How to paint laminate ikea furniture the right way. Benjamin moore makes good products but i am inclined to recommend sherwin williams as ive worked with them more than my benjamin moore retailer. That said, mdf does rout and paint incredibly well if thats more important to you and your design doesnt call for wide, unsupported expanses. Can t be arsed to sand off and start again so were living with it. Sure i would, if it was a builtin and paint grade book shelf. If you dont prepare veneer surfaces properly, the paint wont stick as it should, or it will peel off later. Make sure to pre sand the end grain to 220 or so first. I am trying to find the best but cheapest thing for the board. How to paint mdf and get smooth edges sawdust girl. The low price of pressedboard furniture is easier to love than its fakewood appearance. The key to a successful paint job, however, is all in the preparation. A lot of people are keen to customise their ikea furniture for this reason but many find themselves put off by horror stories of people trying to paint their ikea. Mdf shelving should be stiffened by attaching a piece of solid wood across the front of the shelf. Cabinets made from mdf are often coated with a thermofoil coating.
Sanding to begin, i gave each bookcase a good sanding with my orbital sander. How to paint ikea furniture including expedit, kallax, lack and malm painting ikea furniture can transform a generic massproduced product into a personalised item unique to you. I just painted some mdf shelves, i use bin shellac primer to seal the mdf, an it worked great. A transformation was needed, and a crisp, fresh coat of white paint on the bookcases was the perfect solution.
May 22, 2018 easy tips for upcycling mdf furniture tuesday, may 22, 2018 10. Mar 20, 2017 a complete walk through of all the steps you need to take in order to obtain a really good paint finish on mdf. Two bookcases wrap around the corner to host tableware and collectibles in this dining room. Benjamin moore makes good products but i am inclined to recommend sherwin williams as i ve worked with them more than my benjamin moore retailer. The best wood to use for wood shelves this old house. If the surface isnt sanded or not sanded enough, then the paint will bubble because its not adhering. How to paint a mdf bookcase page 1 the painted surface. Mdf is very porous, so it will simply absorb the stripper, which may result in the bookcase becoming warped. Melamine can be a tricky product to paint since the surface is completely nonabsorbent, slightly shiny and if you dont follow the correct steps the paint wont properly bond to it properly.
Fortunately, the preparation is easy and just requires a little sanding. Mdf moulding wont properly wold the stain, making it appear to be a different color than the rest of your wooden bookshelf. The edges chipding easily, but the face of the mdf doesnt. In this video im building a white gloss mdf bookcase. The painted surface how to paint a mdf bookcase page 1. Made from thermally fused papers saturated in resin, a melamine finish is designed to be durable, requiring no extra paint or sealers of any kind. Sanding mdf will allow the primer and paint to bond well with the surface.
You just have to know the right way to work with it. How to upcycle mdf bookcases and avoid mistakes the. They sag under a lot of weight, dent and scratch easily, dont offer longterm rigidity, and require extra support for long spans. Paints can have a lowsheen, such as in a flat or matte type. Waterbased and oilbased, or alkydbased, are the two main categories of paint. Well show you a few handy tips to make sure your paint job looks great for years to come. If youre only keeping soft items etc on them emulsion is fine but if you are keeping things that can scratch, i would go for an oil based product like gloss or eggshell. Dont use a chemical paint stripper to remove existing paint. Particle board is comprised of wood chips, saw dust and other small chunks of wood that are glued together. Mar 29, 2019 paint the mdf with a water based paint. A complete walk through of all the steps you need to take in order to obtain a really good paint finish on mdf.
The advantages with mdf are you can paint it with whatever you see fit. Totally rocked this diy project even though i had no idea what i was doing. Oct 07, 2019 to paint laminate furniture, start by sanding down the surface using 120grit sandpaper so that the paint will stick better. It has adjustable shelves using shelf pin supports. In this video im showing you the best practical way ive found of painting mdf medium density fibreboard. How to paint over a white mdf bookcase home guides sf gate. How to paint laminate bookshelves home guides sf gate. Mdf is cheaper than solid wood products, provides a very smooth and flat surface and accepts paint very well. You can use paint to dress up a solid wood or particle board shelf to make it more modern or.
