Give an old bookshelf a facelift with the help of paint. What i am wanting to do is cover something with paintable wallpaper, then paint and highlight the raised areas with a metallic paint. Two bookcases wrap around the corner to host tableware and collectibles in this dining room. Exprofessional painter here and i have painted many things in my life. 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. When choosing wood, avoid boards that are roughhewn or have knots or poorly graded sides, making them more difficult to finish and paint. I would also recommend priming with acrylic before applying a chosen paint. But dont be too quick to write off your bargainbasement pieces. Sure i would, if it was a builtin and paint grade book shelf. The advantages with mdf are you can paint it with whatever you see fit. In most cases, this will involve stirring the paint. This method gives a professional finish, doesnt involve.
Types of paint for bookshelves home guides sf gate. Paint the bookshelves with a 2inchwide syntheticblend paintbrush. Can t be arsed to sand off and start again so were living with it. 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. Mar 15, 2016 exprofessional painter here and i have painted many things in my life. Mdf is very porous, so it will simply absorb the stripper, which may result in the bookcase becoming warped. Use long, overlapping strokes to apply the paint to the mdf. This wont remove the existing paint, but it will roughen it so it will be ready to accept a new. Follow these steps for how to paint mdf, and your paint job will look downright professional. Mdf, or medium density fiberboard, is made from bits of wood that are fused together and pressed into solid sheets.
After the primer is dry, sand the board with 220grit sandpaper. Use long, even strokes to ensure even color and coverage on the shelves. A transformation was needed, and a crisp, fresh coat of white paint on the bookcases was the perfect solution. But not all ikea furniture is alike, and therefore, not all requires the same paint treatment. Paint sheen is the ability of the paint to reflect light. Make sure to pre sand the end grain to 220 or so first. 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. This will also protect the edge from dings and dents. I have painted a lot of rooms, several piece of furniture, but even so that doesnt. May 22, 2018 easy tips for upcycling mdf furniture tuesday, may 22, 2018 10. What type of paint should you use for a bookcase and why. 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. Totally rocked this diy project even though i had no idea what i was doing.
The wax and resin protect the wood fibers from absorbing the moisture in. Choose from an oil or acrylicbased primer, depending on your chosen paint type, and then apply one coat of primer with a paintbrush. 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. How to upcycle mdf bookcases and avoid mistakes mdf furniture. The right paint can make all the difference when youre painting cabinets. Next, apply an oilbased primer with a brush or roller and wait 4 hours for it to dry.
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. How to paint over a white mdf bookcase home guides sf gate. The key to a successful paint job, however, is all in the preparation. 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. Melamine requires a special bonding primer before painting.
However, tightgrained, closepored hardwoods also paint well. You see we are in the process of downsizing a bit and we will make this. Mdf is cheaper than solid wood products, provides a very smooth and flat surface and accepts paint very well. The edges chipding easily, but the face of the mdf doesnt.
Aug 08, 2019 the cut edges of mdf are especially porous, so you need to pay particular attention to sealing these areas. You can use paint to dress up a solid wood or particle board shelf to make it more modern or. If you plan to stain your bookshelf, use wood moulding. Benjamin moore makes good products but i am inclined to recommend sherwin williams as ive worked with them more than my benjamin moore retailer. Applying a couple of coats of paint over a veneer finish can give an item a fresh, new look. How to paint laminate ikea furniture the right way.
If you can find poplar or maple veneered plywood all of my. Between the slick surface of the laminate on top of the mdf, and the porous mdf material, it can seem like an. How to paint laminate bookshelves home guides sf gate. I just painted some mdf shelves, i use bin shellac primer to seal the mdf, an it worked great. Both paint and stain can be finished with a gloss coat to make the mdf look like highend wood. Sanding to begin, i gave each bookcase a good sanding with my orbital sander. For the best results, you can lightly sand the mdf between coats of primer. How to paint mdf and get smooth edges sawdust girl. Mdf shelving should be stiffened by attaching a piece of solid wood across the front of the shelf. Homeowners can choose from a variety of paint for their interior painting needs. Within these two groups, manufacturers offer a range of sheens. To apply the crown molding, measure the perimeter of the joined bookcases, and cut the crown molding to fit with 45degree miter cuts. You can use mdf to construct cabinets, furniture and molding.
Use a paint roller, instead, if the surface is large. 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. 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. That said, mdf does rout and paint incredibly well if thats more important to you and your design doesnt call for wide, unsupported expanses. If you can find poplar or maple veneered plywood all of my local home centers carry both, that should work pretty well. This bookcase was built using a variety of wood products. I am trying to find the best but cheapest thing for the board. It has adjustable shelves using shelf pin supports. You should always apply two to three coats of primer before you attempt to paint mdf. Nov 02, 2017 in this video i m building a white gloss mdf bookcase.
