Two Twenty One

Sewing Cabinet Makeover {How to Paint Laminate Furniture}

Hey friends! Today I’m sharing my first major furniture painting project. This project was near and dear to my heart because it’s my late Grandma Mildred’s sewing machine cabinet. She willed it to me before passing away the morning of our wedding day. While I loved the cabinet, it needed a bit of a face lift. And I LOVE how it turned out.


Let me just say that I have a greater appreciation for all you furniture painters out there. This project took me ten times longer than I thought it would. You definitely won’t catch me saying that it was so easy I could have painted it blindfolded with my hands tied behind my back.

Kate’s tutorial on how to paint laminate furniture helped me get the job done. First, I primed the cabinet with Zinsser primer. I added Penetrol, an additive that minimizes brush strokes, to the primer. Then, I painted it with Valspar’s ultra white semi-gloss latex paint with some Floetrol mixed in (an additive for latex paint that helps minimize brush strokes). The grey detail color is Valspar’s Porch Grey with Floetrol. Penetrol and Floetrol are awesome. I highly recommend using them. After all the painting was done, I put on a few coats of Minwax’s Polycrylic.


I swapped out the brass handle for a brushed nickel one, and I primed and spray painted the hinges silver. The storage fixtures on the inside of the door were primed with Rust-Oleom and spray painted with Krylon’s Classic Gray (gloss).


My grandma also willed her sewing supplies to me. The pink spools in the big apothecary jar were hers. I found the vintage tatting threads in the smaller jar at a thrift shop for $2. The “Keep Calm and Sew On” print was something I found online. I edited it in Photoshop to clean it up a bit.


I hope my grandma would be happy with how I updated her beloved sewing cabinet.
She was a very vocal woman, so I’m sure she wouldn’t hold back her opinion.

Check out more about my home office/craft room, including the makeover and a bunch of DIYs, below!

home office area in bedroomHome Office Area
Home office / craft room update. How to store and neatly organize ribbon. Tip for storing gift wrap paper, and where to buy quality wrapping paper.Home Office – Gift Wrap & Ribbon Storage
DIY State Cork Board
Quick And Easy Office Organization
Home Office Update
Dry Erase Board and Desktop Tray
Everyday I’m Hustlin’ Desktop Wallpaper
Home Office Details
Home Office Makeover Reveal
Home Office: Before
Home Office Gallery Wall {Decorating Ideas}
Glitter State Art {DIY}
Greeting Card Organizer
Stenciled File Cabinet
Faux Nail Head Trimmed Cork Board {Cork Board Makeover}
Sewing Cabinet Makeover {How to Paint Laminate Furniture}

How to paint laminate furniture

 

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Comments

  5. Rachel says

    Great job–I love it! I really hate painting furniture . . . between projects, I forget how much I hate it and then it all comes back to me when I start the next painting project. It looks wonderful!

    Reply

  7. Jennifer says

    It looks great! I love it! I would love to find an old dresser and give it a makeover! It’s crazy what a little bit of paint can do to really make a piece of furniture come alive!

    Reply

  11. WhyCuzICan says

    What a lovely makeover of grandma’s cabinet 🙂

    It turned out great!

    Thanks for sharing today 😀
    Visiting via: The Shabby Creek Cottage’s Transformation Thursday
    Smiles, Suzanne in NW Illinois at WHYCUZICAN

    Reply

  12. Janny says

    Wow, Chelsea! This is amazing. I’m about to tackle a laminate piece and I will definitely head on over to Katie’s tutorial for extra tips. Thanks! Also, thanks for stopping by my blog:) I’m your newest follower, because by the look of things- your blog is awesome!

    Reply

  13. Meggan of Lila Grace says

    What a perfect job you did Chelsea! Your grandma would have loved it! Thank you for sharing the technique you used as well, I am about to paint an armoire that I found at a thrift shop and can use all the help I can get! xoxo

    Reply

  18. Tammy says

    You did a fantastic job! The inside looks incredible too! I love painting furniture, now that I know about Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint. It makes the process so easy. I am your newest follower. Hope you can visit me sometime 🙂

    Reply

  20. lisa says

    Its beautiful! Ur grandmother would love the fact u made it irs :). Im going to do some painting soon I have 2 bookcases non matching &to didn’t know what to do ur advice on the laminated wood will be helpful Thx

    Reply

  23. Sally says

    It turned out great…I love the new color! I also wanted to let you know I’m hosting my first giveaway…I’d love you to stop by & enter to win a My Memories digital scrapbooking software. Thanks!
    Sally
    loveofhomes.blogspot.com

    Reply

  25. thesecretlifeofmrsbundt says

    I think you did an awesome job! I’ve painted cabinets and furniture before and you’re TOTALLY right, It’s a way more lengthy process than you start out thinking! Now you just need a fab sewing project! Have you seen all the cool stuff with ruffle fabric? I want to try it but I’m scared. Maybe soon!

