Can you paint laminate? Yes — and it's actually quite simple. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to paint laminate furniture, including project-specific tips for painting laminate cabinets, desks, coffee tables, bookshelves and dressers.
Tip: Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and smooth finish.
A: Like most rules, there's always an exception, so YES, you can paint laminate furniture without sanding or priming IF you use the right kind of paint. You can skip the primer if you are painting laminate furniture with chalk paint.
Painting laminate wasn't difficult, but I did find it more time-consuming than painting wood. To sum it up, the most important steps are to sand and prime all the surfaces before painting. If you were to skip those two steps, your paint would have nothing to adhere to and would most likely peel right off.
And, with that final layer of topcoat dry, you've given a fresh new look to an old laminate countertop. The painted surface is durable, but not quite as resistant to water and scratches as the laminate, so be sure to wipe up spills quickly and avoid scratching the paint as much as possible.
You may need to use paint thinner or paint remover to get it off. In either case, start with a simple homemade solution that gets the job done most of the time. Don't bring out the big guns (caustic chemicals like paint thinner) until you absolutely have to.
The best way to ensure paint on laminate lasts is to sand the surface and use a good bonding primer, followed by two layers of high-quality latex paint and a durable top coat – allowing each layer to dry thoroughly before adding the next.
The BIN shellac-based primer, Cover Stain primer, and clear shellac primer mentioned above all come in aerosol spray paint cans and are SO good at getting paint to stick to laminate cabinets or furniture.
Go for a self-priming paint that's formulated for use on glossy, laminate surfaces. This cuts out the need for special primers, reducing both expense and time.
For painting laminate furniture, you want to do at least 2 coats of primer and let them cure completely (overnight if you can!) in between coats. You can even sand in between coats for maximum adhesion. (Fancy words eh?) I used a smooth roller and rolled on 2 coats of primer and let it dry overnight.
I know sanding isn't all that fun, but it really is necessary for this project. Light sanding makes sure the paint can adhere to the smooth laminate surface properly. It also knocks out any little imperfections before painting, ensuring that damage won't show through the paint.
Instead of committing to the expense of replacing rundown kitchen cabinets, consider the more cost-effective solution of repainting them. Repainting laminate cabinets is an affordable way to turn eyesore storage into eye-catching, modern cabinetry.
Using 120-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the laminate surface in a circular motion. Don't worry if the furniture starts to look a little dull and less glossy, this is what you want to happen. Avoid sanding too much or you might tear up the laminate from the surface, or even make a hole.
Water-based acrylic paints work well for laminate counters. Epoxy coatings adhere well to granite and tile countertops after the surface has been cleaned, abraded, and primed.
Don't skip sanding. Because laminate has a synthetic, glossy surface, sanding is especially important.
It's easy to skip the sanding step, because sanding is a drag… but it's especially important with laminate. Because it's often somewhat glossy-looking, and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming. We recommend using 120 grit sandpaper for this.
Ideal Uses: Metal, Wicker, Concrete, Wood, Vinyl, Laminate, Plastic and, Glass.
On laminate furniture, yes you can! But remember, when I say no sanding – it means you don't have to use a lot of strength or an electric sander to get the “finish” completely off. We do need very light scuffing on the entire piece to roughen up the surface.
Tips for Painting Different Types of Laminate Furniture
For best results, remove doors and lay them flat to paint, as opposed to painting upright. Remove the hinges before you start the painting process. Make sure to re-apply once the paint is completely dry.
Latex or water-based paint works well on laminate cabinets if you use a good primer. But before it fully cures, the paint remains sticky and may peel off easily if two painted surfaces bump against each other. With a water-based primer underneath. latex paints may take one to four weeks to cure.
This specific type of flooring is not compatible with water or humid environments and can be irreversibly damaged, even in short periods. Manufacturer instructions make it very clear that laminate floors should not be placed in rooms with severe temperature or humidity fluctuations, like a bathroom or laundry room.
Clean the laminate furniture with Krud Kutter to remove all of the dust and any grease or oil from the surface. Repair any scratches or chips in the laminate. Prime with a shellac based primer. Let primer dry before painting.
You should mix equal portions of water, rubbing alcohol, and vinegar. The next step is to add a few drops of dish soap to the solution and mix until soap suds begin to form. This mixture will usually lift any kind of paint. Water-based paints are lifted since the water and vinegar will dissolve them again.