How to Paint Maple Kitchen Cabinets Antique White
The fine grain and durability of maple makes it a common choice for kitchen cabinetry but wood furnishings can darken any room. If you want a brighter look without using stark white, you can update the appearance of maple cabinets with softer antique white paint. Painting maple cabinets antique white is no different from painting any other hardwood a light color. Using the correct primer will fill the wood grain and give you a smoother canvas for the antique white paint. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drop cloth
- Phillips head screwdriver
- 2 large mixing bowls
- Dish washing liquid
- Degreasing cleaner
- Nylon scrubbing sponge
- Soft towels
- Old toothbrush
- 220-grit sandpaper
- Hand-held power sander
- Rags
- High-build, oil-based primer
- 2 paint stir sticks
- Trim paintbrush
- 2 small, disposable paint trays
- Small paint roller
- 2 small foam roller covers
Instructions
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1
Place a drop cloth in your work area. Remove the screws on the cabinet door hinges with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the doors aside. Pull out the drawers and set them with the doors. Keep the screws in a secure place.
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2
Remove the screws that hold the cabinet door and drawer pulls, handles and knobs and place them with the other screws.
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3
Fill a large mixing bowl with warm water and a squirt of dish washing liquid. Place the hardware, pulls, handles and knobs in the bowl to soak.
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4
Fill another bowl with warm water and a small amount of degreasing cleaner. Scrub the cabinets, doors and drawers using a nylon scrubbing sponge dampened with the solution. Rinse off the cleaner using a rag moistened with water. Dry the cabinet components with a soft towel.
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5
Scrub the hardware in the bowl with an old toothbrush. Rinse the items under cool water and dry them with a towel.
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6
Attach a piece of sandpaper to a hand-held power sander. Sand the flat surfaces of the cabinets, doors and drawer fronts just enough to dull the finish. Scuff the decorative details on the cabinets, doors and drawers by hand with a folded sheet of sandpaper. Wipe off the sanding dust with a clean, dry rag.
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7
Open the primer and mix it with a paint stir stick until no residue remains on the bottom.
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8
Dip a trim paintbrush into the primer and paint the small details of the cabinets, doors and drawers, such as seams, corners and trim where a paint roller can’t reach.
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9
Fill a small paint tray with primer. Roll a small, foam paint roller through the primer and slowly apply an even coat to the cabinets, doors and drawers. Let the primed cabinet pieces dry overnight or as recommended by the manufacturer.
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10
Turn the doors and drawers over and add primer to the reverse side. Allow to dry. Apply another coat of primer to all surfaces and let it dry.
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11
Sand the primed cabinets, doors and drawers lightly by hand. Wipe off the sanding dust with a rag.
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12
Open the antique white paint. Mix it with a paint stir stick until no sediment is left on the bottom.
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13
Paint the details and corners of the cabinets, doors and drawers as you did with the primer coat.
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14
Fill a small paint tray with antique white paint. Pass a new foam roller through the paint and apply an even coat over the flat spaces of the cabinets, doors and drawers. Let it dry. Paint the reverse sides. Apply one more coat of paint to each side and let it dry.
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15
Reinstall the hinge hardware on the cabinets and doors. Slide the drawers back into place. Reattach the door and drawer knobs, pulls and handles.
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Tips & Warnings
High-build, oil-based primer completely fills and evens out the wood grain texture. If you prefer to retain some of the texture, opt for one coat of standard oil-based primer.
Add age by rubbing down the painted cabinets with an amber-tinted translucent paint glaze.
Only sand enough to remove small finish imperfections; do not sand down to the bare wood.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit D. Anschutz/Digital Vision/Getty Images
