How to paint chipboard or laminate furniture

Mass-produced furniture made of chipboard or laminate is usually affordable and easy to assemble, but you soon grow tired of looking at it. What can you do about it? If you are lucky, the right chipboard pieces can be painted quite skilfully, and they then look very nice too. Besides, painting furniture can also be an interesting hobby.

Laminate furniture

What is your furniture actually made of? It is usually made of veneered laminated chipboard, which is the main material in most so-called all-wood furniture. Furniture like this takes paint well. The exact opposite is furniture made of recycled plastics or with sewn-in upholstery, which we cannot recommend painting in good conscience.

Is your furniture made of laminated chipboard? The process is very quick and easy.

Apply the base coat to the top layer here, then finish with a protective varnish. Just make sure the primer is designed for laminate surfaces. Only this guarantees that the paint will adhere well and will not peel. The good news is that you can also buy universal 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 paints, which separate into layers on the surface after brushing or spraying (primer, top coat and possibly a finishing varnish).

Step by step

Before you get to work, prepare the furniture using a sanding sponge, an abrasive pad, fine emery paper or light sandblasting. The ideal grit is around 120 to 180. The aim is not to strip the laminate completely from the wooden parts of the furniture and sand right down to the chipboard. It is enough just to roughen the surface so that the primer adheres better.

Remember that it will create a lot of dust, so prepare your work area to avoid making an unnecessary mess.

After sanding, remove all dust from the furniture and wipe it dry so that the paint adheres well and smoothly to the surface. Next comes the primer, applied in an even layer over the whole surface of the furniture. Sometimes a small brush will do, at other times (for larger surfaces and doors) it pays to reach for a roller, which keeps the coat even. It is important that the paint dries thoroughly. 4 hours is really the minimum recommended by the manufacturer. In reality it may take around 5 to 6 hours. However, it also depends on the weather and where you are painting the furniture.

Do not apply the top coat paint too thickly. It looks better if you apply it in several thin layers, which will give full coverage. Apply it either with a brush or as a spray. The advantage is that these paints can be combined.

Use varnish

To preserve the finish, you need to protect it from environmental influences, and that is what varnish or a surface sealer is for. Retailers offer a wide range of options, and we recommend water-based varnishes. And once everything has dried? You can assemble the furniture without any difficulty. You have created an original piece that no longer resembles products from uniform catalogues. You have really given that kindly uncle from Sweden a good brush-off.

Painting chipboard?

If laminate or vinyl-covered chipboard is peeling, the surface is plastic, not wood, so use a special paint. For example, kitchen cabinets made of chipboard must be sanded first before you start painting. So which paint is best for vinyl?

The best paint for vinyl is 100% acrylic paint with a water base or urethane-modified acrylic paint. Avoid cheap latex paints. Acrylic paint is much more flexible. Vinyl often expands and contracts with changes in temperature. Lower-quality paints then crack and peel under this stress.

Chalk paints adhere to almost anything, are easy to apply and dry quickly. They make a perfect primer for a laminate surface. My favourite brand is Annie Sloan. The range of shades is truly amazing.

If you enjoy painting, turn your attention to your radiators too. You will see how it brightens up your interior.