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Design Dilemma
hzdeleted_23069574

Painting fitted wardrobes?

User
8 years ago
Help. We are moving into our dream home - needs some work first though to hit the dream factor! Replacing fitted wardrobe doors are bottom of priority budget list! Think we could get away with painting white or grey? Anyone done this and regretted it? Advice welcome? (Carpet will be replaced!)
Featured Answer
  • greenwoods19
    8 years ago

    I changed mine from dark 'office' wardrobes to posh panelled ones by using pine stripwood & beading, cut to size mirrors (bought online), cabinet undercoat/primer (with F&B top coats) and glass knobs... Took me 2 months, from start to finish, but I love them. Must get around to doing the insides...

    • Comments (62)

    • suehmorg
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      Why not buy a super wallpaper you love and paste it into the recessed panels? Gives a wonderful bespoke look to the room and as area is relatively small you can pick something really lux. Did this with an old bedroom wardrobe I inherited and looks amazing. I had to paint the frames but looks as though you wont have this hassle.

    • teddismum
      8 years ago
      I would use white egg shell paint and change the door knobs to white....

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      My first instinct was to move it to a garage/basement for good storage but the more I think about it the more I think I'd prime inside and out with Kilz then apply a couple of coats of white semi-gloss (use good quality paint.. Benjamin Moore) in the same white that you'd use for all the trim in your room. Be sure to lightly sand and 'tack rag' between coats. If the handles are removable by all means remove them prior to painting...fill in holes, sand smooth and paint as previous sentence. Set up inside the way you find most functional. Buy nice new knobs ( maybe crystal?) and, if it is as tall as it appears, have crown molding installed to create a custom look. It is probably far better built than anything else you could find.
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    • cacaoneill
      8 years ago

      Hi, I was wondering if anyone could advise me on what kind of paint I should use on the fitted wardrobes, as I would like to paint some old ones?

      Thanks

    • Jan Thomson
      8 years ago
      I did three large wardrobes that my dad had previously tried to paint with white Matt emulsion. I sanded them with a fine paper and then used Farrow and Ball primer followed by Fallow and Ball Estate Eggshell in New White applied with a gloss roller. I then replaced the metal knobs with some ceramic ones from These Please. I was so pleased with the results I bought a second hand pine dressing table and some bedside cabinets from a charity shop and painted them along with our bed. I will try and put some pics on.
    • Jan Thomson
      8 years ago
      Not perfect but we are happy with them and because we already had the wardrobes and bed it cost less than £200 for the whole lot including furniture, paint, knobs and protective glass for the tops. And it was very therapeutic. Have fun.
    • rach1922
      8 years ago

      Hi, just about finished mine, have just put the pics up, i am very pleased and did all of it myself bar cutting the angles. x

    • Penny Hawkins
      7 years ago



      We've just had an offer accepted on a house that needs a bit of updating! Any ideas on how to go about tackling these very dated fitted wardrobes??....

    • rach1922
      7 years ago

      I put new glass knobs on and used chalk paint with gold glitter.

    • geraldinebee
      7 years ago
      Two things you could do,
      Mirrored doors with opaque stripes going diagonally,would look striking and modern.
      Or
      Primer ,then two coats of ammonite grey by farrow and ball.
      Finish with beading,and crystal handles .fabulous.
    • Penny Hawkins
      7 years ago

      Ooo geraldinebee that sounds amazing! I wish I had an eye for this kind of thing, i never dare be adventurous so everything ends up various shades of magnolia

    • lisa_fahy
      7 years ago

      Rach1922 i have wardrobes simular to yours. What brand and shade paint did you use?

    • geraldinebee
      7 years ago
      Hi Lisa,our wardrobes were melamine ( pink !! ) first we used a primer from screw fix ....then farrow and ball ,the shade was ammonite.pale grey.then glass/ crystal knobs...we are really pleased with them .they look so different now.
    • HU-904994
      7 years ago

      Hi I cannot live with the wardrobes in my new house! I can't afford to full refurbish the room so I will need advice. They have dreadful mouldings and handles. Rach1922 has done a great job on hera. Any advice on how to and materials to use would be appreciated. I do not know where to begin!

