How to Refinish a Laminate Dresser

An inexpensive white or faux wood-grain laminate dresser is a practical piece of furniture, but it's rarely a focal point in anyone's decor. The slick surfaces of these pieces were difficult to refinish in the past. In recent years, paint companies have developed new formulas designed to bond to laminates and other plastics. Paints made especially for laminates and Formica are available in a rainbow of colors. Select a shade that complements your decor to refinish your laminate dresser into a piece of which you can be proud.

Laminate paint
Tarp
Sandpaper
Tack cloth
Screwdriver
Stir stick
Paint pan
Paint roller
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Lay out a tarp in a protected outdoor area or indoor area with good ventilation. Set the laminate dresser on top of the tarp.
- 2
  Lightly sand all the surfaces you want to paint. Clean off the sanding residue with a tack cloth.
- 3
  Remove all the drawers. Use a screwdriver to detach them from the drawer track hardware, if applicable. Remove all drawer-pull hardware and set aside. Set the drawers on the tarp with their fronts up.
- 4
  Stir paint thoroughly with a paint stick. Pour some of the paint into a paint-rolling tray. Apply the paint to the boxy frame of the dresser, starting with the top. Use a low-nap roller for larger surfaces and a brush with flagged or split ends for smaller areas. Paint the drawer fronts and edges as well.
- 5
  Apply a second coat when the first coat is dry. The process can take up to 24 hours, depending on the paint manufacturer's recommendations.
- 6
  Let paint dry and cure at least three days. Put drawers back in the dresser frame. Reattach hardware.

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