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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Hi,
I am going to be painting some IKEA laminate furniture. I have already chosen the same primer as you, the shellac based one but can yu help me with the paint. What type of paint would you reccomend on top of this primer. There are so many out there I have no idea (Emulsion, Oil based, Latex etc)
Thanks for your help!
Hi there! ANY water-based paint will work nicely and they are easier to work with than an oil-based imo. Both Emulsion and Latex are water-based. So are chalk and mineral paints.
I didn’t know how to send this question.
I have a laminate wood table and benches.
I do have it in an enclosed outdoor patio.
Would like to kind of “seal it up” for protection.. Bought some Polycrylic.
Should I sand lightly like listed in article and apply or primer or what PLEASE HELP!
Hi Neal! 🙂 Are you painting or staining the wood table and benches and then top coating? Or are you wanting to add a topcoat to an existing finish?
Beautiful results on that dresser! Thanks for the in depth post about laminating furniture. There’s so many choices out there for finishing furniture its hard to choose which one is best and the right way to do it.
Love the cafe au laite paint color. I looked it up and turns out several of the paint companies have a cafe au laite color but they differ in shade quite a bit. What brand did you you?
Hi Jenni! If my memory is serving me correctly, I believe it was a mis-tint I purchased at Home Depot – then turned into a DIY Chalky Paint.
Any tips for painting laminate kitchen cabinets?
Hi there, once primed, can a gel stain be used? I have a black laminate leaning ladder shelf and my furniture is now more of a farmhouse ivory with cherry wood accents. I would love to make the leaning shelves more of a cherry wood look.
Hi Sonja! Gel Stain is best used on bare wood rather than on top of a primer or paint. That said, you can use a gel stain to alter/distress the look of paint but I would try it on a test board first to make sure that is the look you’re after.
Hi Denise — I love your blog!
I’m painting a black ’90s coffee table. I want to create a beachy, marine feeling and make this particle board look like aged planks. I am also lazy 🙂 So I got a nice matte latex primer in butter cream, and then did a few layers of a stormy blue-grey, mixed with water. I now have great texture on the piece, but still has an unreal look. I thought of doing a wax but they won’t stick to latex, right? Any advice you can give would be hugely appreciated!
Hi, I have a black ikea bookcase that I would hate to get rid of because it is the perfect size for my alcove however it is black and we are updating the room to white. Will white chalk paint cover?
I would like to try this on a laminate kids table. Would the paint hold up to cleaners like Clorox wipes?
Hi Alison. No the paint won’t but you could top coat and protect it with a waterbased poly and then it will. 🙂
I have two end tables. Laminate I understand the light sanding. But, if I am doing original art work to , major graphics., what is the best course with detailed painting and sealing. I typically paint on true wood.. please help
If you’re adding original artwork to these end tables, everything above applies. You’d want your base coat to be 100% adhered so all your hard work isn’t in vain. As for sealing/top coat, a waterbased poly would be super durable and preserve your work. Sounds like an amazing project Cathy. Have fun.
Hi Denise,
I came across your article today when searching how to paint laminate furniture. I just wanted to message to ask a few questions;
1 – In all the videos/tutorials I’ve seen, people are using primer and sanding prior to painting, however, this is usually to turn the furniture white. My furniture is already white, am I still required to do these steps? I’m looking to paint the items teal.
2 – I was wondering if you had used this product and would recommend it? It gets good reviews for covering laminate: Krylon Chalky Paint
3 – If you’re not familiar with this product, is there a particular one you would recommend for the teal color?
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read, and any advice you may have.
Matthew
Hi Matthew! The sanding and primer on laminate are used for adhesion. Because laminate is so slick, often its difficult to get a paint to stick 100%. I’ve used Krylon spray paint many times, but I haven’t tried the chalky finish yet. My sister has tho, and she loves it. That said, I would suggest spraying a ‘test’ area and then do a scratch test the next day. If it’s scratching off like this dresser here, Slick Stick is a phenomenal easy solution for laminate.
Hi Denise,
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I am planning on painting my black ikea bookshelf. I plan on using a shellac based primer and then a white enamel latex paint. Does the enamel paint need a top coat to protect it? I am worried that even the water based polys will stain the white paint, based on amazon customer reviews. Can I get away with not using a poly top coat?
