Remove Drawers, Cabinet Doors, and Hardware, 2. To remove the cabinet doors and hardware from your piece of furniture, youll need to remove the screws from the hinges and faceplates. Allow the paint to dry for 2 hours, then repeat the process with two more coats of paint. Even though it's not solid wood, you can still update your laminate furniture with a few coats of fresh paint. After the drawers were removed, I noticed that there were pieces of cardboard underneath the tracks held in place by a couple staples kind of ugly and not really necessary anyway! Why is the paint bubbling as I paint my primed laminate cabinets? Set the rocker on one end of the surface with its edge overlapping the comb pattern and draw it in one continuous motion to the other end. Petticoat Junktion 2. Hope that helps , Thank you Rebecca have a lovely day! As always, I used my favorite Purdy paint brushes for painting the dresser. I did not know that bubbles appear if furniture is inadequately sanded! So I ordered them promptly. I also painted the drawer pulls in Chicago Grey Chalk Paint and added a layer of the sheer metallic paint on top. Make sure to prime laminate furniture before painting. Friend, todays makeover almost didnt happen I bought this French Provincial style dresser a couple years ago to be a project for my book (, How to Prep Laminate Furniture for Painting, First, the prep work is really important. Sometimes plans change. (If you have a piece of furniture that has a wood veneer, heres a great tutorial for staining wood veneer). With over 20 years of experience, James specializes in exterior and interior painting, drywall, powerwashing, wallpaper, staining, sealing, and carpentry. For now, though, I really think they look sharp next to my daughters bed. These surfaces will need to be covered completely so that you dont accidentally get paint on them while working on the furniture pieces you do want to paint. A, GRAB MY FREE GUIDE NOW: HOW TO PREP FURNITURE FOR PAINTING - CLICK HERE, favorite brands and tools for doing DIY makeovers here, Portable Display Ideas for Markets and Fairs, 11 Mistakes People Make When Trying to Sell Refinished Furniture. Sand the cabinet lightly by hand with 220-grit sandpaper to etch the surface of the laminate. Once we started putting the room back together, I actually changed my mind and decided to try her bed under the wall of windows that faces her doorway. There was no real wood grain and therefore, I couldn't just re-stain them. While I was sourcing ideas for a clients playroom design, I stumbled upon these really cute sheets with a rainbow plaid pattern. Sometimes (especially in my own home), designs get scrapped altogether when a new idea comes to mind. Make Sure to Prime Laminate Furniture Before Painting, 5. Make sure you give the paint enough time to dry before using masking tape to tape off the seams of your door, where the direction of wood grain would typically change. Do the bottom first. Sand laminate furniture first before priming. "Very useful information. Paint two coats solid semi-gloss latex finish with a paintbrush. Once your laminate piece is dry and the seams are taped off, youll need to mix: This will give you a thinner solution that you can apply with a rocker. How Do Cooling Blankets Work? Dont fret about getting it right the first time. This article has been viewed 659,420 times. The wax takes up to 30 days to fully cure, so be careful with the surface for at least the first few weeks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once you have completed this process in one direction of wood grain, repeat it for any pieces that would naturally go in an opposite direction. Sand Laminate Furniture First Before Priming, 3. Simply dip the rag lightly into the stain mixture and then squeeze out any excess drips. You want your cloth rag to be damp with stain but not wet. You might be wondering: Can you really paint laminate furniture? Use a rocker and mixed latex glaze to create a grain texture. Youre going to apply this method until the desired tone is achieved. Plus, an update on my daughters bedroom design with exclusive sneak peeks on how the room is coming together! Ive sent a message to my ASCP stockist to see if there are other factors Ill let you know if I hear anything different. The first moment of clarity in her room came while I was installing her new rug over the freshly painted striped floors (that tutorial will be on the blog next week). Im still deciding if I should apply a paint treatment to the edges of the wood trim. Remove all the hardware from the doors and the cabinets with a screwdriver. Approved. All of the materials are available at your local hardware store. Because laminate is essentially paper and plastic thats been applied to MDF, youll want to keep the stain mixture relatively thick. If you need to paint on the primer, you can use a paint roller to easily apply it before moving on to painting the laminate furniture. