How to Chalk Paint Laminate Furniture
Want to transform your laminate furniture into a statement piece? With the help of chalk paint, you can give that plain looking furniture a fresh color that will make your friends jealous. In this blog post, we’ll provide an easy step by step guide on how to chalk paint laminate furniture like an expert.
From prepping and priming to sealing the finished product, we’ll show you how to create these beautiful chalk paint furniture ideas that look like a professional did them. Let’s dive in!
Using chalk paint is a great solution for transforming basic laminate into an eye catching piece that lasts! You’ve obviously heard about chalk paint, but there are a lot of misconceptions about it.
So, before we dive into how to chalk paint laminate furniture, let’s chat about some things I think you should know about chalk paint.
Things You Should Know About Chalk Paint
- Yes, chalk paint has great adhesion. But when you use it on top of laminate furniture, it will need a little bit of help to get it to adhere well. (In the form of sanding and/or priming beforehand)
- Chalk paint is very porous, so if you don’t topcoat it, the paint will absorb any liquids spilled on it. This can cause the paint to start peeling off over time. And you won’t be able to just wipe things off if it gets dirty. It also easily gets marked up, even with the light touch of your hand. The topcoat protects the paint, so you don’t have to worry about any of these things.
- Chalk paint is very forgiving. And you can brush, roll, or spray it on.
- It dries very quickly (within an hour or so).
- It sands into a fine powder. This is what makes it perfect for a distressed look. It also makes sanding out any brush or roller marks easier if you don’t like them.
Read through this post to learn more about the truth of using chalk paint for furniture.
So now that you know more about chalk paint, let’s get started! But first, here are the supplies you’ll need.
Supplies Used to Chalk Paint Laminate Furniture
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- Cleaner
- 220 Grit Sandpaper
- Vacuum with Hose Attachment
- Bonding Primer
- Paint Brush or Roller
- Chalk Paint
- Topcoat
Now, let’s dive into the steps for chalk painting laminate furniture and get you on your way to a beautiful new piece.
How to Chalk Paint Laminate Furniture
If you’re anything like me, you want to start painting. But if you want professional results, you need to do a few things before grabbing chalk paint. Yeah, chalk paint companies boast that you don’t need to sand or prime, which, honestly, if you want your paint to stick well, isn’t true.
But sanding and priming are even more important when you paint laminate furniture because of how slick and shiny the laminate is.
If you’re going to spend the time and money to update your furniture, then take the extra few hours and do it right the first time. That way, you can enjoy your chalk painted furniture for years to come if you want to!
Preparing Laminate Furniture
Before you can start painting, it’s important to clean and prepare furniture for paint properly to help your paint last longer. Start by removing all of the hardware on your furniture.
Part of prepping for paint includes cleaning furniture with a degreasing cleaner, and sanding furniture lightly with 220 grit sandpaper until the laminate has lost its shine and feels less slick. These steps will help the paint and primer stick to the slick laminate.
Check out my posts on how to clean furniture before painting and how to prepare furniture for painting to guide you. Learn the importance of sanding before painting furniture here, and check out my guide on how to sand wood by hand here.
Then, clean off the dust with a vacuum hose and brush attachment and wipe off anything that remains before moving on to the next step. Using a tack cloth will remove the dust better than anything else!
How to Paint Laminate Without Sanding
If you don’t want to scuff sand, you can use a primer designed to adhere directly to slick surfaces. Check out this post to learn the best bonding primer for laminate furniture you can use.
Here’s how to paint laminate furniture without sanding if you’re set to skip sanding. But be aware that your paint job may not last as long if you don’t scuff sand.
You can always test the primer or paint out on a small section of your furniture before you go all in, just to make sure that it will stick. After 24 hours, scratch at it with your fingernail. If it doesn’t scratch off, you should be good! It will be even more durable once it cures (after about 30 days)!
Priming Laminate Furniture
Priming is an important step in the painting process, especially when painting laminate!
It helps make sure that your paint will stick to the laminate. Most paint will easily scratch off the laminate without a good bonding primer.
