How to paint laminate wardrobes

As part of my master bedroom makeover the laminate wardrobes needed to be tackled. These wardrobes were in situ when we bought the house and though not my style they are useful for storage.

The plan for the bedroom was to paint it in a blush pink. As it’s not a huge room I didn’t want the walls pink and the wardrobes white. This would only draw attention to the wardrobes so I decided they would go pink too.

When I decided to paint the laminate wardrobes I decided to just paint the outside of the doors and to also paint the trim at the top.

Once I had finished them however I felt the room needed more. I continued on to paint the wooden panelling behind the bed, the ceiling, the radiator and the inside of the bedroom door. I think I got a bit carried away.
Lesson learned, make a plan before you start!

What you will need to paint your laminate wardrobes:

• Primer: I used Zinsser 1-2-3 primer
• Paint: I used Valspar “Peaceful Soul” in Interior Matt for walls and ceilings (the same paint as I used on the walls).
  ** Note: You should really use a satinwood or gloss on woodwork so that it is more hardwearing but I really wanted a matt finish and I had the paint so I just used it. Be aware though it will mark easier and is not as easy to clean.
• Paint brushes and roller: I used an old paintbrush I had and rollers from Two Fussy Blokes
• Hardwear: I got matt black handles on Amazon

Step 1 – Remove hardware

My husband Alan removed the door handles that were on the wardrobe doors. For four years we lived with some doors not having any handles!

Step 2 – Clean the doors

I just used a cloth and soapy water to clean all the wardrobe doors and dried them with a towel. I left them to dry for 24 hours after cleaning them before I painted them.

Step 2 – Prime the doors

First, I put down a painting cloth on the floor before starting this step as I wanted to protect the floor. I didn’t need to use any masking tape as I was painting the whole wardrobe including the boards at the bottom.

Next, I used Zinsser 123 primer and applied two coats using a roller for the main parts of the laminate wardrobe doors and a small brush for the grooves. It can be tricky to see where you have painted when you are painting white on white so I always followed the same pattern. Start at the bottom of the door and painted the grooves first of the whole door and then rolled the paint onto the main parts of the door. I left the doors 24 hours before applying the second coat of primer but you don’t have to wait as long, just follow the instructions on the tin.

Step 4 – Paint the doors

I followed the same process here to paint the laminate wardrobes with the Valspar “Peaceful Soul” paint. I painted the grooves first with the pink paint. Then I used the roller to roll the paint onto the rest of the door.

Step 5 – Enjoy your freshly painted laminate wardrobe

Yes it does take a while to paint laminate wardrobes. Specifically, two coats of primer and two coats of paint and drying time between each one, but it is worth it. If you don’t have the inclination or money to replace your laminate wardrobes and want to update your room. It will completely change the look of your room. If you want to see how much of a difference it made in Lynn’s bedroom you have have a look here.

If all of the above has gotten you thinking about updating your home but you feel you need a helping hand, contact me to find out how I can help you to style your house sustainably and create a home that you love.