    Reply

  29. Carrie says

    That looks awesome! I have a dresser in my basement that I’ve been pondering making a TV stand (which is how I found your blog) AND a sewing machine cabinet that’s been begging for this same attention. Darn it, I think you inspired me to actually do these things. 🙂

    Reply

  32. sandra says

    thank you, you are an angel ! I am buying a cabinet but is soooooo outdated , I will be going to get the paint , primer… this weekend !
    again…. thank you !

    Reply

  33. Lynn says

    Loved the info about cutting down on brushstrokes with the paint additives. It is amazing how much that laminate looks like solid oak.

    Reply

  35. debbi s. in texas says

    I love how it turned out. I have had great success with spray painting. I am just sure to follow instructions and do light coats and dry between coats as specified. Then I let it dry in the heat of the garage for a few days before bringing in. I use Rustoleum spray + primer. I painted all my old gold bath fixtures in our previous house this way using Hammered Bronze. Loved it. My most recent project, a drop down secretary desk I use as a vanity, I used Soft Iron Metallic (exterior) and Antique Silver Metallic (interior drop down) sprays. I am ready to start my new project: painting my old 1950’s dresser in Valspar Velvet navy for the guest room.
    Your project turned out fantastic.

    Reply

  36. JulieMc says

    Thank you for sharing your great tips! I’ve also never heard of these additives and I’ll be sure to give them a try. Your grandmother would be very pleased. I’m so glad to hear that folks of your age group are finding ways to treasure family items. I’m embarking on a project to paint my late mother-in-law’s bedroom suit which has a laminate top. Thanks again for sharing your tips and providing great inspiration. (I hope you’ll be able to pass along lots of memories to your own family made on your grandmother’s sewing machine!)

    Reply

  38. Monica says

    LOVE the cabinet!! I tried painting laminate bookshelves with a latex based paint… They looked great! But then the paint started to peel off; much like peeling a bandaid off 🙁 I used the same primer you did and Olympic brand paint. Any suggestions as to why it peeled? I am in the process of peeling all the paint off so I can start over. I’m also returning the paint back to the hardware store thinking it might be the paint…??

    Reply

  39. PaT says

    very pretty…nice job..wish I had a cabinet like that. The pic you show looks like oak or oak veneer. You say laminate, but I think laminate refers to melamine or Formica as is used on kitchen counter tops.

    Reply

    • Chelsea @ two twenty one says

      Thanks, Pat! No, it’s actually laminate. Laminate is a man-made product that is actually ‘printed’ to look like it has woodgrain. Kind of like laminate wood flooring– it’s ‘printed’ to look like woodgrain but it’s not. Veneer is a thin layer of wood that is bonded to a less expensive surface below (particle board, MDF, etc.).

      Reply

  40. Neeve says

    If you used Annie Sloan paint and wax you wouldn’t have needed sanding priming or anything! It’s a really great option without any prep! I have used it on every furniture!

    Reply

  41. Keemee says

    I hope your Gandmother would be proud of your creativity and happy you didn’t just get rid of this beautiful memory because it didn’t blend well with your decor. The cabinet is beautiful and the memories of her sewing on it are still there.

    Reply

  42. Terry says

    Your grandmother is smiling down on you and the beautiful job you did on her cabinet. To do the outside is one thing but you took it a step further and made it pretty on the inside as well. Well done! You should be proud! I hope you have a great week!
    Smiles!
    Terry
    http://thecuratorscollection.wordpress.com

    The Curator’s Collection & Making Broken Beautiful

    Reply

  47. Christine says

    I wonder how the paint has held up? My son wants me to paint his white ikea bed black and aside from the monumental task that would be I’m worried how it would hold up, especially on the ladder. Any real world experience appreciated.

    Reply

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