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Since I really wanted the wood look to go with our existing decor, I didn't want to paint them. Since this would require curtains, I knew the floral curtains Id found on clearance at Crate & Kids would be the perfect substitute for a floral wall mural. What does your inspiration wood have that your current piece of furniture is lacking? Feel free to Pin this post to easily find it again later, or share it with someone else who might learn from it. These Ikea chests have helped me work out a better clothing storage solution for my kids upstairs attic bedroom. Using semi-gloss paint will give you more shine, but it wont be as glossy as high-gloss paint. There were a couple sticky parts on top that I cleaned up with some Goo Gone and a paper towel. Site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. If I was going to move forward with using this rug, I really needed something to tie the light pink wall color in with the bright colors of the rug. Theres no need for an array of special tools or equipment either: just a few simple objects and household items will do. Use a paint thats the color of a wood undertone, such as oak, walnut, or even a simple beige. I pulled the drawers out, removed the hardware (keeping the pieces in a bag for safekeeping), and cleaned everything really well with damp paper towels. Could spray paint be used to obtain a similar outcome? This coming week, Im finishing up the floor painting and Ill have that ready to show you next week! We still have four weeks to go in this challenge and I have a slew of DIYs coming up. Quick question: can I replace the primer you mentioned for Stix primer? If you want to go lighter, you just need to add white to the base instead of brown. I also loved how much more space this gave her to play in the room. So out the cardboard went. This process should work with any desired stain idea. Then it was much easier to clean inside. Love the shimmer and the pattern on the poster board. The 3 areas of your house you should be deep cleaning but maybe aren't, How to Refinish Peeling Whitewash on Maple Kitchen Cabinets, How to Turn Stain Veneer Into a White Distressed Finish. What kind of primer do you use on laminate furniture? By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Run the paint comb along one edge of the surface, holding it at a 45-degree angle, starting at one end and pulling it in a straight line all the way to the other end. Hi Patricia, Im not familiar with that brand, but you could certainly try it out. Theyre not real wood. Painting Specialist. Remember that water removes stickers and you dont want to remove the laminate from your furniture. Yes, you can apply a sealer to the paint after you've painted over the laminate. Since this is a French Provincial style dresser, I gave it some subtle glam with metallic paint in the grooves and on the curvy details. DIY Home Blog from Nashville Interior Designer, Teri Moore, featuring home remodeling tutorials, affordable interior design, and deals on home decor. So make sure you come back to see how Ive used leftover wall paint to create a durable floor paint! Laminate is an inexpensive and durable option that can be easily wiped clean when kids or pets come in contact with it. However, for darker or lighter stains, you may find that your furniture requires three or four coats. Make sure to use a primer that is designed for laminates, such as the Rust-Oleum Universal Bonding Primer. James holds a BS in Economics and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Towson University Priming will help ensure a smooth finish so that there are no areas where paint doesnt stick or peels off after drying. I definitely planned to reuse the original hardware. I pulled the drawers out, removed the hardware (keeping the pieces in a bag for safekeeping), and cleaned everything really well with damp paper towels. If necessary, work on small sections at a time because it can be challenging to cover the entire item in one go. I ordered them immediately. I applied about 2 coats of primer, letting it dry between each coat. Use a Rocker and Mixed Latex Glaze to Create a Grain Texture, 6. *this post contains affiliate links + advertising*I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site. Very lightly sand the dresser for smoothness and wipe away any sanding dust. BOY WAS I WRONG.Once I started to sand the back section of one of the pieces, I realized they were comprised of laminate. How High Should Upper Cabinets Be Above the Counter? This includes taping off the cabinets adjacent to the piece of furniture youre going to paint and anything else that might be connected, such as countertops or walls. Patience is key to not destroying your laminate with an over-application of liquid. I love it! unlocking this expert answer. I used a glass yogurt jar and filled it with paint to the halfway mark. Roll the mixture onto one side of the cabinets or one of the doors with a 4-inch roller. If you dont have an existing piece already, head to your local home improvement store and browse the wood flooring samples. Its replica FP furniture from the 70s or 80s and its part laminate, part wood inside, and part particle board. (The Paris Grey thats sold now worldwide is a bit darker.). Beautiful transformation my friend! wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The answer is yes you have to do things a little differently than you would with real wood furniture, but its definitely possible and can even turn out really beautiful. And finally, here is how the old laminate dresser looks now. For the final touch, I cut patterned poster board to line the inside of the drawers. This week, my four year old daughters bedroom design completely pivoted when I found three major inspiration pieces at a serious discount! The glaze will add a gloss to your project and protect it from spills. The combination of sanding and priming laminate furniture helps gives the paint something to grip to. XOXO Christy James recently postedCoastal Dresser Makeover. Laminate furniture has become very popular for many reasons. Now its time for Furniture Fixer Uppers with my talented blogging friends. What type of varnish can I use on a painted