Looking to breathe new life into a tired particle board bookcase? You’re in for a treat! Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Denise from Salvaged Inspirations as our guest blogger. Denise is known for her stunning furniture makeovers and creative DIY projects, and she’s here to share how she gave a basic bookcase a brand-new look using Dixie Belle Paint. Whether you’re working with thrifted furniture or updating what you already own, this tutorial proves that with the right products, even particle board can look amazing!

(The following is an excerpt from Salvaged Inspirations. Read the full article here.)   

Hello creative friends! Today I’m sharing how to paint mass-produced particle board furniture to create something updated and beautiful on a budget. I’ve restyled this 2003 particle board bookcase and I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Here’s the particle board bookcase with cherry wood laminate. I bought this piece of furniture along with matching tall bookcases and desk many many years ago!

"Before" picture of brown wooden bookshelf sitting on a brown wooden floor in front of a white wall

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Particle Board Bookcase  – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Shop Towels
Sanding Sponge
Bonding Boss Primer
Rubber Pet Hair Remover
Sand Bar Chalk Mineral Paint
Oval Paint Brush
Big Daddy Blending Brush
VanDyke Brown Glaze
Gator Hide Topcoat

CLEAN

I started by giving this bookcase a vacuum and then I took my favorite heavy-duty furniture cleaner and cleaned it from top to bottom. The last thing I did before priming was remove the plastic shelf holders and put them in a cup so I wouldn’t lose them…

Photo collage of brown wooden bookshelf being vacuumed, wiped with a white sponge, and hardware being removed

SCUFF SAND

Sanding laminate furniture can feel tricky because laminate isn’t real wood—it’s a thin, plastic-like coating over a composite material like MDF or in this case, particleboard. Since laminate is smooth and non-porous, for paint and primer to stick to this factory finish, a scuff sanding is recommended. You don’t need heavy sanding though. A light, even pressure with a medium-grit sanding pad works nicely. I used a medium grit flexible sanding sponge to hand sand the entire piece. Then I used a tack cloth to pick up all the dust.

A brown wooden bookshelf being sanded

PRIME WITH BONDING PRIMER

For the best results, use a bonding primer (such as BIN Shellac-Based or Bonding Boss) to help paint stick to the laminate. I used Clear Bonding Boss and applied two coats using a roller. Then I waited overnight for it to dry, and painted the following day.

Bonding Boss being applied to brown wooden bookshelf with a roller

PAINTING BASE COAT

Now for the fun part! Now that the prep for the laminate on the particle board furniture is all prepped, the skies the limit! You can apply ANY type of paint finish you like. I decided on a faux wood finish that I’ve used on this chest here and this table here. I started by rolling on one coat of the neutral Sand Bar Chalk Mineral Paint.

Sand Bar Chalk Mineral Paint being applied to wooden bookshelf with a roller

Here’s the coverage after one coat.

Wooden bookshelf painted with Sand Bar Chalk Mineral Paint sitting on an off-white tarp on a wooden floor

For the second coat, I used a paintbrush and roller combo to give all the details full coverage.

Sand Bar Chalk Mineral Paint being applied to the bookshelf

FAUX WOOD GLAZE FINISH

I decided to give this bookcase a faux wood glaze finish. I’ve included furniture I’ve restyled in the same faux wood finish in the “Related Posts” section below.  This way you can see how the exact same finish using difference base colors and glaze totally changes the look.

This glaze technique gives furniture a modern wood-grain look with just a few easy steps…

Step 1: Apply a Base Coat

Start by painting your furniture with a custom paint color of your choice. As I shared above, I used Sand Bar and applied two coats. Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step. This will be the base layer that peeks through your faux wood finish.

Step 2: Brush on the Glaze

Once your base coat is dry, brush on a thin coat of Vandyke Brown Glaze. Work in manageable sections so the glaze doesn’t dry too quickly. This glaze adds depth and dimension, creating the rich look of natural wood. I apply it in the direction the wood grain would naturally go.

Step 3: Create the Wood Grain

Here’s the magic trick! Take a Rubber Pet Hair Remover (yes, you read that right—it works AMAZINGLY for this technique!) and drag it through the glaze to create a lined wood grain effect. Vary the pressure and direction for a more natural look keeping in mind to follow the direction the wood grain would naturally be seen.

Sand Bar painted bookshelf with Van Dyke Brown Glaze on it, a hand is holding a green plastic pet brush against the the glaze

Step 4: Soften the Grain

To make the wood grain effect look even more realistic, use a large blending brush like the Big Daddy Brush to soften and blend the lines gently. This step helps achieve a smooth, natural wood-like appearance.

Step 5: Fix Any Mistakes

If the glaze gets a little messy or you’re not happy with a section, don’t worry! Just take a shop towel dampened with a little water and gently wipe away the excess glaze. It’s super forgiving and easy to adjust.

Step 6: Let it Dry & Seal

Once you’re happy with your faux wood finish, let it dry completely. For added durability, seal it with a clear topcoat to protect your beautiful work. And there you have it—a stunning faux wood finish that looks like the real deal! I’m demonstrating this technique in action on the video tutorial below.

TOPCOAT

I usually spray my topcoat for a flawless finish but brushing or sponging on this faux wood finish works equally well. I wiped on three coats of Gator Hide and lightly sanded smooth between the first and second coats. The third coat I just let it be – no sanding required. This topcoat dries between a satin/matte, so it’s perfect for a faux wood finish.

An open jar of Gator Hide sitting on top of painted bookshelf with a hand holding a blue sponge applying Gator Hide

Photo collage of each step used to create the bookshelf makeover

THE BIG REVEAL…

Here’s the finished look. It looks like it’s had a facelift. Doesn’t it look years younger? 😉

"After" painted bookshelf sitting on a white floor in front of a white wall. A black and brown rug is on the floor in front of the bookshelf, and potted plants are on either side of the shelf as well as on top. Several knick knacks and books sit on each shelf and a framed picture of flowers hangs on the wall above the bookshelf. "After" painted bookshelf sitting on a white floor in front of a white wall. A black and brown rug is on the floor in front of the bookshelf, and potted plants are on either side of the shelf as well as on top. Several knick knacks and books sit on each shelf and a framed picture of flowers hangs on the wall above the bookshelf.

This faux wood glaze is so forgiving. The variances in the tones and grain make it look more authentic.

The Sand Bar is a fantastic neutral to showcase succulents, plants, books, candles or any type of knick-knack.

Close-up of shelf showing the "wood grain" created with Dixie Belle Glaze and a plastic brush "After" painted bookshelf sitting on a white floor in front of a white wall. A black and brown rug is on the floor in front of the bookshelf, and potted plants are on either side of the shelf as well as on top. Several knick knacks and books sit on each shelf and a framed picture of flowers hangs on the wall above the bookshelf.

We love how Denise turned this humble bookcase into a beautiful and functional statement piece. Her choice of Dixie Belle Paint products made it easy to achieve a smooth, durable finish—no sanding or priming required on most surfaces. Be sure to check out more of Denise’s inspiring work over at Salvaged Inspirations and don’t forget to tag us in your own chalk-painted furniture projects. We can’t wait to see what you create!

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Furniture Makeovers, Guest Author, How To

About the Author

Salvaged Inspirations

Denise is a blogger, self-taught furniture artist, writer, photographer and the owner/creator of Salvaged Inspirations. She is a lover of all things vintage, repurposed and restyled. A thrift enthusiast, she’s always in pursuit of the next creative upcycle.

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