How to Paint a Laminate Bathroom Vanity

Vanities that have laminated wood cabinets and drawers take on a lot of moisture and wear, and eventually are going to have to be refinished. You can re-laminate them, or change the look entirely by painting them. Your local hardware store can supply you with special sealing primer, a flat, white, fast-drying paint that's made to seal stains and make slick surfaces paintable. Then it's just a matter of topping it with a couple coats of high-gloss paint of your choice keep the vanity moisture resistant.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Newspaper
• Painter's tape
• Sealing primer made to cover gloss
• High-gloss finishing paint
• Three brushes

Instructions

1. Take out any cabinet drawers and set them on newspaper near the cabinet. Take the doors off by removing their hinges with your screwdriver and setting them aside. Take off all knobs and handles and set them aside.

2. Tape off the underside of the vanity top and the floor around the bottom of the vanity with painter's tape.

3. Gently buff the entire laminated-wood part of the cabinet, doors and drawer fronts with sandpaper. Buff in light, short strokes to take off the shine of the laminate but not leave deep visible lines in the surface. Dust off all the residue with a dry cloth.

4. Apply the sealing primer from the top point of the cabinet working down, then doing the doors and drawer fronts. Brush it on thinly and evenly, with your strokes following the long sides of the cabinet. Avoid drips. Let primer dry according to the instructions on can.

5. Apply a thin first coat of paint, again working from the highest points downward in slow stokes with the long shapes of the cabinet, doors and drawer fronts. Cover the primer completely, then let the paint dry.

6. Apply a second thin coat in the same manner as the first. After it dries, re-hang the cabinet doors with their hinges, and put the knobs and handles back on.

Tips & Warnings

• Open a door or window when painting to dispel fumes.