How to Paint My Kitchen Cupboards White

You can paint your kitchen cabinets white for a new look.

Kitchen cupboards are often used on a daily or near-daily basis and are frequently exposed to kitchen conditions such as heat, moisture and cold. Under these conditions, cupboards may look worn in a relatively short period of time. Your kitchen cupboards can be painted with a fresh coat of white paint, giving the cupboards and the whole kitchen a clean new appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Dropcloths or plastic tarps
• Screwdriver
• Kitchen cleaner
• Sponges
• Towel or drying cloth
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Paintbrush or roller
• White paint primer
• White paint

Instructions

1. Lay plastic tarps or dropcloths over the area in which you will be painting. Cover all countertop and floor surfaces, as this will help avoid paint splatters.

2. Remove all contents from the kitchen cupboards that are to be painted. Unscrew hinges and knobs, and place fixtures in a safe place away from the painting area. Place the cupboard doors on a flat surface that allows room to work. This Old House magazine recommends using a covered worktable.

3. Clean all surfaces of the cupboards using a gentle all-purpose kitchen cleaner and a sponge.

4. Apply a towel or drying cloth to the cupboards, ensuring that no moisture remains.

5. Apply fine-grit sandpaper gently to all cupboard surfaces being painted. Since cupboards may have a great deal of residue in addition to the old paint (kitchen grease residue and hand oil residue, for example) the cupboards should be sanded until they are no longer smooth to the touch. If you apply paint to smooth cabinets, it may not adhere properly.

6. Apply white paint primer to all cupboard areas to be painted (including the unattached doors) with a paintbrush or paint roller. Use a primer that is designed for use with the type of paint you selected. An acrylic-based primer should be used with an acrylic-based paint, for example.

7. Allow the primer to dry completely, normally at least a couple of hours. Follow the primer manufacturer's instructions for drying time.

8. Apply one coat of white paint to all cupboard surfaces that you have already painted with primer.

9. Allow the paint sufficient time to dry: Follow the paint manufacturer's instructions for drying time.

10. Apply a second coat of white paint atop the primer and first coat of paint.

11. Allow the paint time to dry fully: Follow the paint manufacturer's instructions for drying time.

12. Re-attach the dry cupboard doors using the screwdriver.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint manufacturers produce multiple shades of white, so get some color samples at your local paint or hardware store (or browse online). Look at the different options in white paint to find the right one for your home.

References

• This Old House magazine: Painting Kitchen Cabinets