Laminate, people always seem scared of laminate. Lots of question about laminate. Can you paint laminate? If so, what is the best paint to paint laminate? Stick with me and I’m going to tell you!

What Is Laminate Furniture?

“Laminate is a product created by bonding two or more layers of thin material together to form a thicker, stronger material. The process of wood lamination has ancient origins. Traces of laminated wood have been found by archaeologists in the tombs of the pharaohs. The Chinese shaved wood and glued it together more than a thousand years ago. Wood lamination continued to evolve as technology refined the process for ever-changing laminate application.” – ehow.com

Now that you have an understanding of what laminate furniture is let’s paint it!!! You CAN make it pretty!!

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How to Paint Over Laminate Furniture The best Paints

Supplies you need to paint over laminate

1. Your favorite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (this is what I used on the desk in the photos. I used Annie Sloan’s French Linen“) ( Dixie Belle with slick stick applied first will also work, Jolie will work and Valspars Chalky Finish Paint will work too. 🙂

   

2. Clear Wax (to seal your project)
3. Your Favorite paint brush (these are mine!)

   

4. Wax Brush

   

5. Black wax (this is optional, I did use this on the desk where their were indentations.)
6. Annie Sloan Graphite Chalk Paint (also optional, I used this to paint the hardware. 🙂

To BEGIN, make sure your surface is clean and fill in any dents or scratches with wood putty. Once surface is nice and clean you can start to paint your piece! I like to start from the bottom up or in this case I started on the inside of the desk. This is a great way to do a “test spot” on an inconspicuous spot to make sure you like the paint! Once you like it keep going! It took me about 2-3 coats of Annie Sloan’s French Linen on this piece of furniture.

Allow your furniture to dry, generally 30 minutes to an hour for Annie Sloan chalk paint is the dry time. Try not to apply paint to thick and this will help speed up dry time. Once furniture is dry apply clear wax to your piece with your wax brush. I like to go in circular motions really getting the wax worked into the paint for a smooth finish.

After your piece is fully waxed you can add black wax like I did to any nooks and crannies that your piece might have! You want to make sure to have the clear wax applied first or your black wax will stain your paint. Wipe off excess black wax with an old cotton t-shirt or a shop towel. (shop towels are my favorite!)

TIP: If you ever add too much black wax simply remove your black wax by adding clear wax to a shop towel and then wiping off the excess black. 🙂

When you have your piece of laminate furniture painted in your favorite chalk style paint and sealed you can paint your hardware! I painted the hardware in this pic with Annie Sloans Graphite and I did a wash of French Linen over the Graphite. 🙂 (A wash is lightly dipping the bristles of your paint brush into your paint color and then into a small amount of water and feathering the paint over the hardware.)

After Your hardware has been painted you can screw it back onto your furniture! Now, step back and admire what you just accomplished!! Painting over laminate furniture can be fun and easy if you have the right products!

Have you painted over laminate before? If so, what paint did you use? I would LOVE to hear! Leave a comment below!

Curious on how to dry brush white paint on furniture? Click here. 🙂