surface? Use a 120-grit sandpaper and gently sand the surface of the cabinets in a circular motion. This is because plastic is nonporous and therefore cant absorb water like real wood can. Recalling how much plaid we have throughout the rest of our home, I was instantly enamored with the idea of bringing in a masculine pattern to counteract the polka dots in the rug. There is no way to do so. Bubbling paint might be a sign that you haven't sanded the laminate enough. To paint laminate furniture, start by sanding down the surface using 120-grit sandpaper so that the paint will stick better. In order to use a paint roller, load it up with sealant and roll it all over surfaces in smooth motions until youve covered every inch of the item. Some furniture looks like its made out of solid wood, but it's actually covered in a thin, wood-patterned paper called laminate. This is almost identical in color to the original ASCP Paris Grey color that was manufactured in the U.S. until a few years ago. Hi Cathy, I would think you can use Chalk Paint just fine as long as you try to gently sand first (as best as possible even though there are carvings) and use a good shellac primer first. This article received 18 testimonials and 93% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. You can use a stronger cleaner or degreaser like Krud Kutter if needed. Which part should I do first? Thanks, "I'm planning on painting my desk to match my new room decor. Heres how to paint your laminate furniture to look like wood: In this article, Ill be showing you how to paint laminate furniture to look like wood. Some areas will appear darker than others, but that will only enhance the wood grain effect. What You Need to Know, Where to Sleep If You Have Bed Bugs: Complete Guide. The goal is to spend less than $500 and show you 5 different DIY projects that you can incorporate in your own home. For protection, apply at least 2 coats of Annie Sloans clear wax with a lint-free cloth, letting the wax dry overnight between each coat. Let the primer dry before continuing. If you want to know how long to allow the paint to cure before using the furniture, read on! These are free, so you can take them home with you to see how the tones look with the other finishes in your home. After youve applied your primer, wait for everything to dry before moving on with color coats. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. You'll just need to do some extra preparation before you get started. Now I am ready to get started. The difference in wood tones may not be super obvious at first and thats okay. Use this basic motion to create most of the pattern. As long as you dont over saturate your laminate, youre not ruining your furniture. I knew I would need to add a lot of yellow, a little red or pink, and tone it all down with a touch of brown so it didnt look like an orange stain. The poster board was from Hobby Lobby but unfortunately I dont think they carry this specific style anymore. Bringing even more red into the room made me so happy because Id found these modern chairs to use for her desk area and loved the way the red played off the pink paint color on the walls. I have never used poster board as liner. It might be perfectly fine to use on laminate furniture just to give it some grip but for some types of wood that might give you bleed-through problems (like reddish wood tones), I would personally always choose the BIN shellac primer. Below are the Before photos visit the links underneath to see the Afters and learn how they did it: 1. Thats when inspiration struck via a set of sheets and a pair of curtains. I chose Annie Sloan Chalk Paint because its my favorite paint (learn all about how to Chalk Paint furniture here), and because you can use it on almost any surface. Heres how the drawers look all prettied up with the poster board (way easier to cut and glue than paper): And to think I almost donated this piece to the thrift store a couple weeks ago! What can cause paint to look grainy instead of smooth? This way you can feel comfortable tipping the table to it's side or upside down so you can complete the bottom without scratching or marring the newly painted top. By following the six steps above, youll have your laminate looking like wood in no time flat! Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesnt mean that I dont want to hear from you. I got rid of the grey and white undertones and ended up with two chests that look a lot more like the midcentury style furniture we have throughout the remainder of our home. Its available in various colors, and you can also paint laminate to look like a piece of wood furniture but what steps do you need to follow to make your laminate look like wood? Discover all my favorite brands and tools for doing DIY makeovers here. I applied about 2-3 coats of Chalk Paint as needed. Place these parts off to the side somewhere safe where they wont get tangled up with all other removed pieces. Using a similar ratio, mix up another solution using a darker paint color instead of the medium tone you used first. I believe that you don't have to be naturally artistic or talented to paint beautiful furniture. | PRIVACY POLICY + DISCLOSURES | CONTENT USAGE POLICY, Practical Interior Design For Modern Living in Nashville, TN, How To Stain Laminate Furniture - A Paint Trick For Changing Fake Wood Colors, Painting Hardwood Floors (even if they've been painted before), How To Replace An Outdated Can Ceiling Light Without Rewiring . Practice on a scrap piece of plywood. Thank you.". Remove the cabinet doors and lay them on a flat surface.