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.
Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and smooth finish.
Paint a little bit of chalk paint on the flat surface of your laminate (so it's super easy to remove if it doesn't stick). Let it dry for 24 hours and then try to scratch it off with your fingernail. If it sticks really well, then you're good to paint the rest of your laminate furniture with chalk paint.
A sure way to recognize wood laminate is when the grain does NOT follow through your piece. Wood Veneer is a sheet or thin layer of 'quality-natural-hardwood' that is adhered to a lesser quality wood surface. Wood Veneers give the impression of a more desired quality wood without being as costly.
If you're planning to paint the laminate a dark color, you can skip the primer altogether and paint on one of these enamel paints. Beware that painting over damaged laminate will not result in a perfectly smooth surface.
When painting melamine, it is a good idea to apply a thin layer of Ultra Grip to your melamine cabinets. Just add a very thin layer using a sponge. Allow the Ultra Grip to dry for 12 hours before you start painting.
Apply a primer first (based on the paint type and color you've selected) and let it dry. After the primer is dry, apply multiple thin coats of paint until it is the color you want. Let the paint completely dry overnight or for 24 hours. Stain your bookcase if it is made of wood to give it a classic look.
Chalk paint is a great choice for painting laminate cabinets because it “hides” brush strokes. If you're using chalk paint for a project, you pretty much can't mess it up.
Valspar cabinet paint is readily available and can be used for painting cabinets, laminate cabinets, wood trim, and more. Using a brush can often result in brush marks but it does work well with a roller or a sprayer.
It doesn't have to be a specialist primer and a 2 in 1 paint and primer will work too. Our Furniture Paint goes one better and is a 3 in 1 primer, paint and finish. So you just need one product for your job.
The KEY to having the paint stick is to use the proper primer. I recommend using Zinsser Oil Based Primer. This stuff sticks like glue! I love their water based primer too, but when painting laminate, just go for the oil based, I feel it adheres better.
If you use a good primer, latex or water-based paint will work well on laminate cabinets. As soon as the paint has cured, it remains sticky and may peel off easily if two painted surfaces come into contact. A primer made of water is applied underneath.
INSL-X STIX Waterborne Bonding Primer is one of the best primers for laminate furniture. This primer is made specifically to bond to surfaces that are hard to coat, and will give you a smooth, level finish.
However, like latex paint, 1-2-3 Primer is water-based, so it won't adhere as well to laminate furniture without first sanding, and a longer cure time is also recommended when painting laminate. Zinsser Cover-Stain Primer – This is an oil-based primer. Oil-based primers provide great adhesion.
Wipe over the shelves with a tack cloth to remove any loose particles created by sanding. Put a thin coat of primer/sealant on the shelves with a natural bristle brush. Let the boards dry for an hour or until dry to the touch, then paint a second coat with a foam brush in long, consistent strokes.
Carefully fill and sand any dents, bashed corners or chipped edges with a wood filler. After that, apply two coats of our Multi Purpose Primer. This will give your MDF and laminate furniture a really good base and help the paint to stick.
You can sand, prime and paint laminate as if it were a solid wood piece of furniture! 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.
Using a synthetic paintbrush apply one thin coat and let it dry overnight (patience). Then lightly hand sand with a 320 grit sandpaper. Clean off the surface and add another coat, wait 2 hours and apply the final coat (or more coats if desired). Allow the sealer to harden for at least 48 hours.
By using a powerful primer designed to adhere to slick surfaces, you can prepare your Formica tabletop for painting, and can use the water-based paint of your choice as a topcoat.
Chalk paint is famous for sticking to just about anything, and in this case it makes the perfect primer between the laminate surface and the Satin Enamels paint. It's easy to apply and dries quickly. And the Satin Enamels provide the perfect durable finish over the chalk paint.