How can I refinish a 'white melanine' desk with same color?

Hi Trudi, you can get some melamine paint and redo the surfaces of the desk & bookcase

hope this link gives you some guidance,

https://www.thespruce.com/freshen-up-melamine-and-laminate-surfaces-1822210

You could get a piece of plexiglass for the top, just smooth out the edges. Here is a link on how to make the edges smooth:

https://uvacrylic.com/blog/smooth-and-polish-acrylic-edges/

And how to paint melamine:

https://www.realmilkpaint.com/blog/tips/painting-melamine-cabinets/

Be sure to clean it well and scuff the surface with some sandpaper. Use a good primer and a high-quality latex paint.

You can color match the drawers and use a melamine paint the same color to fix them up.

you could paint it, you can use peel and stick tiles on top or drawers for colors, you could use contact paper

https://todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-repair-and-paint-plastic-coated-melamine-cabinets/

Clean well. Scuff the surface with fine grit sandpaper. Prime and paint

You can replace the top with a new material or go with something else. I would probably look into countertop material as it would be more durable. You can also put luan, which is a thin plywood, over it but you would want to stain and finish it or paint it.

Sand the chipped and worn areas with a fine sandpaper and then prime and paint the entire desk with a good paint labeled for melamine. It will turn out practically as new.

Hello. You might want to go to your local big box lumber area and look at the thin veneer and mdf options. I have made them for my childrens desk and cover them with decorative fabric but they could be painted. Also they do have a whiteboard for sale if it fits the dimensions of your desk it would already have a finish you might just need to paint he circumferential the edges.

How To Refinish Laminate Furniture in 4 Easy Steps

https://diyhomegarden.blog/refinish-laminate-furniture/

Thank you for all you great ideas. After reading, I think I'm going to shy away from 'repainting' the tops. Seems like a lot of work for just 2 surfaces.

I cleaned them thoroughly yesterday; and while it's far from perfect; it's good enough for now, especially since I have a few items covering the bad areas. Perhaps one day I'll invest in a glossy white desk that I come across.

I was thinking of putting something on top of the desk/bookcase. There is a 'plastic' store near me. I could see if they have a very thin kind of plastic veneer in a glossy white plastic that I can put over the desk. Since it's a rectangle, I could have them cut it to size and fit it on top of the desk! I don't think contact paper would work for this. Any feedback on 'plastic'

Hi Trudi, it's not always easy to get the same smooth glossy finish on melamine once it's been damaged. We tried If I may suggest, rather buy some inexpensive pine to create a new faux top that you can paint or stain to match.

I would lightly sand it, prime it and then paint in a similar color. Perhaps you can get a glass top or a table pad to help prevent future scratching!

Yes you could use MDF, but how about using something like Contact paper?

Contact paper will wrinkle (if I do it)...I'm going to try and find a very very thin plastic (cut to size) to put over the desk top. I'll see what they have and then decide. Thanks for all the useful tips. I'll save the links.

You could cover with contact paper

I got a piece of white laminate plastic to put over my desk! It's not perfect; if they had been nice enough to cut it to the dimensions I needed; it would have looked a lot nicer. It was very difficult to cut with a utility knife; so it's not 100% even but it will do for now!

Sand it well, paint it with a good white spray paint and then add a glass top.

Melamine paint would work just fine on your desk!

Contact or other Sticky backed Plastic should do the trick!