    • rach1922
      7 years ago

      Lisa_fahy, I used Rustoleum chalk paint,it took 4 cans to paint 10 doors,they are all along one wall, floor to ceiling I glued and pinned the beading on, I have used a primer and then painted using a roller as it gives a better finish. I removed the handles which were the same as yours filled in one of the holes and put crystal knobs on,

    • Susan Kyne
      7 years ago

      how did everyone paint them? using a rollar or brush? I put first coat on using a rollar and it is not smooth at all. probably needed to sand them properly. anyone have advice for painting over?

    • Jan Thomson
      7 years ago
      I used a gloss roller, lightly sanding with fine sandpaper in between coats. I used a primer coat first as well.
    • Jon Davis
      7 years ago

      Hi all, looking to paint fitted wardrobes similar to some of the above. When everyone is suggesting Farrow and Ball, which make is it as there seems to be numerous ?


      Thanks in advance

    • Moni Burns
      7 years ago


      this is my before and after pics of my wardrobes. I painted using ronseal all purpose primer undercoat and painted with b & Q quick drying egg shell light rain. They have turned out lovely. I not a handy person but gave it a go and am amazed at the result. Just need to hang the mirror back up
      the rooms totally differant

      Wardrobes are 30 years old but look brand new

    • lindahampton1
      6 years ago

      Hi webuser_904994 I had the same problem old 1970 / 80 built in wardrobes, I got a scraper and gently removed all the curved gold trim, leaving just the straight strips, which I then painted white. I removed the handles and tried to purchase new ones but that would have left holes in the doors as the sizes today are very different from I980s handles, so I painted them white in plastikote spray paint. I then added opalescent white glass pebble beads that go in vases in threes where the original gold trim had been . The result was a great improvement.

    • Lucy Morgans
      6 years ago

      Do you have to sand the wardrobes prior to painting?

    • rach1922
      6 years ago

      Hi Lucy Morgans I didn't sand mine, but a light sand over would be best I think if you are using eggshell to get a smooth finish, I used chalk paint so wanted a rough shabby finish.

    • geraldinebee
      6 years ago

      Geraldinebee.

      hi Lucy ,

      ,we did give our wardrobes,a very light sanding.because the wardrobes were melamine,we also used a primer,then finished with two coats of farrow and ball,in ammonite,very pleased with the result.



    • Mo Reene
      6 years ago

      What finish paint would you choose? Egg shell, gloss, matt etc

    • geraldinebee
      6 years ago

      Hi Maureen,

      we chose eggshell.....

    • Ang Chang
      6 years ago

      Hi Lucy did you use apaint brush? or spray painted?

    • Thomas Jones
      6 years ago

      everyones looks half decent, at least your not having to work with these

    • jenny_kolokotrone
      6 years ago

      Hi all!

      We moved into a house which has these fitted wardrobes. They're a plastic material! Can we paint over them? If so, what paint/brushes etc do you recommend? We're clueless!!

      Got a quote for a company to spray them. £528!!! :-s

      We really want to keep the doors as the cheapest option. Any advice will be hugely appreciated!!

      TIA!

      Jenny :)

    • Daisy England
      6 years ago
      Are they MFC with a mould on to give the panel?
    • jenny_kolokotrone
      6 years ago

      My Husband seems to think they're sort of 2 sheets of plastic together and on the front a moulded trim. We've looked to see if we could take the trim off but it's part of the plastic if that makes sense? Sorry to not be much use Really clueless! I'm dreading painting them with the wrong stuff and ruining them but they also look awful the colour they are! Xx

