Painting Laminate Armoires

Remove doors and drawers from the armoire and place them on a drop cloth. Separating these pieces from the body of the armoire will eliminate the risk of accidentally painting a door shut, and makes it easier to work around corners. Complete each step in the painting process on the doors and drawers at the same time as the body of the furniture.

Wipe down the armoire and its pieces with a low-sudsing soap and water. Rinse the furniture with a damp cloth covered in clean water to get rid of any remaining soap residue. Let the armoire dry completely.

Sand the armoire with 120-grit sandpaper. Sanding gives the laminate surface a rough texture, which allows the paint to adhere better. After you finish sanding, go over the furniture with a tack cloth to pick up the dust created by the sandpaper.

Apply a coat of primer to the armoire, doors and drawers using a paint roller. Roll the paint in smooth, even strokes; use only a thin coat. While primer is essential if you are covering dark laminate with light paint, when covering light laminate the primer stage may be unnecessary. If you are unsure about needing to prime, test a small hidden area by applying a coat of regular paint and letting it dry. If the laminate is covered successfully, you can skip the primer. Allow the primer to dry per manufacturer's instructions.

Apply a top coat of paint to the furniture using a roller, and paint with a brush when you need to get in to decorative cutouts or corners. Apply the paint using even strokes, always working in the same direction. Add the paint in thin coats; two thin coats is better than one thick coat. If two coats are needed, allow the first to dry per the manufacturer's instructions before adding the second. Let the pieces of your armoire dry separately for approximately one day before reassembling the doors and drawers.