Thanks!
If it’s a reputable enamel paint, I really like SW All Surface Enamel and BM Advance is great – you can get away with not using a top coat.
Hi Denise,
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I am planning on painting my black ikea bookshelf. I plan on using a shellac based primer and then a white enamel latex paint. Does the enamel paint need a top coat to protect it? I am worried that even the water based polys will stain the white paint, based on amazon customer reviews. Can I get away with not using a poly top coat?
Thanks!
I’m going to paint my childhood laminate dresser white for my daughter’s bedroom. I’m very new to painting projects and I’m wondering exactly what brand/type of primer and paint I should use, as well as what kind of brush? Do I use oil based or latex paint? She’s only 6 so I do want it to be durable. Any tips you can share would be great!
Thanks for the post! If you want a distress look, how would you do it? Also, do you go to a craft store for these supplies?
Hi Heather! These supplies can be bought via Amazon or Home Depot, Lowes etc. And here are some ideas for getting the distressed look.
I wanted to change my stained and varnished molding to white. I sanded,, primed (2x) Kilz, painted 2 coast of Sherwin Williams trim paint. I looked great but I notice it doesn’t take any abuse. The paint will chip off very easily. HELP
Hello,
Your info is awesome…..but I did not look it up in time. Soooooooooo I already ( maybe ) messed up. I took up a sander and now I have wood spots showing. How can I fix this? Thank you so much for being talented and sharing with us who love things and do not want to get rid of them. And not so talented…
Cheers, 7-23-18
Frankie
Thank you Frankie and sorry to hear about the sand-through. I know how frustrating that is. The thing is laminate is very smooth and the wood underneath usually will show some texture once painted. To try and save your piece, you could try smoothing it out with wood filler or Bondo. Hope this helps.
Hi Denise. I painted my daughters laminate nightstand with white chalk paint. The piece looks good but it is very dull. Since it will get a lot of wear, what do you suggest as a protectant coating that will also give the piece a cleaner finish?
Hi Julie! A satin or semi-gloss waterbased poly would work nicely. Wax will also brighten it up if you give it a good buffing. 🙂
Hi Denise,
I found a Spanish revival 1970’s laminate and veneer armoire for $10 at a thrift store and I am excited to chalk paint it. If I make my own chalk paint with flat latex paint mixed with calcium carbonate could I still skip the primer step?
After I custom paint it, I am going to try to resell it. Do you know what these typically resell for? I wonder if they are popular for resale.
Thanks for any tips!
Gina
Hi Denise:
I am redoing the top of my daughters dresser, she spilled in four places the oil air freshner that we put the sticks in and it gives the room a nice smell, that stuff took the finish off. I thought it was wood however, when I got started sanding it the areas have shown me they are laminate. I have already purchased the paint and it’s a speical matched color so I don’t know if I can return it. It matched the dresser perfectly. I need to kow if I can still use it without sanding the top further since I used 80 over the entire top without it removing the paint on the surface…just a light layer came off. The paint I have is Behr, Preium Plus Ultra. Stain-blocking paint and primer in one. It’s semi-gloss enamel. Thoughts please?
Thank you,
Julie
Hi Julie! I’m guessing your daughters’ room smells really fresh! Sorry – bad joke lol. Hmmm, well from what you’re describing if you gave the top a sanding with 80 grit and created a rough tooth on the existing finish, I’m guessing your semi-gloss enamel should stick just fine. 2 tips I might suggest. Paint a small portion and make sure you don’t see any rough sanding through the paint – if so sand again with a higher grit. And secondly, give it the scratch test after 24 hours to see if it’s adhered 100%. Hope this has helped and good luck. 🙂
LOL. I wish it did smell good. She’s 15 and a messy teenager. I’ll give this all a try and see what happens. Thanks so much for the advice.
Julie
lol…pleasure, and good luck Julie. 🙂
I too only assumes seeing your daughters spill happen to be scented oil it would automatically make her room smell good lol !
Hi Denise. I am looking to paint my laminate floors but not too sure how to start any ideas ! Hope to hear from you .
