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Home » painting » How to Paint a Laminate Table Top

How to Paint a Laminate Table Top

February 28, 2018 Julie at Love My Simple Home 29 Comments

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How to Paint Laminate Table Top to Withstand WearHow to Paint a Laminate Table Top

Do you have a laminate top dining table that you want to paint, but are not sure how to paint it so it will withstand the wear and abuse a table usually receives? I can help by showing you how I painted my table. It was easy to do but takes some patience.

Hello awesome readers, I am Julie from Love My Simple Home, and I’m so excited about today’s post!  Over the summer I purchased this laminate dining table at a yard sale to use in my dining room.  After storing the table for several months,  I finally decided to pull it out of storage and give it a beautiful new finish with bright white paint.Laminate Table Top

Laminate Table Top Material List:

Palm Sander

Paint with Primer

Foam Roller

Paint Pan

Synthetic Paint Brush

Polycrylic Clear Satin

Paint a Laminate Table Top Step 1: Clean

The very first thing you need to do is wash the table off.  Use a soapy sponge with water to clean all the dirt, oil, or grime off the table top and base.  Use a clean dry towel to dry it completely.

Paint a Laminate Table Top Step 2: Sand

The purpose of sanding is to give the paint/primer something to grab onto.  Use a palm sander with 220 grit sandpaper and sand the top in the direction of the grain. You don’t need to sand too much, just enough to add some “tooth” for the paint to stick to. After sanding, clean the surface again with a soft clean cloth.  If the base of your table is in poor condition, go ahead and sand it too. (You might find it easier to hand sand the base of the table.)

Laminate Table Top

 

Paint a Laminate Table Top Step 3: Paint

A table that will be used daily needs a paint that is durable and can withstand spills.  I recommend BEHR Premium Plus Ultra in an Eggshell enamel finish. (You don’t need an entire gallon, one quart is plenty.) This paint is stain-blocking and is paint & primer in one.  For a super bright white, use Ultra Pure White.

Laminate Table Top

 

Apply 4 thin coats of paint with a foam roller.  Wait 2 hours between coats.  Don’t let the first few coats discourage you. They will show the laminate underneath. Be patient, the end result will be a beautiful smooth finish.

This is what the table looks like after one coat:

Laminate Table Top

Here is the same table after 4 coats:

Laminate Table Top

If you are painting your base, use a paintbrush to paint the legs and other parts of the table that are not easily accessible with the roller.

Paint a Laminate Table Top Step 4: Seal

The final step to keep your table beautiful and help it stand up to wear is to seal it!  Use at least 3 coats of Minwax Polycrylic clear satin to seal the top of the table.  Using a synthetic paintbrush apply one thin coat and let it dry overnight (patience).  Then lightly hand sand with a 320 grit sandpaper.  Clean off the surface and add another coat, wait 2 hours and apply the final coat (or more coats if desired).

Laminate Table Top

 

Allow the sealer to harden for at least 48 hours. Then start eating at your beautiful new table.

Laminate Table Top

Would you believe this table was an ugly laminate tabletop if you had not seen the before pictures?

Laminate Table Top

That’s it, I hope this tutorial was helpful!

Laminate Table Top

If you liked this post, I think you’ll also love these posts because they will help you transform more furniture in your house!

Laminate Table Top

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Comments

  1. Aly says

    April 25, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    Is the entire table laminate or just the top of the table?

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey says

      April 26, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      Just the top.

      Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    January 21, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    What kind of roller did you use for the top of the table? I’m painting a desk and I am struggling with finding a roller/brush that doesn’t leave marks or texture.

    Reply
  3. Samantha Rosenfeld says

    April 19, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    Thanks for the great tutorial! I have a laminate table with a leaf in the middle. You didn’t mention anything about painting over the seam in the middle of your table, is it OK to just paint right over that, or should I remove the leaf and paint it separately?

    Reply
  4. Kimberly Koeppe says

    March 9, 2019 at 10:07 am

    Thank you so much! I’m going to try this method on painting my dining room tabletop which is a laminate as well! Can I ask you what the wall paint color is in that photo of the table you posted? It is just what I’m looking for!

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:54 pm

      Kimberly, I have a post with all the paint colors in my home: https://www.prettyhandygirl.com/paint-colors-home/

      Reply
  5. Loti says

    January 20, 2019 at 8:14 am

    Did you sand them first? Use polyurethane?

    Reply
  6. Lori says

    January 19, 2019 at 11:14 am

    Did you paint the chairs? If so, what color?

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey says

      January 19, 2019 at 10:48 pm

      I painted them years ago. Rustoleum Heirloom White spray paint.

      Reply
  7. Waco Bayless says

    September 14, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    I have a laminate dresser that I’m wanting to paint. Would this work for it also?

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey says

      September 15, 2018 at 9:34 pm

      Absolutely.

      Reply
  8. Fiona de Merell says

    July 4, 2018 at 8:36 pm

    Thank you so much for this post! It gave me the confidence to paint my old laminate kitchen table, and it looks amazing! What a transformation. I’m so thrilled I gave it a go.

    Reply
  9. Dennis Cory says

    June 23, 2018 at 8:26 am

    You are most kind to explain the several steps, specific sanding papers and paints, and the magic word PATIENCE. It all works and makes wonderful transformed furniture. DIY’ers appreciate this so much!

    Reply
  10. Shakil Ahamed says

    March 6, 2018 at 5:35 am

    Thanks Julie for your informational tutorial. I love it. The table is really got nice looking after finished paint. I have enjoyed your tips and also try to my self for painting table. I think it will be a helpful post for me causes I have to need painting my table ASAP.

    Reply
  11. Tessa says

    March 1, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    Would you use this same technique to paint laminate cabinets?

    Reply
  12. Cathy says

    March 1, 2018 at 8:34 am

    I have a laminate table top that belonged to my parents and I’ve been wanting to update it for so long. I have read that you can paint over laminate but never did I see such great directions. Can’t wait to do this!!! Thank you so much!!!!!

    Reply
    • Julie Nichols says

      March 1, 2018 at 9:17 am

      You’re welcome Cathy! Excited for you to start painting your table!

      Reply
  13. Colleen Taylor says

    February 28, 2018 at 11:48 pm

    What a fabulous transformation to this table. Nicely done.

    Reply
    • Julie Nichols says

      March 1, 2018 at 9:10 am

      Thank you so much Colleen!

      Reply
  14. Ivory says

    February 28, 2018 at 9:56 pm

    I love it. I needed this post, because I have a laminate table that I wanted to paint, but did not know how. Thanks to you I can.

    Reply
    • Julie Nichols says

      March 1, 2018 at 9:09 am

      Glad this post was helpful. I’m sure your table will turn out beautiful.

      Reply
  15. HowtoBuildit says

    February 28, 2018 at 11:02 am

    Thank you so much for the wonderful post! That table is so cute painted white, it really completes the space.
    Great tips, I can’t wait to try this out!

    HowtoBuildit

    Reply
    • Julie Nichols says

      March 1, 2018 at 9:06 am

      Thank you so much! I am glad this post was helpful!

      Reply
    • REBECCA HOLSTEIN says

      July 15, 2018 at 1:38 pm

      Can you add color the the Behr enamel?

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl. I like the smell of coffee and sawdust in the morning. I live to break stereotypes and empower you to take on your own DIY project.

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