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painting fitted wardrobes

Lauren Crossley

6 years ago

We are just in the process of modernising the house we bought earlier this year and I want to change the colour of the wardrobes but I'm not sure what to do.... light sand, prime and paint and then what sort of paint.

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Comments (2)

rachelmidlands
6 years ago
Hi there, I'm guessing the wardrobes are a melamine so the key is in the prep. First I would me remove handles and sugar soap wardrobe to remove any dirt or grease then wipe off with clean damp cloth then allow to dry (or buff with tea towel). If any part of the melamine is peeling or flaking then sand these areas, again wipe with damp cloth.
The important part is the primer. There are a few products on the market now which allow you to paint on surfaces without sanding. My favorites are Zinsser bin 123 primer (use the water based one), ESP by Owatrol which is an etching primer and will provide a great grab for the following coat, and depending on the finish you want, chalk paint such as Annie Sloan which is good for the shabby chic look.
Depends on the finish you want but for a nice semi sheen I would use an undercoat on top of the primer then 2/3 coats of either water based satin or eggshell paint. For the chalky finish you can just use 2/3 coats of chalk paint or more if needed and use wax for finish. You can even use standard emulsion after the undercoat then seal with varnish.
Use a good quality paint brush for fiddly areas and use a mini gloss roller for the flat parts for a nice even finish. Also, several thin coats of paint are better than one big sloppy coat:)
Hope this helps.
Jess w
6 years ago
Just wondering what you did with these in the end? I have some similar melamine ones in our bedroom which really bug me!
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Or you could try annie Sloan chalk paint. Great if you're a novice painter and no prep needed, her old white paint would work. You can also distress them if you want, read up on it on her website. Do you think you could remove the decorative plinth or whatever it's called as that is really dating them?. I'd buy the door knobs after you've painted to see if you like it as they can be dear and you need a few. You could also try wallpapering the middle section at the back. I've attached an image from littleenglandandco but go for something contemporary and quite bold. It should (hopefully!) draw your eye to this rather the wardrobes.
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Hello fhparis I painted my 1980's fitted dark brown wardrobes a year ago. I was able to remove a shelf which i used to practice on and to get an idea of the finish i could achieve. Or indeed if i could do it. Your wardrobes are lighter in colour which is a plus. I mentioned the products i used in an earlier post. Dont underestimate how long it will take to do. I think i applied 3 undercoats and at least 3 top coats. It was well worth the effort and cost a fraction of buying new wardrobes. The pics show 2 sets of painted wardrobes. Best of luck with your project
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I like to paint the same colour as the walls, I think it makes the room seem larger and unified. I often paint the skirting, doors and Architraves the same as the wall colour too. Very restful and not at all bland. It gives a much better back drop for your accessory colours which should come from your blinds, curtains, bed covering, cushions, chair etc.
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I really don’t like these plastic fitted wardrobes in the bedroom. I’ve had a quote, sanding - which will leave a lot of mess, priming and painting. I’ve been told the room will be out of order a couple of weeks. Inconvenient. The plastic beading will not be able to be painted I’ve been told and they are cream and gold! I cannot remove the alcove as this is not a separate piece. I was thinking of changing the handles and adding long mirrors to the tall cupboards, or even a fitted mirror behind the headboard wall? Im afraid I won’t like them any more but having them gutted is a bigger job.
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