I’m back with another Ikea desk hack update!! If you missed part I of the series, you can read it here. Today’s update is a fun one because it’s all about color. Of course you could recreate this desk without having to paint it, but if you’re looking for a way to add color to your office, or any room for that matter you can in fact paint Ikea furniture. And in a way that will last!
Here’s part II:
So I chose the color…. BLUE!! I’ve really been crushing on cool colors lately and thought that the blue would really go well with the reddish orange of our floors. The color I used was Deep River by Behr Marquee. It’s the perfect bright and vibrant blue (a blue that brightens the space).
How to Paint Ikea Furniture
There are a few basic rules to follow when painting Ikea furniture. The biggest mistake you can make is rushing the project. Each step needs to be done and you need to allow dry time if you want your piece to last a long time.
1. Sand the area you’ll be painting. Lightly scuffing up the surface a bit will help the paint stick. I used 120 grit. Wipe down completely after to remove all dust particles.
2. Primer is an absolute must. Don’t skip this unless you want all of your work to be for nothing. The best primer that I’ve ever used is BIN primer (it’s the same primer that I used for the Hutch Makeover). Roll on a coat or two (depending on how dark your base is) and let dry overnight.
3. After your piece is primed, you can add your color. I rolled on two coats and then let dry for 48 hours.
4. Once your piece is dry, you’ll need to apply 2 coats of Polycrylic (sanding lightly in between each coat). I recommend rolling on a thin layer and then going over it with a sponge brush to smooth it out. Use long brush strokes and work quickly!
5. Let dry for at least another 48 hours before assembling.
Just to really test the theory that primer makes all the difference, I painted on a quick coat on the top of the desk that won’t be seen. No primer was underneath and it scratched immediately. It scratched so easily in fact that Ryan was able to remove all of the paint within a matter of minutes. Get the primer!
Also you can tell how long ago I did the painting portion of this project because Ryan is in shorts outside. I actually started this desk BEFORE the hutch makeover. Again, not everything you see on the internet happens overnight.
So that’s it for this DIY Ikea desk hack update! Next week I’ll be back with the process of painting the top of the desk as well as the legs. I’m so excited for you to see everything all together!
xo
Rachel