How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

While you may not be able to afford new kitchen cabinets, you can give your kitchen an inexpensive upgrade simply by painting your kitchen cabinets. Paint is available for virtually all cabinet surfaces and even the most expensive paint is much less expensive than paying for even one new cabinet. Painting kitchen cabinets isn’t a difficult job--and virtually anyone can do it--as long as you are willing to spend some time and effort. Here’s how to go about painting your kitchen cabinets

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Orbital sander (or sanding block)
• Sandpaper (120 grit)
• Tack cloth
• Vacuum
• Screwdriver
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Clean rag
• Latex primer
• Acrylic enamel latex kitchen paint (gloss or semi gloss finish)
• Paint brush (nylon/synthetic bristle)

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

1. Remove all your cabinet doors, then scrub the doors, the cabinet interior and face frames with warm water and detergent to remove any dirt.

2. Remove any traces of grease that may remain on the doors and cabinets using a clean dry cloth and isopropyl alcohol.

3. Using your orbital sander or sanding block, sand the cabinet doors, frames and interior, then vacuum to remove most of the sanding dust. Ensure you have gotten rid of all the sanding dust by rubbing a tack cloth over all the surfaces, paying particular attention to the cabinet corners.

4. Apply a coat of primer to all the cabinet surfaces including the front and back side of the doors and allow it time to dry.

5. Paint your cabinet interiors a light color and once again give it time to dry (follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the can).

6. After the interior is dry, lightly sand it, then clean it with a tack cloth and finish the interiors by applying a second coat of paint.

How to Paint Cabinet Doors

7. Lay the cabinet doors down on a flat surface for painting and while they are drying, so as to prevent any runs or drips.

8. Apply a thin, even coat of paint using long, smooth strokes and leave the doors to dry, then sand them lightly and run the surface with a tack cloth.

9. Apply the second coat to the doors using the same technique of long smooth paint strokes, then let them dry.

Tips & Warnings

• You can improve the appearance of your newly painted cabinet doors by installing new hinges and cabinet hardware. If you are going to do this, be sure to fill the original screw holes with wood filler before you sand and paint the cabinets and faced frames.
• Painting the cabinet doors is a time-consuming process, since you want to be sure one side is totally dry before turning them over and painting the backside. However, it’s well worth the time to end up with fresh, new-looking cabinets with no paint drips or marks.
• Use a gloss or semi-gloss kitchen paint that can stand up to repeated scrubbing and cleaning.
• Latex paint and primer is easy to clean up using just soap and water, and it doesn’t have a strong odor.

[cincin1]

on 7/29/2009 Great, now I have another project on the list to do. Thanks, your instructions will make it easier. 5* and a recommend.

[okielady32]

on 7/24/2009 Great detail. I hope to paint my cabinets soon. Thanks.