Photo courtesy of the United Soybean Board.
Many people buy new laminate furniture, or discover secondhand pieces with laminate surfaces at thrift stores, and naturally want to paint it to better fit with the current theme of the room it will be placed in. However, painting laminate furniture isn’t as easy as taking a brush and getting to work.
Paint will not adhere to laminate because it has a shiny finish; it will bubble up as soon as you apply it. Many people don’t know this starting out and quickly get frustrated when their attempts at painting are fruitless.
Goedeker’s would like to help you avoid any pitfalls when it comes to painting laminate furniture, so we’ve put together this step-by-step guide.
Photo by Flickr user Lucia Sanchez.
1) Disassemble the piece of furniture.
Remove any drawers, doors, or other components you can. This will make it easier to paint the unit, preventing unwanted drips and better reaching corners where the pieces fit together.
However, if the pieces don’t want to come apart easily, don’t force anything and risk damaging the furniture. Simply paint those areas very carefully.
2) Many people recommend lightly sanding the laminate first.
Some people believe sanding is optional, even saying it unnecessarily harms the surface of the furniture. If you agree, feel free to skip this step and continue to the next one.
If you choose to sand your furniture, Wikihow recommends using fine-grit sandpaper. Make sure to sand the entire surface and sand all areas evenly, but avoid sanding too hard, which may rub right through the laminate and start tearing into the particleboard underneath.
Remember to wipe away the sanding dust first before you use primer and paint. Use a vacuum first, then go over it again with a tack cloth to get any remaining dust.
Photo by Flickr user Andrius Kulikauskas.
3) Apply one coat of primer.
Cover your furniture with a thin coat of primer using a foam paintbrush or high quality polyester-bristled brush.
Pick a primer that is designed to adhere to glossy surfaces if you decide to forego sanding. Oil-based primer grips laminate better, while water-based primer is only useful when you’ve sanded first.
Even though the primer dries within a couple of hours, wait an entire day for it to dry thoroughly before you start painting.
Photo by Flickr user Craig.
4) Now you can begin painting.
It is best to use a latex-based interior paint when working with laminate furniture.
Use a roller for the larger surfaces then fill in any blank areas with a paintbrush. The roller can also be used to blend any haphazard paintbrush strokes. Strive for a smooth, even coat.
You can spot sand any areas that bubble up when painted to ensure that the paint will stick.
If you need to paint multiple coats, wait a day between each coat. Once you are satisfied, you can cover your furniture with a topcoat of protective finish if you’d like.
Photo by Flickr user Dana.
5) Reassemble your furniture.
Make sure the paint or topcoat has had time to dry thoroughly before you piece your furniture back together. Again, do so carefully. If you accidentally scratch up the paint in the process, you can touch up these spots with a small brush.
And there you have it! In a matter of days, you are able to give your piece of laminate furniture a complete makeover.
Did you find this guide helpful? What piece of furniture in your house, laminate or not, could use a fresh coat of paint? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
