Are you looking to give your old particle board furniture a fresh new look but wondering if you can skip sanding? Painting furniture, including sanding, is time consuming and can be a messy process. So here’s how to paint particle board furniture without sanding to save you some time and effort!

Let’s see what steps you can take to transform your particle board furniture without the hassle of sanding.

photo of painting particle board furniture with text overlay

Particle board furniture is a popular choice for budget friendly home decor. It’s made from compressed wood particles, making it lightweight and affordable.

Sanding for paint prep has been a long standing practice for better adhesion and smoother finish. But let’s be honest, sanding can be a tedious and dusty job, especially if you have multiple pieces of furniture to repaint.

So is it possible to skip sanding when painting particle board furniture? The short answer is yes, but there are some important things to keep in mind before you start painting.

Table of Contents

Supplies Used to Paint Particle Board Furniture Without Sanding

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

Preparing Particle Board Furniture for Painting

Let’s get started on prepping your particle board furniture for painting! The first step is to clean with a cleaner to remove any dirt, oils, or residue from the surface. This is important because paint won’t adhere well to a dirty surface.

photo of cleaning particle board with krud kutter and rag

Here’s our guides on how to clean furniture before painting and how to prepare furniture for painting for more detailed instructions you can easily follow.

Priming Particle Board Furniture without Sanding

Since we will skip sanding, we will move on to priming for painting. Now we need to make sure to use a primer that will adhere well to the particle board surface.

For particle board furniture, shellac or oil based primer is the way to go. These types of primers for painting furniture really need to be used over particle board for the best results. If you use a water-based primer, the particle board will just bubble, making it difficult to work with.

photo of applying primer using BIN shellac primer

Since particle board is like a bunch of layers compressed together, water or water based products will cause it to swell up. Again, that’s why using shellac or oil based primer is important to protect the particle board.

Take your primer and apply a thin and even coat of primer onto the particle board surface with a brush. Once the first coat of primer is dry, apply a second coat for better coverage and adhesion. Then let it dry completely before moving on to painting.

Painting Particle Board Furniture without Sanding

Now it’s time to paint your particle board furniture! You’ve prepped and primed it, and you’re ready to give it a fresh new color. But what type of paint for furniture should you use?

Using enamel or oil based paint is the best choice for painting particle board furniture. It provides a durable finish that can withstand everyday use and also gives your furniture a glossy and professional look.

Since you primed your furniture with an oil based or shellac based primer, oil based paint would be the perfect match!

photo of applying paint using oil-based enamel onto particle board

If you’re not a fan of oil based paint, you can still use water based paints like chalk paint, acrylic paint, or mineral paint to transform your particle board furniture. Just make sure to use an oil based or shellac based primer first!

Water based paints are non-toxic and easy to clean up, making them a popular choice for DIY projects. They come in a variety of finishes and can be applied with a good quality paintbrush for painting furniture or roller for painting furniture.

If you’re worried about visible brush strokes on your furniture, you can learn tips and tricks on how to paint furniture without brush marks here. You can also consider using a paint sprayer on furniture for a smoother, more professional finish.

Apply your chosen paint with long, thin, and even strokes in the direction of the wood grain. Let each coat of paint dry completely before applying the next one.

Sealing Particle Board Furniture

If you used chalk paint, mineral paint, milk paint, or acrylic paint to give your particle board furniture a makeover, you’ll need to seal it with a protective topcoat. This will not only protect the paint from wearing off but also give your furniture a smooth and durable finish.

photo of applying topcoat using Varathane polyurethane

Sealing painted furniture is especially important for high traffic pieces. You don’t want all your hard work to chip or wear off in a short period of time!

Check out your options for topcoats for painting furniture here. Once you’ve chosen your topcoat, apply 2 coats, letting each coat dry completely in between. After all the coats, let your painted particle board furniture dry and cure before handling or using it.

Can I skip priming when painting particle board furniture without sanding?

Since you already skipped sanding before painting furniture, it’s not a very good idea to skip priming as well.

Priming is an important step in the process of painting particle board furniture since it helps the paint adhere better to the surface and also provides a smoother finish. Without priming, your paint may not last as long and could start peeling or chipping sooner.

Skipping both sanding and priming may save you time and effort, but it’s not worth the risk of having to redo your furniture sooner than expected. It’s always better to take the necessary steps for a quality finish that will last.

Another reason to not skip priming when painting particle board furniture is that it helps seal the surface and prevent moisture from seeping into the layers of particle board.

Without this protection, your furniture may start to swell or warp over time, making it difficult to use or causing it to fall apart.

Keep in mind that priming is not just for painting particle board furniture. It’s also an important step when painting other surfaces like wood or laminate. Learn more about How to Paint Laminate Furniture | Without Sanding VS Sanding in this post!

So if you’re going to skip sanding and priming, it’s better to not paint your particle board furniture at all.

You can skip these steps technically, but we don’t recommend it if you want your furniture to have a professional and long lasting finish. It’s better to do it right the first time and save yourself from future headaches.