Can You Paint A Desk?

Have you ever wondered, should you paint a desk? If you’re going to do so, you need to make sure you know what kinds of desks can be painted and what kinds should not be painted.

Most varieties of desks can be painted, including:

• Wooden desks
• Metal desks
• Laminate desks
• Office desks

You can also paint roll-top desks, but this is more difficult and needs to be approached with care. It’s easy to stop the rolling portion from turning freely if you add paint to it. You should only attempt to paint a roll top if you’re experienced at painting and don’t mind the risk of ruining it.

Painting a desk can help elevate your desk setups aesthetics, which can help certain people work more productively. But you need to make sure you are using the correct paints if you intend to still use your desk for working.

Here are the paint types we recommend and caution against when painting a desk.

Now we know you can paint most desks and what paints you should use. Let’s start looking at the question, of whether you should paint certain types of desks in more detail. As well as what paints are recommended in more detail.

Can You Spray Paint A Desk?

You can spray paint a desk. Spray painting is actually advised, it’s faster than using a brush and is easier to achieve an even coating with. If you plan on spray painting your desk, enamel spray paint is recommended as it holds better to smooth surfaces than wall paint.

There are many other paint options for desks, and it may be tricky to choose the best. Furniture latex paint is one of the most popular paints because it is readily available and not too expensive. It dries fast, too. This will help you to get plenty of coats on without it taking too long. Broadly speaking, if a paint is smooth and wipe-clean, it is suitable for painting a desk.

Can You Paint A Metal Desk?

If you want to paint a metal desk, it’s fairly easy to do so as long as you use the right kind of paint. Some people use a brush and enamel paint, but if you’re wondering can you spray paint a desk like this, you’ve already hit on the most popular method.

A lot of people choose to spray paint metal desks because it gives a beautifully smooth finish, and it can be a lot quicker than using a brush. Vinyl wrapping your desk is another great option for changing the aesthetic of your metal desk.

A brush can be used, however, enamel paint is always recommended over acrylic paint when painting desks. Enamel paint adheres much better to metal than acrylic paint.

To paint a metal desk, you should:

1. Start by sanding down the metal surface, because this will give the paint a key to cling to. If you don’t sand the surface first, you may find that your spray paint doesn’t stick properly.
2. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth to remove all the dust and debris, and then allow it to fully dry before you move on to the next step. The paint will not cling if the surface stays wet.
3. Mask the surfaces where you don’t want paint to adhere. Because spray paint is messy, it will otherwise get onto these areas.
4. Spray the desk with primer, and allow the primer to fully dry.
5. Spray the desk with one coat of your desired color, and allow this coat to fully dry.
6. Give the desk a second coat of your desired color, and again, allow it to dry.
7. If necessary, add a third coat. It is better to do multiple thin coats than one or two thick ones, as thick spray paint is liable to blister.

You can watch someone applying this method here to see how it works.

Can You Paint A Roll Top Desk?

As mentioned above, painting a roll top desk can be more challenging. If you get paint into the rolling mechanism, it may gum it up. If this happens, the mechanism will not turn properly anymore. This will stop the desk from opening and shutting smoothly.

Before starting this project, it’s worth pausing and asking yourself, should you paint a desk like this? The answer will depend on how important the desk is to you and how confident you are in your ability to do it well. If you think you are likely to damage the desk, avoid painting it.

You will probably want to use brushes for this kind of desk, as it can make it easier to ensure you are getting a thin layer.

1. Sand the desk using a fine grade sandpaper, being careful around the mechanism.
2. Wipe it down using a damp cloth and allow it to dry.
3. Use a paintbrush to apply a thin coat of primer.
4. Use a paintbrush to add your first layer of paint, keeping it thin.
5. Continue adding thin layers of paint until you have achieved the desired look.
6. Make sure that the desk still rolls smoothly. If it doesn’t, you can use sandpaper to free up any sticking edges and lightly repaint them.

You can watch this method in action below, you will get a good look at the before and after look of a painted roll top desk.

Can You Paint A Laminate Desk?

Laminate isn’t the easiest finish to work with, because it essentially has a plastic coating. However, there is a lot of laminate furniture out there, so many people want to paint it.

If you’re wondering, can you spray paint a desk like this, the answer is yes, as long as you do the preparation work correctly.

A lot of people struggle with painting laminate furniture, but thorough preparation will help you to be successful. Follow this method:

1. Use some 150 grit sandpaper to thoroughly sand and roughen up the surface so that the primer can grip it properly.
2. Use 220 grit sandpaper to finish sanding. This will provide a great key for the primer.
3. Wipe the desk down with a damp cloth and let it dry.
4. Use an oil primer that says it is suitable for laminate. Wear gloves and a mask. Use 1 or 2 coats of primer, allowing it to dry in between.
5. Let the primer dry and then sand the surface again and wipe it down with a damp cloth.
6. Apply your spray paint in thin coats, allowing each layer to thoroughly dry before adding the next one. If you don’t let the layers dry, the paint is much more likely to blister.

Can You Paint A Wooden Office Desk?

Whether you can paint an office desk will depend on what kind of material it is made of. As long as you choose the right kind of paint for that material, you should be able to paint your office desk.

Note that if your office desk has drawers, you should remove them and sand and paint them separately to ensure the paint adheres well. This will also let you paint inside the desk, around the runners.

1. Start by thoroughly sanding the desk, making sure you cover every surface. This should be done regardless of what kind of material the desk is made from.
2. Wipe the desk down with a damp cloth and allow it to dry. If any areas need to be filled, fill them and then sand them when the filler has dried.
3. Apply a thin coat of an appropriate primer to all of the surfaces. If you are painting a metal desk, make sure the primer is suitable for use on metal. Do the same for wood, or whatever material has been used.
4. Using either an aerosol or a brush, apply a thin coat of paint. Brushes will leave more obvious lines, while spray paint may give you a smoother finish.
5. Allow the coat to dry and then add another coat, and continue this process until the desk is finished.

You can read about this method in more detail here to get tips from a professional decorator!

Other Paints Can Use For A Desk Surface

It works well for furniture that won’t see too much heavy use, but you may find that it chips off your desk more quickly than you would like. This is because it has a soft finish. You may have to apply a sealant if you want to use this on a high-use desk.

Acrylic paint is another popular option, and it will work on most surfaces. It creates a resilient finish that is stain resistant and should look great on a desk that gets lots of use. It does need to be used with a primer, however, and it takes a long time to cure.

Chalky paint is a third possibility. It has a thicker texture than the other two, which may help you to achieve a vintage look. However, it marks more easily, so it’s not ideal for a desk that gets a lot of use. The color options are also more limited.

Paints You Shouldn’t Use On A Desk

It is not recommended to use wall paint for a desk, as it doesn’t have the right finish. You want a desk’s finish to be as smooth as possible so that you can wipe it down easily. Remember that a desk has a large, flat surface that is going to collect dust and debris.

If the desk ever has drinks or plates put on it, it is even more important for it to be wipe-clean. Regular wall paint is not designed to provide this sort of finish. It’s not a good idea to use it on a desk, therefore.

It also doesn’t fare well when it gets a lot of use. A desk that is decorative may be alright when painted with regular wall paint, but for a functional desk, you should use furniture paint. This minimizes the risk of chips and maximizes the lifespan of your paintwork.

Milk paint also isn’t brilliant for use on desks. This is because it is hard to get a consistent color and its finish isn’t very strong. If you are going to paint a desk with it, consider using a sealant on top to prevent chips.