Whitewashing laminate furniture generally requires you to: Wash the furniture with clean water. Sand the surface with 120-grit sandpaper. Wipe the sand away and prepare the primer. Lightly apply primer to the furniture and allow it to dry for at least 24…
The whitewashing technique can be applied to stained or natural wood. Whether it's oak, pine or another variety doesn't matter. The end result may look slightly different due to the differences in the wood species but you'll achieve a similar effect.
If the veneer is in good condition and isn't chipping… you can sand, prime, and paint like you would any piece of furniture.
Whitewash the Panels
Dilute white latex paint with water, and oil-based paint with turpentine. Use a 2 to 1 ratio of paint to water for thicker coverage, and reverse the ratio for a thinner application. Brush on your paint and immediately wipe it down until you get the desired colour and look.
Make sure the veneer doesn't have cracks. If needed, remove any sections of peeling veneer. Clean the piece well, prime, and then apply a few coats of chalk paint to the veneer furniture. It'll look brand new!
You can use several types of paint to achieve the whitewashed look—including latex paint and chalk paint—but the key to getting the perfect whitewash finish is to start with a water-based white paint with a matte finish. Avoid using oil-based paint as you will not be able to dilute it properly.
Similarly to laminate furniture, older pieces of furniture often have a delicate top wood veneer. You can paint veneer furniture without sanding with the same steps as solid wood furniture. However, if you have to do any touch up sanding, make sure to use a very fine grit sandpaper so you don't damage the veneer.
Oil-based paints are a great choice for painting veneer furniture and nearly any other surface. This paint type is available in vibrant colors and leaves a shiny finish. A key benefit to oil-based paint is that it protects wooden surfaces from heat, moisture, and mold damage, as well as rot, insects, and abrasions.
If your goal is a very rustic look (like you would see on old barns), I think you could definitely get away without sanding first. It is still important to clean and dry the surface well prior to whitewashing.
Tip on how to strip down a veneer wood top! - Generously coat in Citristrip spray. - cover for 5 hours minimum with cling wrap. - leaving it in the sun helps but not a must.
You may need to sand your veneer when you apply a finish or a wood stain. However, most of our veneers are pre sanded at the factory and you may not need to do any sanding to the raw wood veneer surface. If you sand a veneered surface with a heavy grit and act like a gorilla, you could sand right through the veneer!
An alternative to painting a laminate floor white, which can look shabby once it gets scratched and is hard to keep looking pristine, is to whitewash it for a bleached appearance. To whitewash a laminate flooring, do the usual steps of cleaning and sanding, but mix your white paint with clear for a translucent effect.
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.
You can apply a stain to your wood veneer if you want to, but you don't have to. If you want to change the color or hue of the wood, staining will be necessary. Some stains are available as a finish and a stain all in one.
Apply a thin and even coat of primer to the rest of the veneer surface. Primer provided a better adhesion of paint to the surface. Without it, your paint can prematurely peel. Once the primer has been applied, let it dry for at least three hours before applying your first coat of paint.
Conclusion: Chemical stripping is your better option for a veneered piece. If you have sanded veneer and feel comfortable doing, it can certainly be done, just be patient, start at 100 or 120 rather than a 60 or 80 grit. Don't press hard with the sander, let it do the work.
Remember that veneer is really thin. With aggressive sanding, you will sand through the veneer very easily, causing irreversible damage. Always start sanding with fine-grit sandpaper (120-grit).
Additionally, moisture can seep into the wood causing it to swell or warp. Sealing your whitewashed furniture with a clear sealant will protect it from these elements and help keep its original look.
While many people use "whitewashing" and "pickling" interchangeably, the two techniques are actually quite different. Though both consist of covering the surface of wood with a transparent white finish, pickling actually refers to staining the wood in order to brighten the color as well as accentuate the grain.