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Laminate cabinet makeover

ByGail Wilson Published on Updated on
42 Comments

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This small laminate cabinet makeover is a great weekend project. Yes, you can rescue a cheap laminate cabinet and shelving!

Brown Laminate Cabinet

I don’t even remember where I got this old brown cabinet. Someone dropped it off to me; I didn’t buy it. I call it old, but it’s not really vintage at all. It’s a run-of-the-mill white laminate cabinet. I had one in my kitchen for years and sold it before I started doing what I love to do. I wish I still had it because it was a little wider than this one, and I could make it look so cute!

Laminate Cabinet Makeover

The glass in the top door is missing. I know exactly what paint was used on this piece. It’s Espresso semi-gloss. Whoever painted it did a pretty good job, considering the slick surface of the laminate.

Use Primer For Your Base Coat

To start the cabinet makeover, I mixed up diy chalky paint primer using plaster of paris and black paint. After a couple of quick coats, the brown exterior and the white interior were all covered up.

Chicken Wire For The Door

I grabbed some chicken wire I curbed several years ago and cut it to size. Then, I stapled it in place with a staple gun. I don’t like how sharp the wires are, so I grabbed some tough gorilla tape.

The  Gorilla Tape was placed along all four sides to cover up the ends of the wire. You could also use lath or thin plywood to cover the sharp points of the chicken wire.

Related Content: Cheap Bathroom Wall Cabinet Makeover

Cabinet Makeover using paint and chicken wire

Voila! Isn’t she pretty now? I used  Minwax furniture wax to seal it. The chalky paint primer has to have a top coat. Sometimes, I use semi-gloss paint as the topcoat, and sometimes, I use wax.

Pin it!

I reused the little glass knobs that were on it when I got it. I love the silver chicken wire with the black paint on this sweet cabinet makeover!

So, what kind of laminate furniture do you have that could be used as a rescue?

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Where would you use this little gal?

gail

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Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.

42 Comments

  2. Gail, the cabinet is very cute. I really like what you did with it. Question: what, exactly, is laminate? Is it a plastic layer covering a wood base? Is it removable if sanded? I would think that it wouldn’t take paint very well. That the paint would peel off easily. Can you clear up my confusion?

    Reply

    1. Laminate is sort of a plastic coating. I had a cabinet door once that the entire laminate coating peeled off. The wood underneath is cheap MDF. You can’t sand it smooth or paint it to cover up the glued wood chips.
      You are right, the paint could chip off, and peel off it you put heavy coats on it. The key is to get a very thin flat coat (DIY chalky paint primer in this case) After that, the next couple of coats will stick to the primer coat.
      I truly hope that helps Naomi.
      Thanks for the great questions!

      gail

  3. so I’ve been following you for along time… umm, I feel like you kinda cheated by not putting a proper edge around that chicken wire to cover the exposed edges.. But also if you are going to be sponsored by gorilla tape why not show the actual results please! Yes, painting laminate is always tricky and requires a primer coat of some kind. It turned out nice and will hopefully not chip, that is how you know if that base coat was good one. just sayin….

    Reply

    1. Sheryl,
      I’m sorry that you were confused about me being sponsored by Gorilla Tape. I was not. When I choose a product I like, I photograph it so my friends can see which product I used.
      What kind of proper edge would you have put in such a small area as this? It was narrow, and the tape worked. Had I had more room I would have used some small trim.
      I know from experience that my DIY chalky paint primer is a great base coat no matter the project. It never failed me. just sayin . . . . 🙂
      Thanks so much for being a friend of MRL! I appreciate you sticking around.
      gail

      ps I have edited the article with a cropped photo showing the black tape. It’s the best photo I could find.

  4. I’m taking refresher courses reading some of your older posts Gail! It’s me Patricia … your old buddy CORN! I’ve got laminate bookshelves to paint… searching for tips. Always come here first, for good resources!

    Reply

    1. Welcome back Patricia!!! I hope you find what you’re looking for in the search bar. If not just Google “MyRepurposedLife” and your keyword to find just what you’re looking for!

      I hope all is well with you and yours!!!!

      gail

    1. Thank you so much Maree! You are one of the many reasons I love doing what I do. I live to inspire and show others how to create It’s what I was meant to do.

      gail

  6. You are just so talented…I do love me some chicken wire:) I envy you for your talent and inspiration. I would LOVE to redo furniture, etc. but in plan language I suck at it!!! I’ve tried but my end project usually looks like a first grader probably painted it!!!! Thanks for the inspiration anyway:) By the way, I still can’t leave my website below…don’t understand why. I type it in correctly but it just keeps asking me to put in a URL. Am I missing something???

    Reply

    1. I’m so confused by your troubles Cheryl.

      If you could take a screen shot and share it with me via email, maybe I can get to the bottom of this!

      Never give up! Keep trying. I’m here to help in any way I can. Please tell me what you struggle with.

      gail

  12. I picked up a very similar cabinet at the good will yesterday and plan to do the same thing with chicken wire….It was fun to see yours!!
    Denise

    Reply

  13. I DO Love my DIY chalk paint… I use p.o.p. too.
    The chicken wire…is awesome!
    I use it to keep chickens in the coop, out of my raised beds… and flower pots… but I wouldn’t mind having some in the decor dept.
    Hmmm… I should see what I come up with!
    You’ve inspired me.

    Pat

    Reply

  14. I’m not sure where I would use this cabinet, but it certainly looks nice! I love it! Maybe a guest bathroom with towels rolled up in the bottom and pretty toiletry bottles and bars of soap in the top?

    Reply

  17. I just recently found your site as a result of a pinterest search. I love the things that you do with what I have always referred to as “other peoples junk”! I have become a quick fan of your site and enjoy so much your posts. Looking forward to the next one. God bless!

    Reply

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