September 6, 2020 - Use a good quality paint brush or else I recommend using a foam roller. On this project I used an angled brush for the paint and a foam roller for the clear topcoat. You’ll notice there is no sanding and no priming.

June 28, 2021 - I wasn’t so sure how it would go, but I gave it my best educated guess and dove in. As it turns out, you can achieve lovely results when you paint laminate furniture with chalk paint as your primer and regular paint. AND BONUS! NO SANDING REQUIRED!

May 10, 2023 - The best way to ensure paint on laminate lasts is to sand the surface and use a good bonding primer, followed by two layers of high-quality latex paint and a durable top coat – allowing each layer to dry thoroughly before adding the next.

March 4, 2025 - And oil is no good if you want paint to stick to your surface. Step 2: Prime Roll on 2 coats of a shellac based primer (check drying times between coats on the tin). I prefer Zinsser BIN primer-sealer: it is amazing, it sticks to most surfaces. Using a good primer is essential. Don’t skimp on the primer. Buy the good stuff. I found rolling a very quick process and the finish was free of brush strokes – lovely! You could use a brush, and you may need to if your furniture has grooves that a roller can’t get into, but if you want to preserve your brush, you’ll need Zinsser BIN brush cleaner and restorer, or similar, to clean your brushes.

May 7, 2021 - And even if you do sand lightly, you’ll still use primer in order to ensure the paint will adhere properly. Using the Zinsser BIN Primer that I recommend above, you can paint laminate furniture without sanding, saving you the extra time and effort!

September 12, 2025 - The frames are laminate and the doors are real wood, so they were aging into different colors. If you paint a piece of real wood furniture or cabinetry, the wood will absorb some of the paint or primer into its pores, which creates a tight bond and helps the paint stick to the wood.

Learn how to paint laminate furniture without sanding! Whether you plan to paint Ikea laminate furniture or a fireplace like us- you need this easy tutorial! Laminate furniture often has a reputation for looking cheap. Let’s be honest- that faux grain finish does not fool anyone!

April 6, 2022 - I’ve seen other bloggers use it on ceramic tile and glass, so I gave it a go on this laminate. Guys, this Slick Stick is amazing. It’s easy to apply and clean up, sticks like nobody’s business and doesn’t stink up my workspace like my go-to shellac-based primer. And the best part – NO SANDING required! Here’s the finished makeover. What do you think? I used my layering and dry brush painting techniques to get this boho mottled coloring and pattern.

December 5, 2023 - Don’t have chalk paint on hand, ... have to sand with a sandpaper, but you do need to use a liquid deglosser of some kind to remove the sheen from the laminate cabinets....

July 18, 2025 - Either use the clear shellac or the Country Chic Paint clear bonding primer as your primer. Both are clear, so you’ll be able to distress your paint without seeing a white primer in between the paint and laminate.

May 6, 2025 - Only if it makes you feel better do you need to sand before you paint laminate furniture. You can use 220 grit sand paper and lightly sand laminate IKEA furniture as a prep step.

October 6, 2023 - The best way to paint laminate furniture without a ton of sanding is to lightly scuff the surface with medium-grit sandpaper followed by a shellac-based primer.

TikTok video from LeeAnne (@lifewithleeanne): “How to paint laminate furniture without sanding! Got some IKEA pieces that are feeling a bit tired, or you want a custom look? Shellac primer is the answer. Find me on Insta for more.

January 17, 2020 - Ok, you’re going to laugh, but my trick to painting laminate furniture so the paint stays is just as simple as using chalk paint! I’m not kidding- I didn’t sand or anything.

June 18, 2025 - Learn how to paint laminate furniture without sanding and save time! Perfect for DIY hacks and upcycled furniture makeovers, this guide shows you exactly how to transform laminate pieces even if you skip the sanding step.