Hi there… I hope you’re well and thanks for stopping by! {big smile}

A popular topic around here (and in blog land) has been painting laminate furniture. I thought I’d continue the conversation today because I found this shapely French Provincial Laminate Dresser at the Thrift Store… so pretty!

This is a perfect piece to show you The 2 Best Ways to Paint Laminate Furniture.

Let’s start with a non-techie description and say that laminate is very different than veneer!

Laminate is a man-made shiny, smooth, non-porous material that is like a ‘print’ or ‘photo’ of the wood grain. Manufacturers use this product to cover less expensive wood-composite furniture to give the appearance of higher quality wood.

Laminate CAN be painted but it can NOT be stained.

Common concerns when painting laminate furniture is:

1. Bubbling while the paint/primer is still wet.

2.  Poor adhesion after the paint has dried/cured.

Both indicate that your paint did NOT properly stick or bond to the laminate. This will cause all your hard work/finish to scratch off easily long after your piece is complete.  And we don’t want that!… so here we go….

The 2 Best Ways to Paint Laminate Furniture ~ Method #1

Step 1. Clean the Surface

This dresser was dusty so all that was needed to clean it was a soft cloth dampened with warm water. If it had had grease or staining, I would have used vinegar and water or a TSP solution.

If you use any sort of chemical cleaner, ensure that all the residue is thoroughly wiped off before Step 2.

Step 2. Lightly Sand the Entire Piece

Yes, SAND! Laminate is a slick and non-porous surface so it’s best to lightly scuff the surface.  I use 150-220 grit sandpaper to sand the laminate because it’s the BEST way to get the primer and paint to adhere properly. Trust me…this step will ensure your paint job lasts!

Be careful not to over-sand though.

I once used my sander and tore the laminate right off. When I painted that piece, you could see the difference in “texture” (MDF vs Laminate) through my paint job.

So be easy with your sanding. Take the sandpaper in your hand and lightly go over the piece as if you’re wiping down your kitchen counter. No more is required!

Step 3. Prime

I used B.I.N shellac-based primer. I really like this primer because it has super adhesion for shiny surfaces including tiles. A few of my other favorite primers are KILZ and Zinsser.

When you choose a primer to paint laminate, just make sure it says for shiny surfaces. One coat is sufficient but you can do two coats if you prefer. If the primer is not adhering to the laminate properly, you’ll notice it looks uneven and bubbly.

Step 4. Paint

After 1 coat of primer, I applied 3 coats of Café au Lait paint.

For a professional finish, I like to lightly sand in-between each coat with fine grit sandpaper.

Step 5. Protect with a Sealer/Topcoat

Protect and seal your work with a topcoat. I used Minwax Wipe-On Poly in Satin for the handles and Annie Sloan Clear Wax for the entire dresser.

The 2 Best Ways to Paint Laminate Furniture ~ Method #2

I used 2 different paints on this dresser and of course one of them had to be Chalk/Mineral Paint!

The Café au Lait part was painted with a regular eggshell latex with all the steps described in Method #1.

The Dove White (front drawers and striped sides) was painted with a custom Chalk/Mineral Paint. When painting laminate with Chalk/Mineral Paint (brand name or HMCP), the steps are EXACTLY the same as Method #1 EXCEPT NO PRIMER is needed.

With Chalky Paints sanding is usually not required, but to get a long-lasting finish on the laminate, a light sanding is still a REALLY good idea!

You can get some really great deals on wood laminate furniture and they paint up gorgeous… so I hope you’re inspired to give it a try!

Update 06/19/2018 – Hi guys! I’ve painted plenty of laminate pieces since this post was originally published. I’m pretty picky (and loyal) with the primers I use but I recently found another amazing product that adheres paint to laminate. No sanding, water-based, easy to use and clean up… and it sticks like nobody’s business! You can see a laminate dresser I’ve used it on here.  If you do decide to give it a try, I’d love to hear what you think and how you’re project turned out. 🙂

RELATED POSTS::

How To Paint Laminate Without Sanding – 90’s Makeover

Painting Over Laminate The EASY Way

The Difference Between Laminate and Veneer

Milk Paint Laminate Furniture

How To Make ANY Surface Paintable

I’D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS FINISH.  IF YOU HAVE ANY TIPS YOU’D LIKE SHARE OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN… I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.

Happy painting and have an inspiring day my friends,

Denise x

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