The area i want to put it on is a very large blank wall. Easy tips for upcycling mdf furniture tuesday, may 22, 2018 10. The type of paint to apply to a bookshelf depends on the sort of material the shelf is made out. Medium density fiberboard is used in many applications, some being mdf interior trim for woodwork, shelving for closets, wainscoting and other uses. Mdf, or medium density fiberboard, is made from bits of wood that are fused together and pressed into solid sheets. Use long, overlapping strokes to apply the paint to the mdf. Within these two groups, manufacturers offer a range of sheens. Choose from an oil or acrylicbased primer, depending on your chosen paint type, and then apply one coat of primer with a paintbrush. Between the slick surface of the laminate on top of the mdf, and the porous mdf material, it can seem like an. Use a paint roller, instead, if the surface is large. What i am wanting to do is cover something with paintable wallpaper, then paint and highlight the raised areas with a metallic paint.
For the best results, you can lightly sand the mdf between coats of primer. Its strong, dense and flat so is a great material to choose for cabinets and builtins that you plan on painting. The cut edges of mdf are especially porous, so you need to pay particular attention to sealing these areas. The right paint for cabinets and bookcases diy beautify. Mdf furniture can make a wonderful, cheap update for a home on a tight budget. I would also recommend priming with acrylic before applying a chosen paint. I primed one of my pieces after just sanding half of it, just so you can see how important the sanding step is in this process. The right paint can make all the difference when youre painting cabinets. Avoid using particleboard, mdf, and softwoods like pine for bookshelves. If you can find poplar or maple veneered plywood all of my. Its all i use to build bookcases, and ive never had a problem with shelves sagging. But when it comes time for a new update, mdf can seem like a nightmare to paint. If you plan to stain your bookshelf, use wood moulding.
Easy tips for upcycling mdf furniture irish examiner. You can paint it by hand or, if you want to spray your bookshelf without moving it to another roomoutside, tape drop cloths or pretaped masking film all around it to protect the rest of the room like we did when we painted this room with a paint sprayer. To apply the crown molding, measure the perimeter of the joined bookcases, and cut the crown molding to fit with 45degree miter cuts. Either wood of mdf moulding can be used if you plan to paint the bookshelf.
Connect the adjacent legs with a screw, then secure the bookcases to the wall with l brackets. How to paint laminate in 3 steps project guide bob vila. Mar 28, 2018 you can paint it by hand or, if you want to spray your bookshelf without moving it to another roomoutside, tape drop cloths or pretaped masking film all around it to protect the rest of the room like we did when we painted this room with a paint sprayer. You see we are in the process of downsizing a bit and we will make this. Next, apply an oilbased primer with a brush or roller and wait 4 hours for it to dry. How i make a white gloss mdf bookcase bookshelves youtube. Mar 15, 2016 exprofessional painter here and i have painted many things in my life. Paint sheen is the ability of the paint to reflect light. Jul 17, 2017 homeowners can choose from a variety of paint for their interior painting needs.
When choosing wood, avoid boards that are roughhewn or have knots or poorly graded sides, making them more difficult to finish and paint. Mar 17, 2020 melamine requires a special bonding primer before painting. Sand the bookcase and shelves with 120 to 150grit sandpaper. To paint laminate furniture, start by sanding down the surface using 120grit sandpaper so that the paint will stick better. I usually do about 23 coats of paint thats an average for total coverage, especially over white primer. How to upcycle mdf bookcases and avoid mistakes mdf furniture. The second photo shows four types used, paintgrade clear pine for the crown moulding, poplar for the face frames and stiffeners for the shelves, preprimed plywood beadboard for the back and medium density fiberboard for the shelves and casework. I used a foam roller to paint the large pieces and then used a 2inch foam brush to paint the edges and hard to reach areas. Open your paint and prepare it according to its instructions. Melamine requires a special bonding primer before painting.
