a hard-wearing surface, we recommend using semi-gloss varnishes such as our MissPompadour Eggshell Varnish. Of course, you can also paint with gloss or matt varnishes. However, please note that these are less resilient. For matt varnishes, we also recommend a topcoat.

Can I paint the IKEA MALM chest of drawers without sanding it?

If you use MissPompadour To Bond & Block, you can paint your IKEA MALM chest of drawers without having to sand them with sandpaper. To Bond & Block creates a perfect primer for your paint, especially on smooth surfaces.

The tools you need to paint your MALM chest of drawers

This is what you need in addition to your wood varnish to paint your IKEA MALM chest of drawers:

Screwdriver to remove fittings and handles.
A plastic drop cloth or newspaper to protect the floor.
To Mask - MissPompadour Adhesive Tape if you don't want to paint certain areas. Always remove the adhesive tape when the paint is not yet completely dry. This will give you a clean edge.
Cleaning cloth and bucket to thoroughly clean your furniture before painting: The surface must be free of dust and grease for your paint to hold well.
Brush, paint roller for water-based varnishes and a paint tray: It is best to pour the varnish into the paint tray to prevent soiling in the original can. The Roller is suitable for applying the paint to larger areas. The brush, on the other hand, allows you to work a little more precisely, especially in the corners and on the edges.
Our stencils are ideal for unusual decorations.