DIY: painting doors Ikea PAX wardrobe

I moved to Amsterdam last month with my boyfriend and of course I immediately started working on the interior! In our new home I wanted to create a warm, peaceful look in the bedroom. For that I first made a mood board. The plan was to to paint the cabinet doors dark red/brown, which goes well with the warm beige shade on the wall. And I can tell you: it turned out beautiful! Would you like to get started yourself and give your cabinet doors a new color? I'll explain your steps step by step how to do this.

Painting cupboard doors in 9 steps:

Step 1: Degrease and clean

Before you start painting the doors, it is important to degrease and clean them properly. Use a mild detergent and a soft cloth. Make sure that all dirt and grease residues are completely removed.

Step 2: Sanding with fine sandpaper

To ensure that the paint adheres well, it is necessary to lightly sand the cabinet doors with fine sandpaper (grit 180). This will smooth out any imperfections and give the paint a good base to adhere to. Sand in even strokes until the surface feels smooth.

Step 3: Dusting

After sanding the cabinet doors, it is important to dust them well. Use a soft cloth or a brush to remove all dust particles. A wet piece of kitchen paper also worked well for me. This prevents dust from getting into the paint and gives you a smooth end result. With a quick vacuuming, you have even less chance of flying dust.

Step 4: Gray primer

Time for the primer. The primer ensures better adhesion of the final layer of paint. Because I am going from white to dark red doors, I have chosen a gray primer. The red paint covers a bit faster this way and you prevent the white color from showing through.

Step 5: Sanding
After the primer has dried completely, you can sand it lightly again with fine sandpaper. This will create a smooth surface for the paint layer and remove any irregularities that may have occurred during drying.

Step 6: First coat of varnish
Time for the paint! I chose the color Burgundy Wine from Histor, with a matte finish. I found this a bit exciting, especially because it is such a dark color and you never know exactly how it will turn out. Apply a first layer of dark red paint and make sure you do this evenly. Use a brush for the corners and a paint roller for the straight parts. Let the paint dry well.

Step 7: Sanding
After the first coat of paint has dried, you can lightly sand again with fine sandpaper. This gives the paint a good base to adhere well and ensures that any irregularities are smoothed out. Don't forget to dust well again after sanding.

Step 8: Second coat of varnish
Now apply a second coat of lacquer to the cabinet doors. Again, make sure this is done evenly and let the paint dry thoroughly.

Step 9: Installing doors and handles
Once all the layers of lacquer have dried completely, the cabinet doors can be mounted. I attached the handles last, but this can of course also be done before mounting the doors.

And there you have it, that's how you give your old (or new) closet doors a nice makeover! In the end I found this easy to do, but you have to take your time. I am very happy with the result, because the bedroom immediately has a hotel-chic vibe.

Good luck painting your cabinet doors!