Cassie Bustamante

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Painting Laminate Furniture

July 28, 2015 by Cassie 26 Comments

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Hi guys!  Did you have a good weekend?  I clearly took a long weekend by my lack of a post yesterday, but in my defense I was beat.  We spent the weekend painting our hearts out in our bedroom (more on that tomorrow!).   For now, I am so excited to share with you some tips on painting laminate furniture.

How to Paint Laminate FurniturePin

I was lucky enough to find this dresser in my own, well Sweet Clover’s own, back yard.  Sometimes when we are open our landlord holds a yard sale.  She put this triple French dresser out and not one person bought it, and I know why.  It was, well, you know the type: yellowish, speckled, and boasting a very hard and plastic look laminate top.  Those laminate tops like that frighten even some of the savviest DIYers I know!

Today I am sharing all the details of how I took this piece from then….

PHOTO2Pin

to now.

How to Paint Laminate FurniturePin

I have heard many times in conversations with other people in my business of furniture refinishing, “Oh I had to pass because it was laminate.”  The truth is that laminate is just a thick shiny coating, just like a heavy coat of polyurethane on a solid wood piece of furniture, and can be painted, just like those wood pieces can be.  Believe it or not, this dresser started out life with an ugly plastic looking speckled laminate top.

How to Paint laminate furniturePin

Wouldn’t it have been a shame to pass this piece up simply because of it’s hideous speckled laminate top?  It had so much potential!

Laminate Dresser before paintPin

 

Here is a close up of the top so you can see its speckled glory….

Speckled laminate top dresser- how to paint over this!Pin

I am not really sure why the speckled look was ever a thing back in the day, but thank goodness we have products and skills these days to cover it up.  To prepare this dresser for painting the process was simple and similar to prepping any other piece.

First, of course, I put on a mask to prevent dust inhalation.  Then using an orbital sander with 180 grit sandpaper, I sanded the entire laminate area so that it lost its shine.  If I tried to sand the entire laminate off, I would be sanding all day, and I would uncover most likely composite wood underneath which is not as durable.  To give you an idea of how much to I sanded the laminate, here is a look at it post sanding; it’s pretty similar to the above photo, just duller.

Laminate top post sanding- how to sand for paintPin

Once the laminate area was sanded, I continued with the rest of the dresser body.  I removed all of the existing hardware and put it aside, and used the orbital sander to lightly sand the body.  Because the drawer and legs had details that were inaccessible to the sander, I used a loose piece of sandpaper in the same grit and sanded those hard to reach areas by hand.

After the entire piece was sanded I used a damp rag to wipe away dust, allowed it to try, and was ready to prime.  Because I prefer to keep things as clean as possible, I used a water based and low VOC primer.  I applied one coat with a brush, and allowed it to dry.  I then tested the laminate top by attempting to scratch the primer off, and found that it adhered beautifully.  (I do this on all pieces where there is a possibility of paint or primer not sticking; I call it “the scratch test”.)

With the primer sticking perfectly, this piece was ready for paint!  I created a custom mix with some General Finishes blues I had on hand and applied the first coat with a brush.

How to paint plastic top furniturePin

After one coat it was clear another was needed, so I continued with a second coat.  Once the second coat was dry, I used my sandpaper to lightly distress the edges.  This dresser had so many great details and curves that I wanted them to pop.  Distressing the edges lightly allows for those features to really stand out.

To protect the finish I had worked so hard to achieve, and ensure durability, I applied a coat of satin finishing wax.

Finally, the crowning touch came in putting the hardware back in place.  While the dresser’s paint was drying, I had sprayed the existing hardware with a gold spray paint to freshen it up.  I knew it would shine against the darker blue.

Painted hardwarePin

As for the laminate top, underneath it’s new finish you would never know that hideous speckled laminate top is lurking.

painted laminate top dresserPin

This piece now has an entire new look and has been taken from 1970’s faux finish French to vintage hip.

DIY painting laminate furniturePin

PS- this dresser was painted with custom mix of Klein blue and Coastal blue from General Finishes.

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Filed Under: Dresser, furniture transformations

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Comments

  1. Michelle Mortensen says

    July 28, 2015 at 5:23 am

    Paint is our best friend! Great transformation…
    Best,
    Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      yes, it is! 🙂 thank you!

      Reply
  2. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    July 28, 2015 at 9:08 am

    That dresser under that art work – gorgeous!!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      thank you, sharon! i love using that wall for staging. 😉

      Reply
  3. [email protected] Chronicles of Home says

    July 28, 2015 at 9:21 am

    What a pretty piece. Those kinds of finishes totally intimidate me!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      see and you are a diy maven so that shouldn’t!

      Reply
  4. Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says

    July 28, 2015 at 9:22 am

    LOVE the new color and I heading over to read your trick!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      thank you so much, jennifer!

      Reply
  5. Gretchen says

    July 28, 2015 at 9:34 am

    Lovely! that color with the gold hardware is just perfect!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      thank you, gretchen!

      Reply
  6. Ellen says

    July 28, 2015 at 11:06 am

    Your piece turned out beautifully. This looks like Henry Link? I have successfully painted over those laminate tops for many years using two coats of artist’s gesso as a primer. Never had a problem!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      i think it may be- and that is a great tip! thank you, ellen!

      Reply
  7. Patty Day says

    July 28, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Love this piece. What a gorgeous blue! And….the gold hardware…..wow

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      thank you, patty!

      Reply
  8. Breanna says

    July 28, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    That color is gorgeous! And congrats on your new gig 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      thank you, bre!

      Reply
  9. Corinna - A Designer At Home says

    July 28, 2015 at 10:18 pm

    It’s got to be magic! It’s a completely different piece!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      thank you so much, corinna! if only it was magic then i wouldn’t have had to put any effort into it. 😉 if those walls could just paint themselves… ah.

      Reply
  10. [email protected] says

    July 29, 2015 at 11:35 am

    Okay, I’ll admit it – having had issues with painting over laminate in the past, I probably would have skipped over it as well. Love your tips! And the dresser’s transformation!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:18 pm

      it’s seriously easy!

      Reply
  11. [email protected] says

    August 5, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    I would have never had the guts to paint it. You have balls, girl. And it looks amazing.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 6, 2015 at 9:05 am

      oh i bet you would! you totally could!

      Reply
  12. Amber @ Wills Casa says

    August 10, 2015 at 12:16 am

    Love the blue!! I know that statement is a total shock to you! 😉

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 10, 2015 at 2:14 pm

      haha! thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  13. nicole says

    August 10, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    I love this color, I’m definitely feeling the coastal vibe.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 10, 2015 at 2:08 pm

      thank you, nicole!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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