Then, paint on at least one coat of primer. Two coats are always better than one! You can use a paint brush or roller here. Check out these posts on the best paint brushes for painting furniture and the best rollers for painting furniture to pick what’s right for you.
Let the primer dry according to the instructions on the primer’s container.
Painting Laminate Furniture with Chalk Paint
Once you’ve prepped the surface, it’s time for the fun part – painting! Paint on at least two coats of chalk paint, applied evenly over the entire piece of furniture. I’ve put together this list of the top chalk paint brands to help you choose what chalk paint to use.
Allow an hour or two for the chalk paint to dry completely, especially if you live in a cold or humid climate. You can use a paint brush or roller for the chalk paint. Check out the best chalk paint brushes here.
If you want a brush free finish, use a paint sprayer or check out this post on how to paint furniture without brush marks. Here are the best paint sprayer for chalk paint options, and this post has everything you need to know about painting furniture with a sprayer.
Lighter colors and yellows and reds will most likely need more coats to get full coverage. White paint usually needs 4-5 coats. Check out a more detailed guide on how to paint laminate furniture here!
Best Chalk Paint For Laminate Furniture
So, which chalk paint brand should you choose for your laminate furniture? Actually, any brand will do the job just fine. Yes, any brand will do, and you can even make your own chalk paint! Here are the best chalk paint recipes you can easily follow.
If you want pre made chalk paint, I’ve put together this list of the top chalk paint brands. These brands include Country Chic Paint, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and Waverly Chalk Paint. Read my post on the best chalk paint for laminate furniture to help you decide which brand to use.
As long as you follow the proper steps for prepping and priming your laminate furniture, any of these chalk paint brands will work great. Also, here are popular chalk paint colors for furniture if you need some color inspiration for your project.
How to Seal Chalk Paint
Once your paint has dried completely, it’s important to seal the chalk paint to help protect your beautiful new paint from wear and tear over time. Here are the best topcoat for chalk paint and topcoat for painting furniture options you can choose from.
You can choose any sheen for your topcoat, matte, satin, or gloss. You can use wax, but it’s less durable than polyurethane. My wax vs polyurethane comparison post will help you decide between these two. You can also learn about the pros and cons of wax for chalk paint here.
Then, apply the topcoat to your dry chalk paint.
If you want the most professional looking finish and the most durable finish, choose Varathane waterbased polyurethane. Or use the spray can version of Minwax polycrylic for your topcoat. There’s also oil based polyurethane – learn about the difference between polycrylic vs polyurethane here.
My favorite way to topcoat chalk paint is by spraying polyurethane on. Allow 24 hours of drying time before you lightly use your new piece of furniture! Here’s how to apply polycrylic to painted furniture and how to spray polyurethane for the best results.
Other Best Paints for Laminate Furniture
If using chalk paint on laminate furniture sounds like a lot of work, between sanding, priming AND top coating… I have some easier options for you. Check out this post on the best paint for laminate furniture for a list of the best types of paint to use on laminate furniture.
Chalk painting laminate furniture is a great way to transform basic pieces into something special. With the right supplies and steps, you can create beautiful results that look like a pro did them! So gather your supplies and transform those boring old laminate pieces today!
How to Chalk Paint Laminate Furniture
Using chalk paint is a great solution for updating basic laminate into an eye-catching piece of furniture that lasts! Here's an easy step-by-step guide for how to chalk paint laminate furniture like an expert.
Instructions
- Clean and prepare furniture for paint by removing hardware, cleaning with a degreasing cleaner, lightly sanding until laminate has lost its shine, vacuuming the dust off the surface, and wiping off anything that remains.
- Prime the surface using a bonding primer to ensure that your paint will stick to the laminate.
- Paint on at least two coats of chalk paint evenly over the entire piece of furniture; lighter colors may need more coats for full coverage.
- Seal chalk paint with wax or polyurethane topcoat in the desired sheen (matte/satin/gloss).
- Allow 24 hours before using your newly painted furniture.
Recommended Products
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More Painting Laminate Furniture Resources
- Laminate Desk Makeover
- How to Paint a Laminate Dresser
- How to Paint Laminate Furniture (with Olive Green Paint)
- Heirloom Traditions All In One Paint Review
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