Me and my sister recently just painted our childhood dresser. We made the mistake of sanding the laminate too much and now there is a visible texture. Are there any solutions for this?
Thanks!!
You could try skimming with bondo/woodfill but other than that, not really. I know firsthand how frustrating that is.
Hi there such a helpful help. I made the mistake painting with oil based paint on a furniture and the finish is very poor. I will follow your guide for the rest of the bookcase. My question is how to salvage a badly painted satin pain piece??
Thanks
Hi Zahra! Sanding down the poorly painted finish and then starting again should work. You don’t need to sand the paint finish totally off. Rather just enough to smooth it out so you don’t feel any bumps or brush marks anymore. Then a coat of primer and new coat of paint will make it look good as new. Hope this helps. 🙂
Hi Denise have you tried painting with an oil based primer and an oil based satin finish paint?
Will that work on a laminate ?
I don’t often use oil-based products because my studio is in my home and I’m not fond of the smell or clean-up, but YES. Oil primer and/or paint will work on laminate. 🙂
This post is perfect, Thank you. I know you like BIN but I am looking at KILZ brand. My question is should i be looking for a specific one? This is all new to me. Thank you
Hi Lucy! Kilz Adhesion would be beneficial for priming laminate because it sticks to glossy surfaces.
Hi. I have permission to paint two laminate table s in my classroom, and I really can’t mess this up. I need a paint that is very durable to student use. What brand of paint would you recommend I use?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Hi Lisa! I love Sherwin Williams All Surface Enamel paint is super durable/tough. Your local SW store can recommend primer and technique if you bring a pic of the tables and this way you can be certain to get the most durable finish. Great project btw…what fun! 🙂
HI Denise. I sanded, painted, and applied a minwax top coat sealant to my outdated 1980’s gold laminate kitchen countertops a few years ago but they now look scratched and have little divets on the surface and need to be redone. I would like to use your technique with the primer you suggested and the chalk paint and Annie sloan wax. Would this be an appropriate technique for counter tops ? I am concerned that because contertops take a beating with liquids being spilled on them and constantly needing to be wpied down that maybe this technque will not be water resistant enough… thoughts?
Hi I am trying to upcycle the laminate/MDF side panel on my bath and I have made a mistake that you also made in your early days. I have been too enthusiastic with my sanding and some of the laminate has come away.
Once this has happened do you have any suggestions on what I can do to rectify it. Its only in the corners of the panel so not too worried if it is not entirely even.
You can try using a Bondo product or patching compound, but then you’ll have to sand sand sand to make sure it’s level work the laminate so it doesn’t then make a hump.
Hello! Thank you for a great post.
I’m hoping you can help me with my next project. The furniture for the project is a rustic southwestern armoire that has a waxy finish, it’s not stained or painted, with rustic drawer and hardware which I plan to change out. How do you suggest I go about chalk painting it? It seems to me that the waxy finish has to be removed first. I don’t want to make a mistake that can’t be fixed. 😐. Thank you in advance for your advice. M.
Hi Mari! Yes, I agree. I think a light sanding to create some tooth before you chalk paint would be ideal.
Hi! I’m looking to give my laminate wood entertainment center a remodel by repainting it, although I wanted it to have a rustic/farmhouse/washed look to the paint, I was thinking of doing grey/ white combo, would you still suggest your method to achieve the look im tryjng to go for?
Hi Bryana! Yes, I would still suggest the above methods because getting the paint to adhere is first and foremost for any finish. Once you get the first coats to adhere to the laminate, then have fun with your grey/white farmhouse wash. 🙂
Hi Denise,
I have a laminated book shelf that I want to paint. I was considering using spray paint, but I wanted to get your opinion on using spray paint after initially sanding and then using a primer.
Hi Kathleen! Sure, you can use a spray paint or spray gun… either will work. 🙂
Hi Denise,
What brushes do you prefer for a job like this??
Thank you!
I really like using Purdy or Wooster paint brushes, but when I first started painting furniture, I used plain old dollar store brushes. Whatever your budget allows will work. 🙂
Hi there. Great article. Thank you. After reading it I got up my courage and painted my laminate table top. I sanded it and primed it and painted with a semi- gloss, but I painted it with a roller at first and it bubbled up, after it dried I went over it with a brush to smooth but not much luck. I’m also wondering if I can use the water based protective covering?