    • Daisy England
      6 years ago
      Mmmm, not sure about painting them if you're uncertain of the material.
      You could replace them and have 4 MDF doors made. They're easy enough for a joiner or carpenter to cut to size for you. Then you can just paint them to a colour of your choice. Shouldn't cost a lot.
      If you want them in a shaker design ask them to glue on the 'frame' to convert to a shaker.
    • Henry Gilbert
      6 years ago
      Penny your post is from a while ago but I LOVE the size of the doors on those dates wardrobes- you could make a real statement and paint each door a different colour! Kind of like colour blocking with clothes...would look so good and fit with period of property but look modern and classy. Alternatively different shades from the same colour pallet like lots of different greys and then the wood in between-the frame I guess- you could paint white or black depending what colours you were going with think of Mondrian art or Rothko as inspiration....
    • H G
      6 years ago

      Hi all, just buying a house with fitted wardrobes in master bedroom... and idea how to brighten them up? Never done it before, thanks :)

    • Matthew Decorator
      6 years ago
      I've seen it being done quite a bit in my experience and I personally feel it comes down to person preference.

      It's a nice quick fix but once you start painting things like that, you have to keep maintaining them and in my experience, even though I paint regularly I find it hassle.

      A lot of companies specialise in replacing just the doors in various colours and designs of your choice which may be an alternative for you.
    • geraldinebee
      6 years ago

      Hi H G,

      if if the wardrobes ,are melamine,preparation is the key...give them a very light sanding,then use a good primer,for the paint to adhere ....we found it best to apply the paint with a brush...we used eggshell ,which gives a very slight sheen.Farrow and Ball,is a good paint..change your handles ,and I think you will find the result looks very proffessional.we did ours 3 years ago ,and they still look like new.


    • Nisha Patel
      6 years ago

      Hi

      I have had these fitted wardrobe for 16 years and in need of a change but found it too expensive to get new and can't find the right size for new doors. I would like to paint them in chrome as my bedroom is goin to be white and silver. Could u tell me what I need to do first before I paint? And if the chrome would look good on wardrobes? Please help as I have no clue. Thank you.

    • Rebecca
      6 years ago
      M
    • Rebecca
      6 years ago
      Z t girls
    • Clare Swindlehurst
      6 years ago

      H G I have that exact same wardrobe set that I want to update. What did you decide to do?

    • scottsuzanna
      6 years ago

      Hi geraldinebee I also have similar wardrobes and a dressing room in Sage Green and dying to re-colour in grey or white. what colour were yours before painting? and what primer did you need to use first?

      Thanks in advance. Suzanne

    • InterestingInteriors
      6 years ago
      Maybe a dark grey would look nice, you could easily modern them by adding new handles, which are really inexpensive.
    • InterestingInteriors
      6 years ago
      *modernise
    • scottsuzanna
      6 years ago

      Hi geraldinebee could you possibly advise on which

      primer you used?

    • geraldinebee
      6 years ago

      Hi scottsuzanna..we used a primer from screw fix.it was recommended for use on melamine surfaces. Good luck.

    • scottsuzanna
      6 years ago

      Thank you.

    • fhparis
      6 years ago

      Hi I’m wondering if anyone could give me advice on painting theses?! in my new house they are the fitted wardrobes and dresser, they look very old fashioned. Will they be ok to paint? If so what I need to do and what paint would I use? I was thinking white with silver patterned trim. Sorry photo not very good.

      Thanks in advance!!

    • geraldinebee
      6 years ago

      Hi ,

      if you want to give the wardrobes a modern touch,you need to remove the trim,painting this silver will just highlight,the old fashioned style.you would need to sand the fronts ,then use a primer or undercoat.before using a good quality eggshell paint..loads of pale fashionable colours e.g. Very pale grey...would look up to date..then new handles of course.

      good luck..

    • fhparis
      6 years ago

      Thank you for replying to me, I’ll try that then!! I have thought about just taking them out but they are good for storage.

      Thanks again!!

    • Moni Burns
      6 years ago
      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
    • InterestingInteriors
      6 years ago
      Love these handles, they are very slime and look great.
    • Samir Desai
      2 years ago

      What colour is that, looks great!

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