How to Paint a Cabinet

Cabinets can begin to look dated and dingy after time, leaving you to consider replacing them with something newer. Painting a cabinet is a quick and inexpensive way to make your fixtures look new again. Follow the steps to learn how to paint cabinets and brighten your room.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Remove all screws, hinges, knobs and pulls from your cabinet doors and drawers. Empty the drawers and clean all wood. Allow surface to dry completely before sanding and painting.

2. Sand all surfaces with a light 150-grit sand paper to prepare cabinets. Fill nicks and holes with wood putty and sand once the putty has dried.

3. Mask off surrounding edges and use plastic or drop cloths to cover areas you don't want to be painted.

4. Apply one coat of primer using a small roller or brush. Allow paint to dry and sand away any imperfections before painting the top coats.

5. Use a synthetic bristle brush to apply latex paint or a natural bristle brush to apply oil-based paint.

6. Apply two to three coats of your choice color paint, making sure to allow paint to dry between coats. Use long even strokes, making sure to paint corners, edges and detailing.

7. Put cabinet doors and drawers back together and enjoy the new look of your fixtures.

Tips & Warnings

• Add new hinges and hardware--a fairly cheap way of helping old cabinets look new--to match the feeling of the new color you chose for the cabinets.
• Gloss paint stands up better to scrubbing than a semi-gloss or eggshell sheen.