Tips for painting laminate IKEA furniture and the best navy blue paint color to add a pop to a neutral room
It was time for an IKEA furniture makeover—and I couldn’t be happier with how the cabinets changed the room. We ordered two IKEA Liatorp cabinets for the home office and, even after the delivery fee, they were far more affordable than other storage options and fit the space perfectly.
If you’ve followed along with this office makeover, you’ll know we’ve made a lot of progress. Painting flat or laminate furniture requires the right process; skip steps and the paint can peel. I’ll share the exact approach I used for these cabinets, plus why Benjamin Moore Hale Navy ended up being my favorite navy for this project.
Quick background: I picked the Liatorp cabinets because their size and style worked perfectly in the room. After assembling them and positioning them where I wanted, I prepared each cabinet carefully before painting.
How I prepared the laminate cabinets for paint
- Wipe down: Remove dust, oils, and fingerprints with a liquid deglosser or a suitable cleaner. This step ensures better adhesion for primer and paint.
- Mask glass: For cabinets with glass doors or panes, use a liquid masking product to protect glass edges and keep paint lines crisp. This is especially helpful for storage cabinets with inset glass.
- Prime for adhesion: Use an adhesion primer formulated for slick surfaces. A quality adhesion primer is the key step that prevents peeling and helps topcoat bond to laminate.
- Choose the right topcoat: For furniture that needs a durable, hard finish but can still be customized in color, I prefer a waterborne alkyd furniture paint. It levels well and cures to a tough finish suitable for cabinets.
- Finish and cure: Apply thin, even coats and allow proper curing time between coats. Lightly sand between coats if needed for the smoothest result.
For this project I wiped down the cabinets, applied masking liquid on the glass details, and used an adhesion-promoting primer before the topcoat. That sequence is what produces a lasting finish on laminate furniture.
Paint selection and the winner: Hale Navy
I sampled many blues before settling on Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. It offers a deep, saturated navy that adds drama without feeling heavy, and it plays beautifully against neutral walls and lighter textiles. For furniture, a durable furniture-grade formula in that color gives a rich, furniture-appropriate sheen and depth.
After painting, we started filling the cabinets and added curtains, curtain rods, and a rug to complete the look. The navy cabinets now feel like the focal point that ties the whole office together.
They pair nicely with the large-scale wall art we recently made. The contrast between the deep navy cabinetry and the neutral walls creates a clean, modern look with just the right amount of personality.
Office makeover to-do list
Build pair of closetsInstall double French doorsPaint walls & ceilingInstall closet doorsBuild closet shelvingMove air ventPaint doorsHang artHang curtainsAssemble furniturePaint cabinets- Install lighting
- Decorate & style
We’re nearly finished—the lighting, final styling, and a few finishing touches are all that remain. If you’re planning a similar makeover, follow the preparation steps for laminate furniture, protect glass with masking liquid, use an adhesion primer, and choose a durable topcoat in a color you love. A deep navy like Hale Navy can transform neutral spaces into rooms with instant personality.
