How to Paint Laminate Table Top: 9 Most Detailed Steps for Beginners

Learning how to paint laminate table top is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to give your home a fresh new look . To paint a laminate table top, you'll need to give it a good cleaning first, then rough up the surface a bit with sandpaper so the paint will stick. Most importantly, you don't need complicated tools or years of experience. If you can hold a paintbrush, you can do this.

What you'll learn with Lumber Grand:

• How to get laminate table top ready for painting (it's simpler than you think)

• What to buy at the hardware store and how much it'll cost

• The exact 9 steps on how to refinish a table with a laminate top to get a long-lasting finish

• How to avoid the mistakes that make paint peel off

Read more!

4 Key Takeaways to Paint Laminate Table Top 

Here's a quick overview of what you need to know before starting this painting DIY project.

• What you'll need: Most people already have these tools at home. You just need to prepare everyday items around your home like sandpaper, a small brush, and some rags. The special primer and paint will cost you about $60-80 total.

• Why paint instead of replace? Painting your laminate table saves you hundreds of dollars compared to buying new furniture. Plus, you get to pick exactly the color you want. Your old laminate table will look like expensive custom furniture when you're done.

• How long does this take? From start to finish, you'll spend about two days with drying time in between. Start on a Saturday morning, do the prep work and first coat, then finish up Sunday. Most of the time is just waiting for the paint on laminate table top to dry.

• What we'll show you: We'll walk you through each step, one at a time. No confusing technical terms or complicated guide. We've made these steps in simple, clear directions that anyone can follow. 

How to Paint Laminate Table Top Simple and Cheap in 9 Steps

Alright, let's get this laminate table painted. We’re going to show you exactly how to do this, step by step. Don't worry if you've never painted laminate furniture before as we’ve made it so simple that you can't mess it up:

Step 1: Prepare Tools and Materials for Painting Laminate Table Top

Nothing's worse than getting halfway through your painting laminate table top project and realizing you forgot something important. Let us walk you through exactly what you need and where to get it.

7 Basic tools for refinishing a table with laminate top (Under $50 total)

1. Screwdriver set to remove handles and hardware

2. 180-grit sanding block for roughing up the surface

3. 400-grit sandpaper sheets for smoothing between coats

4. Clean rags or microfiber cloths for wiping dust

5. Small paint brush (2-3 inches wide)

6. Small paint roller and tray

7. Disposable cups for screws and small parts

4 materials you'll buy on how to paint laminate table top guide

1. All-purpose cleaner (Simple Green works well)

2. Shellac-based primer (like Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3)

3. High-quality furniture paint (alkyd enamel in satin finish as alkyd paint earned its reputation for durability and finish quality, especially in high-touch, high-traffic areas.

4. Drop cloths or newspaper to protect your floors

✔️ Shopping tip: Most hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe's carry everything you need. Expect to spend $60-80 for enough supplies to paint several pieces.

Step 2: Choose the Right Laminate Table Top To Paint

In fact, not every laminate table top is worth painting, so let's figure out if yours is a good candidate.

• Laminate table top with minor scratches or wear

• Solid, stable laminate table base (no wobbling)

• Surface laminate table top that's clean and dry

• Laminte tables you plan to keep long-term

Here's how to tell if your table top is laminate: You run your hand across the surface. Real wood has texture and grain you can feel. Conversely, laminate is perfectly smooth and slightly cool to the touch.

Not every laminate table top is worth painting

Photo: Freepik

Step 3: Set Up Your Laminate Table Top Painting Workspace

Next, we need to take a few minutes to set up properly, and your whole project will go smoother.

• If you can work in a garage with the door open, that's perfect. You get good air circulation and don't have to worry about fumes. If you're working inside, you should open windows and set up a fan because primer and paint smell strongly.

• Good lighting is really important. You need to see what you're doing to catch drips and missed spots. Natural light is best, but if that's not possible, we can set up some bright lights.

• The temperature matters more than you might think. Most paints work best when it's between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Too cold and the paint won't flow right. Too hot, and it dries before you can smooth it out.

• Cover everything around your work area with drop cloths or old sheets. Paint splatters farther than you expect, and once it's on something, it's there for good.

Step 4: Clean Laminate Table Top

Now comes the cleaning part. This is really important because laminate table top collects invisible layers of polish, grease, and dirt over the years. If you don't get this stuff off, your paint won't stick, no matter what else you do right.

1. Mix warm water with Simple Green or any degreasing cleaner. We need to scrub the laminate table surface with a clean cloth, paying extra attention to areas that get touched a lot, like edges. Don't forget the legs and underneath because you're going to paint those too.

