How to Paint a Display Cabinet
Whether you are displaying personal collections like model trains, baby dolls, baseball cards or any items that you have as keepsakes, a presentable display case can make all the difference to the look of your presentation. Painting the cabinet a color other than the wood grain can bring a personal touch to your display and add character to your items. Painting a display case will take a little work, but in the end it will be a creation made by your imagination. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Protective eyewear
- TSP Heavy duty cleaner
- Electric drill with bits
- Rubber gloves
- Ladder
- Dust mask
- Sponge
- Paintbrushes
- Drop cloths
- Cleaning rags
- Paint tray
- Paint (Indoor)
- Screwdriver
- Paint rollers and roller framesr
- Primer (optional)
- Mild detergent (optional)
- Water bucket (optional)
Instructions
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1
Remove the glass and hardware from the display cabinet using an electric drill or screwdriver.
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2
Prepare the cabinet by cleaning it with TSP cleaner. Wear protective eyewear and rubber gloves when applying as it is strong. If the cabinet isn't too dirty you can use a mixture of one part mild detergent to four parts warm water to clean. Let it dry completely.
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3
Protect the floor under the cabinet by laying down drop cloths in the area of painting.
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4
Decide if the cabinet will need primer before starting to paint. Primer is used as a base coat of paint that lets the top coat adhere to it and bond. Unfinished wood cabinets will not need a primer, but if your cabinet has a gloss or is a metal cabinet it will need primed. Primer is applied just like regular paint, use separate brushes or rollers when you prime and paint.
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Open the paint can with a metal opener and pour the paint into the tray. Use a paint brush to get the corners and cracks of the inner cabinet first. You can use the mini and regular rollers to paint the inner walls of the cabinet.
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Give the outer sections of the cabinet even coats of paint with the rollers. The rollers cover a larger area than a brush would.
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Determine if you need a second coat of paint after the first coat dries. Check the cabinet for less saturation in areas and thin paint spots. You may have to apply a second coat. Let the first coat of paint dry before applying the second coat.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear a dust mask when painting inside the cabinet.
Unplug and remove all electric lighting, if applicable, before preparing for the painting.
Depending on the size of the cabinet, you may need a ladder.