Hi Jewel! Yes, you can definitely use water-based protective covering and as for the bubbling, two things come to mind. It could be the roller – less expensive rollers (foam for example) often leave air bubbles in a paint job. Or it could be that the primer or paint is not adhering to the piece. I know how frustrating that is after putting in all that work…grrr.
I used to primer on a laminate dresser and it dried but when I put the latex paint over top of it it is taking forever to cure out and it’s kind of scraping off the primer what did I do wrong
Is one oil and one water based? They do not like easch other x
Would it be okay if we used a water based product?
Hello!
My wife and i just purchase a new home. They’re are all flat lamiante cabinets in the kitchen. We aren’t looking to replace them right now so we are going to add some trim for dimension and paint them. We want to paint them and off white/beige color but we want it to be more of a flat finish and not shiny. Any tips you can give me before we start our DIY project?
Thanks!
Hi Nick! Great project and congrats to you and your wife on your new home. If it were me painting my laminate kitchen cabinets, I would clean with TSP, prime with BIN or another heavy duty primer that sticks to slick surfaces, lightly sand, then paint 2 coats of your white/beige with a good enamel paint in eggshell or satin, sanding between coats for a professional finish. Then topcoat with a waterbased poly in low sheen. I know a lot of people use chalk type paints, but I’m not a fan of that idea because the paint is porous. I’m all about durability and easy to clean when it comes to anything in the kitchen. Also, your paint provider BM or SW associates are amazing and can help you pick the perfect prime, paint, topcoat trio too. Good luck. 🙂
Hi Denise, thanks for the helpful article.
This is my first furniture painting project, I’m painting a laminate wood corner shelf that almost reaches the ceiling. The men at home Depot suggested I use a coat of Behr all in one primer and sealer ( first I think I will take your suggestion and lightly sand) then use an interior eggshell enamel. Im going for a dark brown to match some other furniture. Do you have any tips for me? And is it a good idea to use an interior paint like one you’d use on the walls?
Thank you!
Hi Samantha! Sounds like you know exactly what you’re doing. Behr primer sealer is great and interior eggshell enamel is very durable. I use Sherwin Williams All Purpose Enamel on a lot of my furniture and the enamel paints are great. The only tidbit I would add is to sand lightly. Sanding with a heavy hand can show through the paint so just very lightly run 180-220 grit over the surface to create a little tooth. Have fun. 🙂
Hi I have wood effect wardrobes that are fitted in oak I would like to leave plinth in oak and just paint the doors what paint would you recommend the same with bed side cabinets I don’t know.if it’s laminate or veneer help please
Hi Denise Thanks for your helpful article. What is the best to use, brushes or a sponge roller? I am repainting a laminated piano
Regards Andree
Hi Andree! I’ve used both so it doesn’t really matter. Whichever you feel more comfortable using. 🙂
How did you obtain the wood grain effect?
Hi Gail! It’s been a while since I restyled this dresser so I don’t remember if I used a wet sand technique, or distress with a high grit sandpaper – or a combo of both. Either one will work though. 🙂
Hi there,
I have read all of your tips and product suggestions. When I went to the hardware store I was told that most paints are now mixed up with primer in them. Will that work for a laminate project. I have an older entertainment center that I’ll be painting black. They told me to sand first and then paint and that the paint has primer in it so I don’t need a separate can of just primer. Now I’m uncertain what to do. Thanks
Hi Sydney! Yes, great advice to sand. I made the mistake of sanding too aggressively once (used my sander) and ruined my piece so I do recommend sanding by hand. 🙂 Also, I haven’t used an all-in-one paint and primer to paint laminate – but if the paint associates at the store are suggesting it, I’m sure it works because they know their stuff. 😉
Throwing in my 2 cents, go with dedicated primer, then paint. I used a mixed-in primer paint on a sanded laminate end table, and the paint just scratched right off as if I hadn’t bothered with sanding. On the matching end table, I did the same process of sanding, then a dedicated primer, and finished with the exact same paint as the “scratchy” table and had great results. It’s a lot less hassle to do the separate primer step than to have to start over from Step 1.
