The invention relates to a method for coating workpieces (2), which consist at least partly of wood, wood materials or the like, comprising the following steps: providing a workplace (2), which consists at least partly of wood, wood materials or the like, supplying a coating material (12) which is to be applied to a surface (2a) of the workpiece (2), applying energy to a surface (2a) of the workplace in such a way that lignin contained in the material of the workpiece (2) involves adhesive properties, at least at the surface (2a) of the workpiece that is to be coated, and pressing the coating material (2) against a surface (2a) of the workpiece, wherein the coating material (12) is at least partially bonded to the workplace (2) by using the adhesive properties of the lignin.