How to Paint a Bathroom Cabinet

Bathroom sink cabinet with slatted doors.

Real estate agents will often say that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. This statement reflects how important these rooms are to the value of a home. One way to update the look of your bathroom without spending a lot of money is by painting the bathroom cabinet. New paint and updated hardware can make a cabinet look years younger and it can make the bathroom look well maintained. It is also a project that is well within the capabilities of most home owners.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum
• Soap
• Towel
• Tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Screwdriver
• Wood fill
• Orbital sander
• Sanding block
• Primer
• Paint
• Paintbrush and roller
• Hardware
• Shelf lining paper
• Stapler

Instructions

1. Remove the contents of the bathroom cabinets and drawers. Vacuum the inside of the cabinets and drawers. Scrub the cabinets inside and out. Note the location of any damaged wood. If you can see it it is likely a buyer will also notice the damage and wonder if your pipes are leaking. Remove any shabby shelf paper. Dry the wood immediately with a towel.

2. Tape off the cabinet along the cabinet edges on all sides. Cover the floor with plastic sheeting. Unscrew the cabinet hardware, hinges and latches. Set these aside if you intend to reuse them.

3. Place the cabinet drawers and doors on sawhorses in your garage or in any well ventilated, clean and dry space. Sand the cabinet, doors and drawers with an orbital sander and a sanding block for tight areas. Remove the finish and smooth out any bad spots. Use wood fill to fill holes. Vacuum to remove the debris.

4. Apply a primer to the cabinet, drawers and doors with a 4-inch foam roller. Often this small type of roller will not leave brush stroke marks. Paint both sides of cabinet doors drawers. Paint the inside of the cabinet if it is dirty looking. Allow your primer to dry 24 hours.

5. Sand any ridges, drips or uneven places with a fine sandpaper. Wipe down with a tack cloth. Paint the cabinets, drawers and doors. Paint the inside of your cabinet if you have primed it. Allow the paint 24 hours to dry between coats. You may need to sand between coats if there are streaks.

6. Repaint your existing hardware if it is modern and in good shape. Attach the hardware to scrap cardboard and use a metallic spray paint in a modern color that works with your bathroom decor. Select new hardware if your old hardware is dated. Attach your hardware with a screwdriver.

7. Line your cabinets and drawers with plain shelf paper if the drawer bottoms or cabinet shelves are discolored or dirty looking. Fit the paper inside the drawer and then peel the back so that the adhesive will stick. Fit the paper inside the cabinet so that the front edge lines up straight. Peel from front to back and smooth the paper out as you go. Add a few staples along the back and side edges if the adhesive doesn't stick well.

References

• House Painting Info: Painting Bathroom Cabinets