Appreciate your 2 cents Rachel… thank you! 🙂 xo
Hi, I am attempting my first Laminate paint project. I have researched this on Pinterest and as you also suggested to Prime first. The articles I have read suggest using an oil based primer, the gentleman at Lowe’s informed me that this is a lot of work and to stick with a water based primer.
Please advise as this piece is for a client and I need this piece to last for a very long time as not to peel.
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia. Personally, I don’t use oil based primers (even on tough surfaces like laminate) but I do use this Shellac Primer on a regular basis! If you are worried about adhesion, stains, odours – this works!!! Once primed and sanded, you can apply your chalk paint, latex, arcylic or any water based type paint over it.
Thank you
I know you mentioned and recommended the shellac primer, do you think that Kilnz water based primer would also be a good fit? The furniture is in perfect condition no odors or stains. I need something that will bond and last forever.
Thank you
Sylvia Hendrickson
Laminate is glossy and has no ‘tooth’ for paint and primer to stick to therefore a good adhesion primer will do the trick. If you’d rather use Kilz and not shellac based – I would recommend this one for the best results.
So do u have to sand the primer once its applied or just paint over it?
For a super smooth professional finish, I’m in the habit of sanding between all coats, including primer – but it’s personal preference. You could skip this step if you wanted.
I am painting an old dresser navy for my sons room. Is there a final sealer I can use THAT does not leave a shiny gloss appearance. Will polycrylic work? Thank you
Hi Debra! Yes, a waterbased polycrylic will work nicely and it’s super durable. If you don’t want any shine or gloss, pick a poly in flat or satin. A few that I really like are General Finishes High Performance Flat or Varathane’s Satin. I’ve also just tried Dixie Belle’s Gator Hide and it works great.
Help Denise!!!!!
I’m trying to distress a white laminate cabinet. My client loves the distressed looks I showed him a wooden cabinet door sample. I hve experimented with the distressing by painting a latex chocolate color around the door (raised frame) , let it dry, then go back over it, again in a latex paint for the top coat- let it dry. My problem is when I go to very lightly sand where it would be a natural distressed area, (using 400 get it sandpaper) the white laminate show thru- not the chocolate color!!!! Should I paint a solid first coat of chocolate, then 2 coats of top coat…. Then try to distress again???
Hi Cindy! If you’re having trouble distressing any type of surface, a resist technique might be helpful. I’ve used vaseline distressing and a bee’s wax distress method and both work very nicely when trying to get a base color to show through. Hope this helps.
Have you ever used spray paint on laminates?
I have desk, file cabinet, shelves from Walmart – cheap 20 year old laminate. I would like to paint it and achieve an antiqued white (with gray) finish. Have you ever tried to antique laminate surfaces? How did you do it? How did it work out? Thanks!
Do you recommend a water based or latex paint for painting over laminate? You did not specify is the paint you used was water-based or oil-based.
“I applied 3 coats of Café au Lait paint.”
I used a water based paint Monica. 🙂
Thanks so much! I was given a “hope chest” 26 years ago that still is great for storage but the laminate is so blah! I have searched quite a bit before finding your advice. My instincts were correct but better to know first!
Think I might try this on my old kitchen cupboards. I found this a really good explanation – thanks!
HI there! I love how it turned out. I have a desk made of pressed wood with laminate on top. I’d like to paint it and understand the prep work involved; however, it’s upstairs in my office and even if I empty it, it’s too heavy to be taken downstairs and outside for sanding. I was wondering if a deglosser could be used instead of sanding?
Hi Beatriz! Yes, I’ve used a deglosser/Liquid Sander and it worked great. Really stinky though. I would suggest really good ventilation and wear a mask!
Great! Any particular brand?
The one I use is Circa 1850 in the yellow can. If you click on the link I provided, you will see a picture of it. 🙂
Just wondering how you would proceed if some of the laminate was peeling up or missing? I have an end table I would love to paint but the laminate on the top is peeling and a piece of the side has ripped off.
Hi Hannah! Here’s a post that may help. https://salvagedinspirations.com/how-to-fix-peeling-or-chipped-veneer/