While many are working from home these days why not have your work desk blend into your home decor? Watch as we turn this regular Ikea desk, into a beautiful piece that suits your style. This pine wood Ikea Alve secretary was looking a little dated in its original knotty pine finish. We’re going to use Gotham Grey Milk Paint by Fusion for this Ikea Hack: Transform Your Work From Home Desk.
Here’s what you’re going to need to get this project going!
- Ikea Alve Secretary & Hutch
- Gotham Grey Milk Paint
- Fusion TSP Alternative
- 220 Grit Sandpaper ( If sanding is needed )
- Zinser BIN Shellac Based Primer ( If Sealing Knots )
- 2″ Flat Staalmeester Brush
- Picket Fence Fusion Mineral Paint
- Fusion Hemp Oil
- Lint Free Rags
To give it a more modern look we chose to paint it in the colour “Gotham Grey” by Fusion Milk Paint.
Prep
The original finish had been varnished and so to prep it for the paint we gave it a good cleaning with Fusion TSP Alternative diluted in water. Then a once-over scuff-sanding to dull the finish.
If you are painting over raw pine, we would recommend sealing the wood knots with shellac before you paint. This prevents the knots come through at a later date. Since we have already refinished similar Ikea pieces and had no problems, we did not seal the knots. We mixed equal parts Gotham Grey powder and water to get a solid opaque look. You can adjust your quantity if you feel it is too thick or too thin. Stir with a whisk and let it stand for about 15 minutes so the Milk Paint ingredients can all dissolve. Here is a how-to Mix Milk Paint video!
Painting with Milk Paint
Two coats of Gotham Grey were applied. Here’s a video for what to expect for coverage when using Milk Paint.
Each coat dries in about 20-30 minutes. Apply as many coats as you desire.
We wanted the interior of the Secretary to be fresh and bright and in contrast with the grey. So, we painted 3 coats of “Picket Fence” Fusion Mineral Paint for the interior.
For large flat surface areas, we recommend using our paint roller to make the job go quicker. You can then use a brush for the corners.
After the paint dried, we sanded the piece all over with 600 grit sandpaper for a buttery smooth finish. We then sealed the Gotham Grey with Fusion Hemp Oil. A great tip- you can actually oil your piece first before sanding to keep the dust down! Just be sure that you’re fully satisfied with your coverage first because you can’t paint over the Hemp Oil. After 24 hours, you can remove any oil that has not been absorbed with a lint-free rag.
Finishing Touches for this Ikea Hack: Transform Your Work From Home Desk
The original Ikea hardware was very minimal looking. We replaced it with larger pulls on the two doors. The original single knob on the drawer was also replaced with a wrought iron finish pull.
Ikea Hack: Transform Your Work From Home Desk
Here is our final look. This desk is now a worthy piece inside your home!