Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Refinishing Children's Furniture

I have my complete set of furniture from when I was growing up. It's not high quality furniture--particle board with veneer. The top surface is like a Formica-type finish. My husband and I used it when we were first married until we could afford "real" furniture. We've kept it because we have children (4) and figured it might come in handy and it seemed a waste to just get rid of it. Now that my babies (2 & 2) are old enough to come out of cribs, I am remodeling the room. I need more furniture for storage--so it's either use what I have or spend lots of money to buy new (which we don't have). I'd like to try painting over a few of the pieces and then do a cute sponge paint or possibly just some free-hand designs like I've seen in the specialty shops. I figure I don't have a lot to lose. So how would I proceed (since it's not solid wood and the tops have a coating on them)? What type of paint to use? If I start with a primer and plan to sponge or hand paint designs over it, do I still need to put on a base coat over the primer? And, I'd like the finished product to be cleaning-friendly (markers, fingerprints, etc.)--do I need a clear top coat to protect what I've done? Also, what type of brush(es) would you recommend? Any help is certainly appreciated. Thanks!

Let me sort through the questions and take them one at a time, and throw in a few comments along the way.

The entire piece needs to be sanded. If you plan to paint the laminate top, that will need to be sanded also. Where painted, remove all loose paint while sanding and try to get a reasonably smooth surface. You don't have to remove the old paint, just rough it up enough for new paint to adhere.

A good primer is a must. My favorites are BIN and KILZ, both readily available from good paint stores and home centers - 2 coats, sanding lightly after each to get rid of any 'nubbies'

A good premium grade acrylic latex (gloss) would be the next step (yes, you really should use a good base coat even with the decorations you plan). The reason for saying 'gloss' is simple - generally, the higher the sheen, the more durable the paint.

All of this needs to dry completely (several days) before you try anything else.

You'll need to scuff sand the entire piece again - so that your decorations and the clear coat will adhere.

For a protective clear coat, I suggest WATER CLEAR POLYURETHANE. Make certain it says 'water clear' on the can - anything else will yellow the colors you've already applied.

Brushes? - any good brush for latex paint - choose a size in keeping with the size of the project, and one that feels comfortable in your hand. Don't get a 4" brush and expect to get into all the corners easily. A 2 1/2" flat and an angled sash brush should work well.

For the polyurethane, buy some throw away foam brushes - they're easiest to work with in order not to leave bubbles and streaks.

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George

Thanks, George. Your reply was extremely thorough and very helpful! I know I threw a lot at you, and you answered them all. Blessings to you!