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Something that can be painted effortlessly

    For heavier or larger pieces, work in a downward motion toward the legs.


Something that can be painted effortlessly

Painting a beloved, but perhaps slightly dated, piece of laminate furniture empowers you to easily freshen up your space — without spending a lot of money.

How to paint laminate furniture

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.

Key Watchout

You cannot stain laminate, since it is not real wood. However, you can easily paint it, as outlined in the steps on this page.

Supplies Checklist: Painting Laminate Furniture

Medium-grit sandpaper (220 or finer)

Paintbrush or fine finish roller

INSL-X &reg STIX &reg Primer or Fresh Start &reg High-Hiding All Purpose Primer

ADVANCE &reg Interior Paint

What is Laminate

Often called “fake wood,” laminate furniture is made of a synthetic material, usually plastic, that is used to create a thin exterior layer on furniture or other surfaces. Unlike natural, solid wood, laminate is created by layering and bonding different materials together.

Clean the laminated surfaces with a wet rag.

Step #1: Clean the Furniture

Clean the surface of the piece you are painting thoroughly using a wet rag to ensure there is no dirt or debris on the furniture.

Sand the laminated surface with a piece of sandpaper.

Step #2: Sand the Laminate

Sand the piece using 220-grit sandpaper in sweeping motions up and down the entire surface area. Vacuum the debris and wipe with a microfiber towel.

Apply the appropriate primer to the laminated surface.

Step #3: Prime the Furniture

With a high-quality paintbrush or fine finish roller, apply primer evenly to the entire surface of the piece. We recommend a good bonding primer like our INSL-X &reg STIX &reg Primer or Fresh Start &reg High-Hiding All Purpose Primer. Let dry completely.

Paint the laminated surface with a quality brush or fine roller with 2 coats.

Step #4: Paint the Furniture

Apply an even coat of ADVANCE &reg Interior Paint to the furniture with a high-quality brush or fine finish roller. Make sure to let the paint dry completely before applying an additional coat or two of paint to achieve the desired smoothness of your finished piece.

Tips for Painting Different Types of Laminate Furniture

  • Painting Laminate Cabinets

    For best results, remove doors and lay them flat to paint, as opposed to painting upright.

    Remove drawers before painting. When painting the drawer, painting the interior is optional, but it is typical to paint the interior face of the drawer.

    Remove drawers before painting. When painting the drawer, painting the interior is optional, but it is typical to paint the interior face of the drawer.

    For heavier or larger pieces, work in a downward motion toward the legs.

Laminate Furniture Dos and Dont’s

Do use a powerful bonding primer like INSL-X &reg STIX &reg or Fresh Start &reg High-Hiding All Purpose Primer, which offers powerful adhesion properties to any surface, even shiny ones like laminate.

Do use sandpaper that is finer than 220-grit.

Do sand the shiny surface down to a dull finish before applying paint.

Don’t try to stain it.

Don’t paint a dirty surface — make sure you clean first.

Don’t skip sanding. Laminate has a synthetic, glossy surface, so sanding is especially important.

Don’t oversand. Laminate is a thin material, so be gentle to make sure you don’t break through the top layer.

From a vintage piece to a brand new purchase, Benjamin Moore &reg products can help you spruce up any laminated piece to bring a fresh new look to your space. You can also easily paint other types of indoor furniture to freshen things up in your home.

Not sure what color to paint your laminate dresser, cabinet, bookshelf, desk or table? It’s easy to choose your ideal shade with the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio &reg app, where you can match the color of your favorite scarf, sofa or other beloved piece to a paint color perfect for your laminate furniture in need of an update.

Get More DIY Help

If you have more questions, talk to us!

STIX&reg Waterborne Bonding Primer

STIX &reg WATERBORNE BONDING PRIMER

Unparalleled adhesion to the most challenging surfaces.

Fresh Start&reg Waterborne High-Hiding All Purpose Primer


FRESH START &reg HIGH-HIDING ALL PURPOSE PRIMER

Delivering the exceptional adhesion and holdout required for a smooth and durable topcoat.

ADVANCE&reg Interior Paint


HOW TO PAINT LAMINATE FURNITURE

Painting a beloved, but perhaps slightly dated, piece of laminate furniture empowers you to easily freshen up your space—without spending a lot of money.

Two images, the first is a wood dresser cabinet, the second is a painted dresser cabinet.

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.

Key Watchout

You cannot stain laminate, since it is not real wood. However, you can easily paint it, as outlined in the steps on this page.

Supplies Checklist: Painting Laminate Furniture

Rag
Water
Dry cloth
Medium-grit sandpaper (220-grit or finer)
Paintbrush or fine finish roller
INSL-X ® STIX ® Primer
ADVANCE ® Interior Paint or INSL-X ® Cabinet Coat

Rag
Water
Dry cloth
Medium-grit sandpaper (220-grit or finer)
Paintbrush or fine finish roller
INSL-X ® STIX ® Primer
ADVANCE ® Interior Paint or INSL-X ® Cabinet Coat

Colin Wynn
the authorColin Wynn

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