I really love to chat it out! Even though Chicago Grey is a light gray, it isnt too light you can see the difference below versus the white primer on the drawer. 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. The drawers werent in bad condition, but since the outside got a fancy new look, the inside looked a little plain. What can cause paint to look grainy instead of smooth? You'll get the most authentic-looking grain pattern by using wood-toned paint and glaze, but you can also use the tools to create Art Deco patterns with primary colors. 12 Ways to Remove Grease From Wood (Get Rid of the Stain). The difference in wood tones may not be super obvious at first and thats okay. You can use a stronger cleaner or degreaser like Krud Kutter if needed. The catch? Then re-try painting the cabinets. Ive completed this project, and the can light installation I showed you last week, as part of the 555 Room Challenge. Then, apply a coat of an acrylic latex paint with a brush or roller using short, even strokes. Youre going to apply this method until the desired tone is achieved. But once I got there to pick them up, the wood stain looked more whitewashed and kind of farmhouse-y. If you find youve gone too dark, use a clean damp cloth to remove the finish as quickly as possible. For my piece, the end result was subtle. Before you can begin painting your laminate furniture, you will first need to prime the surface. If you don't have the time for trial-and-error, you can get reasonably predictable results by using a paint comb and a wood-graining rocker. Remove the cabinet doors and lay them on a flat surface. Thanks, "I'm planning on painting my desk to match my new room decor. XOXO Christy James recently postedCoastal Dresser Makeover. Normally Chalk Paint doesnt require much prep work, but with laminate furniture, you really do want to sand and prime first like I said earlier (its a really important step!). With over 20 years of experience, James specializes in exterior and interior painting, drywall, powerwashing, wallpaper, staining, sealing, and carpentry. Its also important not to rush when priming. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Remove drawers, cabinet doors, and hardware. What does your inspiration wood have that your current piece of furniture is lacking? To do this, use a simple screwdriver that fits the type of screw used on your furniture. % of people told us that this article helped them. Bubbling paint might be a sign that you haven't sanded the laminate enough. Coat your project with a polyurethane glaze. Once its dry, gently sand the surface with a 220-grit sandpaper. As always, I used my favorite Purdy paint brushes for painting the dresser. Next, apply an oil-based primer with a brush or roller and wait 4 hours for it to dry. Although it doesn't take as much skill as painting wood grain, you still need to get the hang of using a rocker. 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. It is more difficult to get an even coat with spray paint, so you will do best with several thin coats. To paint laminate furniture, start by sanding down the surface using 120-grit sandpaper so that the paint will stick better. 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. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. 1. Could spray paint be used to obtain a similar outcome? 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. The metallic shimmer is so soft but you can see it when the light hits and it really helps the handles shine. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. 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. You want your cloth rag to be damp with stain but not wet. "I have laminated bedroom furniture, and would now like to paint it to match my new white headboard and side tables. COPYRIGHT 2017 - 2021 | T. MOORE HOME REDESIGNS, L.L.C. AD BREAKrunning ads on this site helps me keep the lights on.thanks for your support! As long as you dont over saturate your laminate, youre not ruining your furniture. I bought them anyway, assuming they were covered in a wood veneer (a super thin cut of real wood) and I could just alter the stain color. I ordered them immediately. Sand the cabinet lightly by hand with 220-grit sandpaper to etch the surface of the laminate. So out the cardboard went. Using semi-gloss paint will give you more shine, but it wont be as glossy as high-gloss paint. Painting Specialist. Once youve done this, make sure to clean down the laminate surface thoroughly and remove any dust and debris present. Use any clear varnish to seal and protect the paint from marking. Priming will help ensure a smooth finish so that there are no areas where paint doesnt stick or peels off after drying. What a great idea! Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? 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. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Ill never share your email address with any other companies or people but I will send you the best weekly emails with exclusive content. Laminate furniture has become very popular for many reasons. 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! Let the glaze dry and then protect it with a coat of clear polyurethane varnish so it doesn't chip off and ruin the wood-grain effect. Use a paint thats the color of a wood undertone, such as oak, walnut, or even a simple beige. 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. I already bought a can. 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? By following the six steps above, youll have your laminate looking like wood in no time flat! Choose a color with a woody hue, such as beige, sienna or umber, if you want to replicate the appearance of wood. Use a Rocker and Mixed Latex Glaze to Create a Grain Texture, 6. I have never used poster board as liner. I did not know that bubbles appear if furniture is inadequately sanded! James Guth. Friend, todays makeover almost didnt happen I bought this French Provincial style dresser a couple years ago to be a project for my book (Amazing Furniture Makeovers), but it didnt make the cut. Sometimes (especially in my own home), designs get scrapped altogether when a new idea comes to mind. Salvaged Inspirations. This post contains some affiliate links so you can easily find the products I use and recommend. Thank you.". These Ikea chests have helped me work out a better clothing storage solution for my kids upstairs attic bedroom. This thing was pretty grimy and neglected and its been in my little trailer for ages just taking up space. *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. There was no real wood grain and therefore, I couldn't just re-stain them. Friend, I hope