how to paint the Ikea corner office

This assembly-required corner workstation looks more Scandinavian with a warm white paint job—a task that took serious time and effort but made wrenches and paintbrushes: eight, plus drying time.

The Paint:

The Process:

1. Begin with the unit in its unassembled state. Use fine-grade sandpaper to lightly rough up the lacquered finish of all pieces—inside and out—that you intend to paint.
   NOTE: This is a bit of a job, but you've got to do it or the paint won't adhere properly.
2. Use a clean, damp cloth to remove the sanding dust from all surfaces. Allow the wood pieces to dry completely.
3. Lay the pieces flat on newspaper with the unit's outside surfaces facing up. Use a brush to apply a thin coat of primer to each piece, avoiding edges that aren't visible on the finished piece (the unit will fit together better if edges that meet are left clean). Allow the primer to dry according to the directions on the can.
4. If you intend to paint the inside of the unit, turn the pieces over and repeat step #4. Don't bother painting the backs of the particleboard panels (the thin pieces that serve as the unit's rear), which will face the wall, anyway.
5. Once the primer is completely (completely!) dry, assemble the unit following the instructions provided by Ikea. (Sorry, but you and your Allen wrench are on your own for this one.)
6. If you've scratched the primer during assembly, touch it up with a small brush. Allow it to dry completely.
7. While you're waiting for the primer to dry, use painter's tape to mask off hardware, such as the knobs and hinges, that you want to keep free of paint. Keep in mind, the better a job you do at masking, the better the finished unit will look.
8. Now you're ready to paint. Use a brush to apply a coat of paint to all primed surfaces. Allow the paint to dry according to the directions on the label.
9. Once the paint is dry, use another sheet of fine-grade sandpaper to lightly rough up the entire surface. (Again, a drag, but this will help your final coat of paint to cling for dear life.)
10. One more time, use a clean, damp cloth to remove the sanding dust from all surfaces. Allow all surfaces to dry completely.
11. Apply your second and final coat of paint, taking care to cover every nook and cranny of the unit. Hint: If you are painting the cabinet's inner walls and shelves, paint the undersides of the top two shelves—when you sit at the desk, you look up at them.
12. When you've finish painting, immediately remove the tape and use a damp cloth to clean off any bleeding paint from your unit's hardware. Allow the paint to dry completely.
13. Move in to your new corner office.