How to Paint Over Particleboard Bookshelves

Prep your particleboard bookshelves before painting.

Particleboard is an inexpensive alternative to conventional wood or plywood that's used in the construction of discount furniture, from bookshelves to headboards to desks to countertops and more. Particleboard is fashioned by combining wood shavings, chips and sawdust with a binding agent and pressing it into a rigid but relatively fragile composite material. The material is finally covered with a veneer -- generally laminate or thin wood sheet -- to create a finish that mimics real wood. In most cases you can paint over particleboard, even if it has a slick veneer on top. The trick is to properly prepare the surface before you open the lid on the first can of paint to ensure your particleboard bookshelf will accept the color you apply.

Things You'll Need

• Rags
• 120-grit sandpaper
• 180- or 220-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Acrylic primer
• Natural-bristle brush or paint roller
• Latex paint

Instructions

1. Remove the contents of the bookshelf and move it into a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors. Wipe down the unit, including the top and shelving, with a soapy rag.

2. Dampen a separate rag with plain water and wipe away the soapy residue. Allow the particleboard bookshelf to dry completely before continuing.

3. Sand the bookshelf with 120-grit sandpaper. Rub the sandpaper gently over the bookshelf to roughen up the surface, allowing the primer and paint to adhere more effectively. Some types of unlaminated particleboard might require 180-grit to 220-grit sandpaper to effectively create a surface that will accept the primer.

4. Wipe down the bookshelf with a tack cloth to remove the dust created by the sanding. Apply a thin layer of acrylic primer to the particle board with a natural-bristle paintbrush or small roller. Allow the primer to dry for at least 24 hours before continuing.

5. Sand the cured primer lightly with 220-grit sandpaper to remove any imperfections. Wipe away the dust with a tack cloth and apply a thin coating of latex paint. Allow the first coat of latex paint to dry for at least two to three hours.

6. Apply a second and third thin layer of the latex paint. Allow the final coat to set for at least 24 hours before using the bookshelf.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the paintbrushes and rollers with which you applied the acrylic primer and latex paint with a mixture of warm water and liquid dish soap. Rinse the brushes well and allow them to air-dry completely before storing them.

References

• "This Old House": Painting Over Plastic Laminate
• "Washington Post": If You Can't Love Your Laminates, Paint 'Em
• Ask the Builder: Cleaning Paint Brushes