you feel more confident with knowing how to paint laminate furniture with Chalk Paint now. Allow the paint to dry for 2 hours, then repeat the process with two more coats of paint. I applied about 2-3 coats of Chalk Paint as needed. First, the prep work is really important. Its gorgeous!! Use a rocker and mixed latex glaze to create a grain texture. Do the bottom first. If you dont have an existing piece already, head to your local home improvement store and browse the wood flooring samples. So make sure you come back to see how Ive used leftover wall paint to create a durable floor paint! Use either matte, satin or gloss depending on the finish you want. This article received 18 testimonials and 93% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. The purpose of sanding isn't to remove the finish, but to etch it so the primer adheres. Prime the cabinet and doors with an oil- or water-based wood primer. Its durable, less expensive, and easier to clean for kids or pets around the house. I used a glass yogurt jar and filled it with paint to the halfway mark. Yes, you can apply a sealer to the paint after you've painted over the laminate. 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. unlocking this expert answer. Faux painting is a craft that takes some time to master, especially when trying to simulate something as complex as wood grain. Paint all the sides of the cabinet and the cabinet doors in the same way. Its week two of the 555 Room Challenge and today Im showing you how I updated two IKEA chests. I definitely planned to reuse the original hardware. 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. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Have you ever purchased something online thinking it was absolutely the perfect color or wood tone to go with your decor only to discover when you view it in person that the color is actually a little "off"?Last weekend, I bought a set of Ikea chests from a seller on FB Marketplace. I also painted the drawer pulls in Chicago Grey Chalk Paint and added a layer of the sheer metallic paint on top. Laminate is an inexpensive and durable option that can be easily wiped clean when kids or pets come in contact with it. You can use a stronger cleaner or degreaser like, There were a couple sticky parts on top that I cleaned up with some, How to Paint Laminate Furniture with Chalk Paint, After the primer has dried at least overnight, its time to paint the dresser. Ive sent a message to my ASCP stockist to see if there are other factors Ill let you know if I hear anything different. Practice on a scrap piece of plywood. You should apply two coats of polyurethane glaze. Thanks! This article was co-authored by James Guth and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. There is no way to do so. Thats when inspiration struck via a set of sheets and a pair of curtains. So we decided to leave the bed on the wall. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWJIJM3qmyQ&feature=youtu.be&t=8, http://realitydaydream.com/the-difference-between-laminate-and/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auW3ejK8GsQ&feature=youtu.be&t=154, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWJIJM3qmyQ&feature=youtu.be&t=76, http://vintagerevivals.com/2015/05/how-to-paint-a-laminate-dresser, http://www.thecreativityexchange.com/2015/11/how-to-paint-laminate-furniture-and-get-a-smooth-finish.html, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3qDfPhUQ5Y&feature=youtu.be&t=234, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3qDfPhUQ5Y&feature=youtu.be&t=254, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3qDfPhUQ5Y&feature=youtu.be&t=283, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/29772-dream-it-do-it-how-to-paint-laminate/. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Click the images below to see what projects all the other bloggers are up to this week: You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! For going super dark, like creating a mocha stain, you may find youll be adding black and brown to the base. 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. Apply a light coat of the darker mixture to the laminate surface, and using the rocker tool, rock it back and forth in one sweeping motion in the direction of the assumed wood grain. 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. To prepare for painting your laminate furniture, you must first tape off everything around where youll be working. Use masking tape to tape over the insides of each drawer opening so that theyre nice and neat. After the primer has dried at least overnight, its time to paint the dresser. This article clarified a few doubts I had. Feel free to Pin this post to easily find it again later, or share it with someone else who might learn from it. Confessions of a Serial DIYer 3. So I ordered them promptly. How Do Cooling Blankets Work? 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. Next, I placed some painters tape over the inside of the drawer pull holes so primer and paint wouldnt drip through. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Very lightly sand the dresser for smoothness and wipe away any sanding dust. Which part should I do first? The comb pattern gives you a discrete starting point for the rocker, which makes the faux grain. At $30 each, they werent as cheap as the mural Id planned but they were still a bargain! Can I seal paint that has been painted on laminate with lacquer? I added the white drawers back into the chests and I absolutely love the look of the crisp white against the blonde wood! This process should work with any desired stain idea. When I first saw the curtains, I nixed the idea of using them because Id planned to paint a floral motif in a mural on the wall behind my daughters bed. Remember that water removes stickers and you dont want to remove the laminate from your furniture. If necessary, work on small sections at a time because it can be challenging to cover the entire item in one go. 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). 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. I love it! Some furniture looks like its made out of solid wood, but it's actually covered in a thin, wood-patterned paper called laminate. Pinned XOXOX. Site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Paint-Laminate-Furniture-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Paint-Laminate-Furniture-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Paint-Laminate-Furniture-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid2140538-v4-728px-Paint-Laminate-Furniture-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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