How to Repaint Kitchen Cabinets & With What Type of Paint

If your kitchen cabinets are starting to look faded, outdated or worn, it may be time for a change. New cabinets can be expensive. A cost-efficient alternative is to paint them in a fresh, updated color. If you take the time to properly prepare the surface before painting it, the end result will be a beautiful new look for your kitchen.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Sanding sponges (Fine and Medium grit)
• Electric sander
• Face mask
• Goggles
• 4 inch dust brush
• 2 inch primer brush
• 2 inch finish paintbrush
• 2 small paint buckets
• 1 quart to 1 gallon of primer
• 1 gallon of finish paint

Instructions

1. Take all the cabinet doors completely off their hinges. If you plan to also paint the wood the hinges are attached to, remove the entire hinge from the cabinet frame as well. You will also need to remove all the handles and other hardware attached to the doors. Put the hinges and handles in a safe place until you're ready to re-attach them. To save time you could also keep the hinges screwed in on one side and just cover them with tape for painting around them.

2. Bring your cabinet doors to a work area where you have access to electricity for your sander. Wear a protective mask and goggles when operating the sander, and try to use it primarily on the flat surfaces of the cabinet. Some electric sander models are designed to get into tight spaces and allow for more detailed sanding work. Still, for this type of small project you will be much better off using your medium sanding sponge on the detail areas.

   Sand the cabinets with medium pressure. You do not have to get all the original paint off, but you should sand down to the bare wood wherever you can. The paint that remains will be feathered into the wood and easily covered by a new coat of finish.

3. Use your dust brush to remove the sanding residue so you can prime all bare spots you uncover with a quick coat of white primer. Primer/sealer is best, and any knots in the wood should be covered with that as well if they show through the existing paint. Use your 2 inch primer brush and one of your small paint buckets, and start with the inside panel, moving outward toward the cabinet edge. Prime all your bare areas on both the inside and outside surfaces of each cabinet.

   Most primer/sealers dry in one hour. Prime one side first, wait an hour, and then flip each door over and paint the other side.

4. Take your finish paintbrush and bucket and coat the entire surface of the cabinet door, feathering the paint as you go. An acrylic or latex-based paint is best. Again, start on the inside and work your way to the outer edge. Try not to leave any brush marks, but the subtle ones will dry evenly if you can't seem to get them out with lighter, feathered strokes.

   Finish paint drying time differs. To be safe let one side dry overnight before painting the other side.

   Once both sides are covered with one coat, look at all the cabinets to be sure they don't need another coat. If they do, go back through the steps above, but use a fine grit sanding sponge only and just give the first coat a very quick and low-pressure sanding and a dusting before applying your next coat.

5. Find your hardware and reattach the handles and the hinges. Mount your doors once again, and look for any spots that might need touch up before you stow away the paint.