I used latex semi gloss, and i would not recommend it. Avoid using particleboard, mdf, and softwoods like pine for bookshelves. A complete walk through of all the steps you need to take in order to obtain a really good paint finish on mdf. 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. Mar 17, 2020 melamine requires a special bonding primer before painting. Waterbased and oilbased, or alkydbased, are the two main categories of paint. Its super affordable, which makes it a great option for budgetfriendly projects, but can it really be painted sans streaking, bubbling, and peeling. Well show you a few handy tips to make sure your paint job looks great for years to come. Easy tips for upcycling mdf furniture irish examiner.
Sand the bookcase and shelves with 120 to 150grit sandpaper. How i make a white gloss mdf bookcase bookshelves youtube. 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. They sag under a lot of weight, dent and scratch easily, dont offer longterm rigidity, and require extra support for long spans. Thermofoil resembles paint, but is more resistant to stains. In this video im showing you the best practical way ive found of painting mdf medium density fibreboard. How to paint a mdf bookcase page 1 the painted surface. The right paint for cabinets and bookcases diy beautify. Connect the adjacent legs with a screw, then secure the bookcases to the wall with l brackets. The painted surface how to paint a mdf bookcase page 2.
How to paint laminate in 3 steps project guide bob vila. Jul 17, 2017 homeowners can choose from a variety of paint for their interior painting needs. Its all i use to build bookcases, and ive never had a problem with shelves sagging. In this video im building a white gloss mdf bookcase. Mar 29, 2019 paint the mdf with a water based paint. Fortunately, the preparation is easy and just requires a little sanding. Sanding mdf will allow the primer and paint to bond well with the surface. Particle board is comprised of wood chips, saw dust and other small chunks of wood that are glued together.
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. Open your paint and prepare it according to its instructions. How to build a bookcase and accomplish the impossible. Oct 07, 2019 to paint laminate furniture, start by sanding down the surface using 120grit sandpaper so that the paint will stick better. The wax and resin protect the wood fibers from absorbing the moisture in water based primerpaint. You just have to know the right way to work with it. Dont use a chemical paint stripper to remove existing paint.
Either wood of mdf moulding can be used if you plan to paint the bookshelf. 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. Allow at least an hour before you start painting, otherwise, the primer may. If you dont prepare veneer surfaces properly, the paint wont stick as it should, or it will peel off later. Mdf is made of compressed wood fibers, wax and resin. Mdf furniture can make a wonderful, cheap update for a home on a tight budget. Aug, 2016 totally rocked this diy project even though i had no idea what i was doing. To paint laminate furniture, start by sanding down the surface using 120grit sandpaper so that the paint will stick better. Cabinets made from mdf are often coated with a thermofoil coating. Its strong, dense and flat so is a great material to choose for cabinets and builtins that you plan on painting. While the material is inexpensive, it is also unable to be used for many projects because it is not a solid wood. Medium density fiberboard is used in many applications, some being mdf interior trim for woodwork, shelving for closets, wainscoting and other uses. Once mdf is edged with solid wood lumber, primed, and painted, its very strong and will last forever.
Easy tips for upcycling mdf furniture tuesday, may 22, 2018 10. Melamine is a fairly common material for inexpensive home furnishings such as shelves, wall cabinets and cupboards sometimes even furniture. I stained an mdf tabletop with dark stain to simulate wood grain, then floodcoated it with tabletop epoxy. Paints can have a lowsheen, such as in a flat or matte type. Work up to light grit sandpaper that will polish off your mdf. The painted surface how to paint a mdf bookcase page 1. I usually do about 23 coats of paint thats an average for total coverage, especially over white primer. 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. 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.
The low price of pressedboard furniture is easier to love than its fakewood appearance. It dries super fast so you can throw two coats in 2 hours to seal up all the end grain. Using old fashioned milk paint to upcycle mdf bookcases, how to upcycle mdf. Mdf moulding wont properly wold the stain, making it appear to be a different color than the rest of your wooden bookshelf. 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. The area i want to put it on is a very large blank wall. 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. Heres the bookcase with the first coat of paint heres a tip. 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. The cut edges of mdf are especially porous, so you need to pay particular attention to sealing these areas. Applying multiple coats of primer and paint will protect the medium density fiberboard. The type of paint to apply to a bookshelf depends on the sort of material the shelf is made out. After the surface has been sealed with something ese, though, a waterbased paint will not affect the mdf adversely. Or zinsser 123, which is water based so easier for cleaning up.
Howto paint laminate furniture jenna burger design llc. But when it comes time for a new update, mdf can seem like a nightmare to paint. Also, be sure to seal the paint so its wipeable and durable. How to upcycle mdf bookcases and avoid mistakes the. If the surface isnt sanded or not sanded enough, then the paint will bubble because its not adhering.
97 742 764 1050 169 358 170 42 1546 71 881 273 1438 932 1221 1156 895 1476 1555 943 1002 137 1107 1280 829 397 1143 1418 1050 1298 1163 828 399 1113 124 805 1210 162