How to Repaint a Bathroom Cabinet
Your bathroom cabinet is often the focal point of the room. Keeping it in good shape is important to preserving the overall look of the bathroom. Over time the paint on a bathroom cabinet can become worn and begin to peel or crack. Buying a whole new bathroom cabinet can get costly and is often difficult to install if you are not a regular handyman. Repainting a bathroom cabinet will give your old cabinet a bright, new look without the added cost and work of installing a brand new one. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Putty knife or small scraper
- Sanding block or sandpaper
- Painter's tape
- Primer
- Mini paint roller
- Paint brush
- Satin or gloss paint
Instructions
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Use a screwdriver to remove the door hinges and any handles or drawers on the cabinet. This will make it easier to paint the entire cabinet without trying to maneuver around the hinges and handles.
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Use a putty knife or small scraper to scrape away chipping or flaky paint. Painting over this old, peeling paint will only leave an uneven surface.
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Sand the cabinet with a sanding block or sandpaper. The goal is to get the cabinet as smooth as possible before applying new paint. This will help the paint to stick to the bathroom cabinet.
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Clean up any dust or paint chips around the bathroom cabinet and work area. This will prevent the debris from getting mixed in with the fresh paint.
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Tape off the area of the wall around the cabinet so that no paint gets on the wall. Also place painter's tape or masking tape around any hardware or fixtures on the cabinet that you were not able to remove.
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Apply a primer undercoat to the cabinet. Purchase a primer that is designed for use on wood that has been painted previously. Use an acrylic water-based type for quicker drying. Depending on the color of the existing paint on the bathroom cabinet and the new color you are painting it, you may need to apply two coats of primer.
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Allow the primer to dry completely before continuing and in between coats. If you chose an acrylic water-based type, it may take as little as 1 to 2 hours to dry.
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Choose a satin or gloss paint for painting your bathroom cabinets. These paints work best in rooms that are subject to high humidity, such as a bathroom. You can easily clean this paint, and it is mildew and moisture resistant.
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Use a mini paint roller, approximately 6 inches in size, rather than a paint brush. This will eliminate brush strokes and provide an even coat.
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Apply the paint to the bathroom cabinet by rolling the roller into the tray of paint, just enough to cover the entire roller. Don't put too much paint on the roller, or you will end up with an uneven paint job.
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Use a paint brush to reach small places if you are painting the inside of the bathroom cabinet as well. Use a small paint brush to paint the trim of the cabinet against the wall.
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Apply a second coat of paint once the first coat has dried completely. Drying times will vary depending on the type of paint. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for applying multiple coats.
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Reattach the hardware, handles and hinges that may have been removed for painting.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear safety goggles and a dust mask when sanding to prevent inhalation of dust particles. If possible, open windows and doors, and turn on the fan in the bathroom while painting to reduce exposure to paint fumes.