2. After you've done scrubbing, go over everything with clean water to rinse off the soap. Soap left on the surface can cause problems just like dirt and grease.

Finally, we let everything dry completely before moving on to the next step of how to paint laminate table top.

Step 5: Sand the Laminate Table Surface with 180-Grit Sandpaper

Laminate table top is made to be smooth and slippery, and that's what makes it durable for everyday use. But it's terrible for paint to stick to. Sanding creates tiny scratches that give the primer something to grab onto.

1. First, we use your 180-grit sandpaper on the sanding block. You sand the whole laminate surface using small circular motions, overlapping as you go. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes for a regular-sized table top.

2. Don't skip the edges, legs, and any other parts you're going to paint. They need the same treatment. And when you're done sanding, you need to clean up all the dust with a dry microfiber cloth. Get every bit of dust off, including areas you're not painting, because dust has a way of floating around and landing in wet paint.

Step 6: Apply Primer on Sanded Laminate Table Top

This is the most important step for how to paint laminate table top guide last. Primer is like glue between your table and the paint.

The shellac-based primer we suggest you buy in step 1 has a strong smell, so please make sure you have good ventilation. Open windows and wear a dust mask if you're sensitive to fumes.

1. Before you start, you need to stir the primer really well. The ingredients separate while they sit on the shelf, so you need to mix them back together. 

2. Next, we pour some primer into your paint tray. Don't fill it all the way, just about halfway. You load your brush with primer and start with the detailed areas like laminate table edges and corners. 

3. Then, we use your roller on all the flat laminate surfaces. The roller makes a smoother finish than the brush alone. You put the primer on thin. It should be thin enough that you can almost see through it. Complete coverage comes with multiple coats, not one thick layer.

Note: The primer needs to dry completely before you can paint, usually about an hour in good conditions, longer if it's cold or humid.

Step 7: How to Paint Laminate Table Top First Coat

Before you paint, we sand the primer lightly with 400-grit sandpaper. Use very light pressure as you just want to scuff the surface, not sand through the primer.

1. Clean off all the dust from sanding with a clean microfiber cloth. Even tiny dust particles will make your paint finish feel rough.

2. Now for the paint. If you bought alkyd enamel like we suggested, it will level out nicely and dry to a really hard finish. It takes longer to dry than regular paint, but it's worth the wait.

3. You start with your brush on the detailed areas, such as edges, corners, and anywhere the roller can't reach. We don't load the brush with too much paint, or you'll get drips.

4. Then, roll the flat surfaces with light or even pressure. We start at one end and work across in parallel strokes, overlapping each pass slightly. 

Important note: The first coat on laminate top is going to look awful. You'll see brush marks, roller texture, and spots where the primer shows through. This case is completely normal. Don't try to fix it by putting on more paint. Your laminate table top just needs an even coat on and leave it alone.

Step 8: Lightly Sand Laminate Top with 400-grit and Paint Second Coat

The second coat is where your table starts looking really good. We wait for the first coat on the laminate table top to dry completely. It might feel dry to the touch in a few hours, but it's still soft underneath. You can check the paint can for the recommended time between coats: usually 4-8 hours.

1. Once it's dry, we sand lightly with 400-grit sandpaper again. This process smooths out any imperfections left.

2. Clean off the dust and apply the second coat exactly like you did the first. This coat should go on smoother and give much better coverage since you're painting over a similar color instead of white primer.

After the second coat dries, step back and look at your work. You might be done, or you might want to add one more coat for perfect coverage.

Step 9: Let the Painted Laminate Top Cure

Paint feels dry within hours, but it takes much longer to get really hard, sometimes up to a month, depending on the type of paint and the weather.

During this time, you should use your table carefully: 

• Don't put heavy things on it

• Don't drag anything across the surface

• Don't clean it with harsh chemicals

Besides, you'll know it's fully cured when the surface feels noticeably harder and you can't dent it with your fingernail.

4 Famous Problems When Painting Your Laminate Table

Even when you follow all the steps, sometimes problems happen. Here's how to fix the 4 most common ones when it comes to how to paint laminate table top to look like wood:

1. If your paint starts peeling or chipping, it usually means the surface wasn't prepared well enough. Unfortunately, the only real fix is to sand off the loose paint and start over with better prep work.

2. If your finish feels rough or bumpy, dust probably got mixed in while the paint was wet. Sand the rough areas smooth with fine sandpaper and put on another coat.

3. If you can see brush marks in your final finish, you should sand them out lightly and apply one more thin coat, being extra careful with your brush technique.

4. If the color looks blotchy, you may need another coat for even coverage. Some colors, especially bright ones, need extra coats to look right.

