Painting Your MALM Dresser: Simple Instructions & Tips

5 min reading time

We love them—ourIKEA 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 design. However, the choice of colours is quite limited. With our paints, it's easy to refinish IKEA furniture. Using the IKEA MALM chest of drawers as an example, we'll show you how you can easily customise the look of your home with a new coat of paint.

Would you like to paint your Malm chest of drawers?

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Table of content

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. Paint a MALM chest of drawers properly: step-by-step instructions from MissPompadour
4. FAQ: Frequently asked questions
5. You need these tools to paint the MALM chest of drawers

Turning 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, converted into a nappy-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 and 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 have put together a selection of our products for you:

Eggshell
The Eggshell paint is best suited for here, as it offers an easy-to-clean and durable surface. For a low-sheen finish, we recommend our MissPompadour Eggshell varnishes.

Painting with matt paints
You can also paint the IKEA MALM chest of drawers completely matt. Then use our MissPompadour Matt Varnish. However, matt finishes are less robust than Eggshell finishes. We therefore recommend that you apply an additional topcoat for extra surface protection.

Paint with chalk paint
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 beautiful, velvety surface that is also perfect for vintage or shabby chic styles. Furniture exposed to heavy wear and tear should be additionally sealed for extra surface protection. You can also apply a layer of wood wax to the chalk paints.

Paint your MALM chest of drawers properly: step-by-step instructions from MissPompadour

Painting the IKEA MALM chest of drawers - just like other IKEA furniture - is quick and easy with our step-by-step guide. What's special about the chest of drawers is that it's not made entirely of wood, but of chipboard and covered in plastic. That's why you need a primer to ensure that the colour lasts - without sanding the piece of furniture first

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

Step 1: Choose Eggshell, Matt 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-to-clean surface, we recommend using Eggshell. Simply choose your favourite shade from our extensive colour collection. If you find it difficult to decide, our colour cards will certainly help you. An IKEA MALM chest of drawers, just like other IKEA furniture, can be painted without having to sand.

Step 2: Preparation

Remove handles, hinges, and anything that is not to be painted. Also, protect the floor by covering it with cardboard or tarpaulin. Parts that cannot be removed can be covered with masking tape. If you only want to paint the main frame, for example, it is advisable to remove the drawers first.

Step 3: Clean the workpiece

The surface should be completely free of dust and grease It is best to clean with To Clean - MissPompadour Cleaner. It is important that all corners and edges are cleaned thoroughly. Clean your furniture thoroughly even if it is completely new. Because even new furniture coatings can have residual grease or silicone. Finally, rinse the whole surface with clean water so that there are no soapy residue left on the surface, 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, it is difficult for paint to adhere 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 using other clean brushes and Rollerrs. Repeat the process until you are happy with the result. Two coats are often 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 well resistant to impact 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 ones 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!

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

For a hard-wearing surface, we recommend our MissPompadour Eggshell quality. Of course, you can also paint with matt paint. However, please note that these are less resilient. With a matt paint finish, we also recommend an additional topcoat for extra surface protection.

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

If you use MissPompadour To Bond & Block, you can paint your IKEA MALM dresser without having to painstakingly sand it with sandpaper first. To Bond & Block creates a perfect primer for your colour, 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.