IKEA furniture has become a staple in homes around the world. It’s not hard to see why. It’s affordable, versatile and readily available – not to mention being easy to transport and assemble (relatively easy, at least!)
But despite these benefits, IKEA furniture can feel a little impersonal. If you’re looking for ways to make your home unique, upcycling can make it happen. Upcycling IKEA furniture is a budget-friendly and sustainable way to add more personalisation, functionality and style to your living spaces.
In this article, we’ll dig deeper into the IKEA furniture upcycle trend – including why it’s gaining traction, which pieces and techniques to use, and some brilliant examples.
Why upcycle IKEA furniture?
Let’s start with the “why” when it comes to IKEA furniture upcycling. There are four main reasons.
Affordability
Firstly, IKEA furniture is relatively cheap. That makes experimenting low risk. You’re not repainting your family’s prized dining table or sanding down a cherished grandfather clock. That’s especially true if you find furniture second hand on sites like Gumtree, eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Accessibility
Then there’s accessibility. If you decide you want to upcycle a MALM dresser, you won’t have to spend weeks waiting for it. Most IKEA items are readily available, meaning you can pick up exactly what you need and start your upcycle almost immediately.
Again, you’ll have no issues finding most items second hand too. The only downside of this is that it will probably be pre-assembled, so you’ll need more space in a car or van to transport it. Of course, if putting up flat pack furniture gives you the fear, this is probably more of a pro than a con!
Customisation
We touched upon this above, but upcycling IKEA furniture allows you to turn something mass-produced into a unique creation. There are probably thousands of people with KALLAX shelves in their home. But how many have a playfully decorated KALLAX storage bench for their kids’ playroom?
Sustainability
Finally, there’s the sustainability factor. Upcycling any furniture gives it a second life – eliminating waste, keeping it out of landfills and reducing the demand for newly manufactured pieces. By reusing existing pieces and materials, you’ll be doing your bit to save energy and resources.
Popular IKEA items to upcycle
IKEA furniture upcycling isn’t a completely new trend. Over the years, a few pieces in particular have become popular among the upcycling community. Here are some we’ve seen popping up time and again on the Frenchic Fan Forum:
- MALM dressers: Can be transformed into kitchen islands, TV stands or even benches, offering both style and storage in unexpected ways
- KALLAX shelves: A favourite for creative projects – they can easily be turned into bar carts, room dividers, planters and wardrobes (as we’ll explore later in the article).
- BILLY bookcases: Another classic option, with potential to be painted, fitted with doors or repurposed into storage solutions that blend seamlessly with your décor.
- LACK tables: Provide a blank canvas for wall shelves, pet beds, or chic side tables.
- POÄNG chairs: Can be refreshed with new upholstery or a fresh coat of paint for a modern, personalised touch.
How to upcycle IKEA furniture
There are a few techniques you can use as part of an IKEA furniture upcycle:
- Painting: This is the easiest upcycle, which transforms the look and feel of your furniture. We’ll expand on this below.
- Hardware swaps: You can also change knobs, handles or legs for a designer feel.
- Repurposing: Cut, stack or combine pieces into new furniture.
- Decoupage: Add patterns or textures to surfaces. Finishing Coat can help with this.
- Fabric: Reupholster chairs or benches for added comfort or unique colour schemes.
As chalk paint specialists, we can provide a bit more insight into the painting process for IKEA upcycles.
Checking the surface
Most IKEA pieces are covered with a laminate coating for a finished look. The first step is to ensure this is smooth for the best end results. Fill any small chips or dings with an all-purpose filler, before smoothing with fine sandpaper. This is covered in more depth in our guide to painting laminate furniture.
Clean, dry and sand
Next are our golden rules for practically any paint project – clean, dry and sand. You should clean the surface using a degreaser like Sugar Soap. After a thorough scrubbing, rinse with clean water than allow to dry completely.
Then you’ll want to add a key to the glossy laminate surface by sanding. A good hand sand with a fine- or medium-grade sandpaper will do the trick, then brush off any dust that’s left.
Painting and curing
Finally, it’s onto the fun part. Paint with a brush, roller or sprayer depending on your preference and the type of piece you’re dealing with. Just be sure to dilute paint for your sprayer by around 10%.
To make life easier, you’ll want to use a self-priming paint like Frenchic’s Lazy Range, Al Fresco range and Trim Paint. These paints ensure good adhesion without the need to buy more products or paint another coat before starting.
Follow the instructions on the tin for coverage, coats and drying time. Once you’re done, you’ll want to allow a few weeks for the paint to properly cure and harden before properly using your furniture.
IKEA furniture: 3 upcycle examples
Frenchic has a team of creative connoisseurs on hand to share their expertise and provide endless design inspiration. Here are three of their top picks for wardrobes using IKEA’s KALLAX units...
First up, this large wardrobe has been given a new lease of life with Hornblower from the Lazy Range. Painting the adjoining KALLAX units in the same colour has created a large, multi-functional piece with modern shelving.
Kids love expressing their personality. This Hot as Mustard wardrobe does exactly that with a pop of yellow for their own space. The handles have been painted in Raspberry Punch to bring the piece to life with a bold bit of contrast.
Or how about this modern wardrobe and shelving unit using quirky khaki, Funky Dora? With a small door on one side and four-tier KALLAX unit on the other, it offers a compact, functional bit of furniture that would look great in any space.
Upcycling made easy
With Frenchic’s self-priming paints, upcycling furniture is even easier but oh so rewarding. Whether it’s an IKEA furniture upcycle or a revamp of an outdated dresser, you can minimise prep and achieve fantastic results every time.
Check out our experts hub and help section for more inspiration or find your nearest stockist to get started.