What are the Best Paint Colors for Table Top?

Choosing the right color for refinished table with laminate table top can make or break your lovely table, so let's talk about what works.

• You can't go wrong with neutral colors like white, cream, or gray. They go with everything and won't look dated in a few years. Plus, they hide imperfections better than dark colors, which is great when you're learning.

• Navy blue has become really popular for furniture because it's classy but not boring. It works in both formal and casual rooms.

• Black looks dramatic, and the hides wear really well, but they show dust and fingerprints more than lighter colors.

• Most importantly, you should think about your room's lighting when picking a color. Colors look different under different kinds of light, so test your choice in the actual room where the table will live.

Shop now:  Round Black River Epoxy Resin Table Top 19" Diameter

However, if you're looking for something completely different from painted laminate, you might want to consider our epoxy table top collection.

Epoxy creates a completely smooth, glass-like surface that's incredibly durable and comes in stunning designs you simply can't achieve with paint. While painting laminate is a great budget option, epoxy table tops offer a more premium look that lasts even longer.

How Long Does Painted Table Top Last?

If you do everything right, your painted laminate table top should look good for 5-10 years with normal use. Tables that get heavy daily use might need touch-ups after a few years, but that's easy to do.

• The primer is the most important thing for longevity. A good adhesion primer creates a strong bond that resists chipping and peeling.

• Quality paint makes a big difference, too. Cheap paint might look okay at first, but it won't stand up to daily use like the good stuff will.

• How you use your table matters. A decorative piece in the living room will look perfect for years, while a kitchen table that gets used for everything will show wear sooner.

Let the paint cure fully before using the table heavily. Paint that gets used too soon stays soft and gets damaged easily.

How to Paint Different Types of Furniture Materials

Our guide on how to paint laminate table top focuses on laminate, but you might run into other materials that need slightly different treatment.

• Solid wood furniture needs to be sanded with the grain, not in circles like laminate. We highly recommend you use coarser sandpaper first, then finer grades for smoothness.

• Metal furniture needs special attention to prevent rust. Remove any rust you see, clean with rubbing alcohol, and use primer made for metal.

• Previously painted furniture can often be painted right over if the existing paint is in good shape. You just need to sand lightly and use a bonding primer.

FAQs

1. What Kind of Paint Do You Use on a Laminate Table Top?

For the best results on painting laminate table top, we recommend you use high-quality furniture paint, specifically alkyd enamel in satin finish (optional). This type of paint takes a bit longer to dry than regular paint, but it gets really hard when it's done.

That means it won't chip or scratch as easily when you're using your table every day. You can find it at Home Depot, Lowe's, or any paint store.

2. Can You Paint Straight Onto Laminate?

No, you cannot paint directly onto laminate. Laminate table top are naturally smooth and slippery. Besides, they’re designed to resist sticking, which makes them terrible for paint adhesion. You must follow this preparation process:

1. Clean thoroughly with degreasing cleaner to remove polish, grease, and dirt

2. Sand with 180-grit sandpaper to create texture for paint adhesion

3. Apply a shellac-based adhesion primer designed for smooth, non-porous surfaces

4. Then apply your paint coats

3. Can I Paint Over Laminate Without Sanding?

No, sanding is absolutely essential, and you cannot skip it. We know sanding sounds like a pain, but it only takes about 20 minutes for a regular laminate table.

And this scenario will happen if you skip sanding before painting laminate table top: your paint will look great for a week or two, then it'll start chipping off in little pieces. Eventually, you'll have to sand it all off anyway and start over, which is way more work than just doing it right the first time.

4. How Do You Get Paint to Stay on Laminate?

The secret is taking your time with each step. I know it's tempting to rush, especially when you're excited to see the finished table, but patience really pays off here.

• Step 1: Prepare the needed tools for painting 

• Step 2: Determine if the laminate table top is in good condition to paint

• Step 3: Set up a great painting workplace 

• Step 4: Start with a clean laminate table top before painting

• Step 5: Sand the whole laminate table top

• Step 6: Use the right primer

• Step 7: Put on the first coats of paint

• Step 8: Lightly sand and put on second coats of paint

• Step 9: Let everything dry completely

Let’s Paint Laminate Table Top This Weekend

Painting laminate table top gets easier every time you do it. Your first table might not be perfect, but it'll still look a hundred times better than when you started. Even if your result is only 80% perfect, that's still a huge upgrade from beat-up furniture headed for the trash.

So, take your time, don't skip any steps on how to paint laminate table top, and have fun with it. Before you know it, you'll be looking at every piece of tired furniture as a chance to create something wonderful. Thank you for reading!