Melamine is the slippery, factory-laminated surface you find on cheap wardrobes, kitchen carcasses and old fitted furniture. The problem is it's designed to be wipe-clean and non-porous — exactly what paint hates. Get the prep right, though, and it'll hold for years.
The process, in order:
1. Degrease. Wash everything down with sugar soap or a strong detergent, especially kitchen units that'll have years of cooking grease on them. This step matters more than any other.
2. Sand. Key the whole surface with 240-grit until that glossy sheen is gone and it feels dull to the touch. You're giving the primer something to grab. Wipe off all the dust with a tack cloth or damp microfibre.
3. Prime. This is non-negotiable. Use Zinsser BIN — the shellac-based primer that bites onto glossy, awkward surfaces better than anything else. One thin, even coat. Zinsser Cover Stain is a decent alternative if you're worried about brush marks. Don't skip primer thinking a self-undercoating paint will do the job on melamine — it usually won't.
4. Topcoat. For melamine cabinets and furniture you want a tough, self-levelling finish. Bedec MSP (Multi-Surface Paint) is a brilliant, hard-wearing choice and comes in satin or eggshell. If you'd rather have a designer colour, Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell or Benjamin Moore Advance both go down beautifully over a properly primed surface — two thin coats, lightly sanding between.
The most common mistake? Slapping emulsion straight onto melamine. It'll look fine for a week then chip and peel the moment anything touches it.
For colours that suit fitted units, Farrow & Ball Cornforth White keeps things soft and neutral, Little Greene French Grey - Pale is a lovely understated trim shade, and Pavilion Gray works a treat on wardrobes. Take your time on prep, let each coat cure properly, and melamine comes up cracking.