Painting on melamine type wardrobes

Most paint suppliers make a range specifically for non-wood materials these days (MDF, melamine) - kitchen paints, cupboard paints, etc. You could also use a primer for non-wood materials such as Zinsser that you can then paint over with any type of paint.

I'd be wary of painting it white though unless you can match the white of the doors, unless you don't mind a two tone affect.

Thanks very much AreWeThereYet. I’ll have a look for that. I thought the same as you about the white. White comes in so many subtle shades and it would be difficult to get it right, so maybe a contrast or complementary shade of another colour would be better.

are you on facebook? there is a disturbing group called the frenchic fan club or similar and they will know, they paint their own children in it

I used what they call ‘cupboard paint’ (either Dulux or Wickes) for a whole wall of rather nasty white melamine wardrobes. Turned them pale cream instead and changed all the handles - complete transformation for roughly £65.
Maybe 10 years ago now and they still look as good.

Dd and SiL used the same sort of paint to transform some pretty ancient dark brown melamine kitchen cupboards.

JaneJudge

are you on facebook? there is a disturbing group called the frenchic fan club or similar and they will know, they paint their own children in it

JaneJudge ??

DDs work colleague has painted her melamine kitchen unit doors with Frenchic, her kitchen apparently looks amazing

JaneJudge

are you on facebook? there is a disturbing group called the frenchic fan club or similar and they will know, they paint their own children in it

I must admit to have painted so many things in chalk paint over the years. But mostly furniture of the yellow knotty pine variety. I keep seeing kitchens on the Frenchic Facebook page that I would give anything for only to see people painting them. As for painting all the doors and windows. I thought the whole point of upvc windows was that you never had to paint them…..

Hi we’re doing this to some sharp fitted wardrobes we inherited when we moved here two years ago, their the most awful walnut colour and as their in my Granddaughters bedroom I’d like them white.
I’ve found someone that spray paints them locally it seems to becoming more popular. They can match it to existing furniture too.

Am a big fan of painting furniture. We painted melamine cupboards ( best with a roller,) bought new knobs and it was a transformation. Still looking good 10 years later.
As has been said you do need to match whites, can the new doors also be painted?
A friend did the same in her kitchen and it looked really good, and Still does.

MayBee70

JaneJudge

are you on facebook? there is a disturbing group called the frenchic fan club or similar and they will know, they paint their own children in it

I must admit to have painted so many things in chalk paint over the years. But mostly furniture of the yellow knotty pine variety. I keep seeing kitchens on the Frenchic Facebook page that I would give anything for only to see people painting them. As for painting all the doors and windows. I thought the whole point of upvc windows was that you never had to paint them…..

I had to leave when I saw someone had painted a leather sofa in it!

Not just leather but fabric. Did you see the fabric one that’s going to be painted with Frenchic that’s the one their dog sleeps on? I mean, why? I know my daughter’s switched to using Frenchic recently. And bathroom tiles as well. It’s like an alternative universe.

I've seen leather and fabric painted and they look fabulous, especially considering what they were like pre-paint. But I've also read that they don't last more than a year or two before the paint starts to wear off. But I suppose it may depend on how well it's done to start with. The leather sofa looked more like a dark blue suede at the end.

MayBee70

Not just leather but fabric. Did you see the fabric one that’s going to be painted with Frenchic that’s the one their dog sleeps on? I mean, why? I know my daughter’s switched to using Frenchic recently. And bathroom tiles as well. It’s like an alternative universe.

this is why I had to leave!

surely it all peels and cracks, why why why

Thanks everyone. Some useful suggestions here. We probably will replace the actual doors of the fitted wardrobes (rather than paint over them) as they are very dated, as is the colour (it’s a sickly Caramac colour - remember that caramel “chocolate”?). I spotted some Frenchic paint in an antique shop yesterday - but I thought it was just for painting on real wood, so I didn’t look too closely at it.

If you are going to replace them anyway it might be worth using Frenchic on them first. Then you can let us know if it works

JaneJudge

are you on facebook? there is a disturbing group called the frenchic fan club or similar and they will know, they paint their own children in it

I'm pretty sure I've not seen anything on there where they paint their own children, or anyone else's children!
But they do paint uPVC doors and so much else!

Honeyrose
Fablon, aka sticky backed plastic, is all the rage now for doing over furniture. You could consider that.
Or, prior to painting, either sand it lightly to give the paint something to adhere to, or prime it first!
And would please show us what you do?

Thanks everyone for your very welcome response. We think we are going down the route of replacing the doors (if the man we have in mind is still up for doing the job for us) and paint the carcasses with the special paint mentioned. It probably won’t be for a few weeks yet, but I’ll try to remember to post a photo on Gransnet when the work is finished.

I had two very old bedside tables. All the rest of my bedroom furniture was new and was cream with wood tops.

These bedside tables were excellent, and had a pull out shelve and fitted into my room perfectly - but did not match the rest of the furniture.

I spent several months searching for something to replace them. Easy with regards to looks, but none of the correct size and with cupboards (did not want drawers), and pull out area. AND.....cost of all of them I looked at would have meant around £200 for the pair.

Gave up, -purchased some furniture cream paint in Wilko and some wood coloured sticky back plastic!! Cost - under £20. Result: fabulous - matching rest of bedroom furniture.

Strangely enough the Frenchic Facebook page showed some similar cupboards that had been painted in Frenchic. They looked really good.