Aug 30, 2012 i recently shared my newly styled bookshelves, but before i added all the colorful books and stylish accessories, i gave the bookcases a much needed makeover since painting the space deep blue, the once fauxwood bookcases got lost in the dark hue of the walls, and they were ready for a transformation. If you can find poplar or maple veneered plywood all of my local home centers carry both, that should work pretty well. I used latex semi gloss, and i would not recommend it. Heres the bookcase with the first coat of paint heres a tip. Aug, 2016 totally rocked this diy project even though i had no idea what i was doing. But not all ikea furniture is alike, and therefore, not all requires the same paint treatment.
This method gives a professional finish, doesnt involve. The wax and resin protect the wood fibers from absorbing the moisture in. While the material is inexpensive, it is also unable to be used for many projects because it is not a solid wood. Mdf is made of compressed wood fibers, wax and resin. This wont remove the existing paint, but it will roughen it so it will be ready to accept a new. Applying a couple of coats of paint over a veneer finish can give an item a fresh, new look. Applying multiple coats of primer and paint will protect the medium density fiberboard. The painted surface how to paint a mdf bookcase page 2. This bookcase was built using a variety of wood products. How to build a bookcase and accomplish the impossible.
This will also protect the edge from dings and dents. Using old fashioned milk paint to upcycle mdf bookcases, how to upcycle mdf. But dont be too quick to write off your bargainbasement pieces. Work up to light grit sandpaper that will polish off your mdf. Allow at least an hour before you start painting, otherwise, the primer may. Both paint and stain can be finished with a gloss coat to make the mdf look like highend wood. Also, be sure to seal the paint so its wipeable and durable. Thermofoil resembles paint, but is more resistant to stains. Or zinsser 123, which is water based so easier for cleaning up.
In most cases, this will involve stirring the paint. Types of paint for bookshelves home guides sf gate. I stained an mdf tabletop with dark stain to simulate wood grain, then floodcoated it with tabletop epoxy. The wax and resin protect the wood fibers from absorbing the moisture in water based primerpaint. In other words, you can use your preferred paint on primed mdf, and you can apply the paint finish with your preferred applicator, be it a brush, roller, or spray gunwhichever best suits the. This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Once mdf is edged with solid wood lumber, primed, and painted, its very strong and will last forever. Nov 02, 2017 in this video i m building a white gloss mdf bookcase. It dries super fast so you can throw two coats in 2 hours to seal up all the end grain. Paint the bookshelves with a 2inchwide syntheticblend paintbrush.
What type of paint should you use for a bookcase and why. Give an old bookshelf a facelift with the help of paint. Mdf, with its smooth surface and lack of grain, takes paint like a champalthough for the best finish, start with a coat of oilbased primer. I recently shared my newly styled bookshelves, but before i added all the colorful books and stylish accessories, i gave the bookcases a much needed makeover since painting the space deep blue, the once fauxwood bookcases got lost in the dark hue of the walls, and they were ready for a.
Its super affordable, which makes it a great option for budgetfriendly projects, but can it really be painted sans streaking, bubbling, and peeling. You can use mdf to construct cabinets, furniture and molding. Use long, even strokes to ensure even color and coverage on the shelves. Howto paint laminate furniture jenna burger design llc. You should always apply two to three coats of primer before you attempt to paint mdf. However, tightgrained, closepored hardwoods also paint well. After the surface has been sealed with something ese, though, a waterbased paint will not affect the mdf adversely. Homeowners can choose from a variety of paint for their interior painting needs. Melamine is a fairly common material for inexpensive home furnishings such as shelves, wall cabinets and cupboards sometimes even furniture. Follow these steps for how to paint mdf, and your paint job will look downright professional. Exprofessional painter here and i have painted many things in my life. After the primer is dry, sand the board with 220grit sandpaper. Aug 08, 2019 the cut edges of mdf are especially porous, so you need to pay particular attention to sealing these areas. Jul 21, 2018 melamine can be a tricky product to paint since the surface is completely nonabsorbent, slightly shiny and if you dont follow the correct steps the paint wont properly bond to it properly.
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