How to Redo Formica Cabinet Doors

If you are contemplating a kitchen makeover, but don't have a large amount of cash on hand to do so, consider painting your old Formica cabinet doors instead of replacing them. Paint can work wonders for an outdated kitchen, and in many cases can make the old look new again with a little help from a sponge roller and paint brush. Painting Formica cabinet doors can also save you money by allowing you to invest it in other areas of your kitchen instead.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Formica cabinets Sponge rollers Quick dry latex paint Paint primer Paint brushes Fine grit sand paper Painter's tape

1. Clean the Formica cabinets with a spray cleaner. A cleaner like Formula 409 or Fantastic, will help to remove any build up of dirt or grease that has settled onto the Formica. Spray them down and wipe them clean with a paper towel.

2. Sand the Formica cabinets with a fine grit sandpaper to remove the shine. In order for the paint to adhere to Formica, it must be roughed up. Rubbing down the cabinets with a piece of sandpaper should accomplish this task quite well.

3. Remove any hardware that is attached to the cabinets. If your Formica cabinets have knobs or handles, remove them. Hinges must be left on if you are planning on leaving the cabinet doors intact while painting. Masking off the hinges with painters tape will help to keep them free of paint.

4. Apply a coat of paint primer to the Formica cabinets. The paint primer will act as a base for the latex paint to adhere. Apply the paint primer with a sponge roller on larger sections and with a paint brush in harder to reach areas.

5. Paint your cabinets the desired color with a quick drying latex paint. Applied with a sponge roller and brush, the quick dry latex will add a durable finish to your old Formica cabinets. Apply additional coats of paint if necessary, allowing the layers to dry in between coats.

6. Reattach the hardware to the newly painted Formica cabinets once the layers of paint have dried completely. Take a step back and admire your work. You can now revel in the fact that your old Formica cabinets look like brand new and you didn't have to spend a lot of money to make them that way.

Tips & Warnings

• Many hardware stores now offer small, sample sized cans of paint. If you are unsure of which color paint will work best in your kitchen, consider purchasing these smaller cans so you can test the paint colors on your cabinets. Once you find one that you like, then you can buy the bigger can.

• Do not rush through the process of painting your Formica cabinet doors. The goal is to achieve a new look without spending a lot of money. Thorough sanding, and patience in between waiting for coats of paint to dry, will pay off in the long run.

Resources

• All of the products that you will need to redo your Formica cabinet doors can be found at: