Though some may scoff at this statement, anyone with the time and motivation can take on a cabinet painting project. It can take some time to carry out this task, but it’s actually quite simple. This is especially true if you break it down into parts, which is exactly what this article does for you.
It’s All About the Paint
Cabinets are the features that usually stand out the most in a kitchen. Thus, their look plays a large role in how your design style comes across. Keep this in mind when choosing a color or multiple colors.
Not only will you need to decide on colors, you’ll also need to figure out whether you’d rather use latex or oil paint. Each has its pros and cons. Oil paint takes longer to dry and is harder to clean up afterward, but it adheres to wood better and goes on more smoothly.
If you do opt for latex paint, it’s best to go with one that has an acrylic base rather than a vinyl one.
Prepare Your Cabinets
Empty everything from your cabinets and drawers, and take the shelves out. Next, remove the cabinet doors and their hinges, making sure to label what goes where so you don’t get confused later on.
If you feel the need to go the extra mile, you can strip all of the old paint off down to the wood, but a good sanding should suffice.
Next, clean your cabinets, the cabinet doors, and the drawers thoroughly to remove any grease or other grime, then rinse them off and let them dry. After this, use deglosser, let it dry for about five minutes, and then scrape or sand away any extra that’s leftover. Use a vacuum to get rid of any dust afterward.
Primer Time
It’s easiest to paint your cabinets by using a roller for the flat, convex parts and utilizing a paintbrush for filling in the remaining sections, brushing in smooth even strokes following the grain of the wood.
After the primer dries, you can gently sand your cabinets and drawers to make them extra smooth. You can use spackle on any indentations or other blemishes you find, then repeat the sanding process in those areas. Use a vacuum to remove all the drywall dust.
Paint
It’s finally time for you to paint your cabinets, drawers, and shelves.
Pour your selected paint into the paint tray, and use the same painting method as you did with the primer; you can roll paint over the convex areas, as well as on the inside of the cabinets, and use a paintbrush on the other sections and the drawers.
It’s possible that you will need to use two coats of paint, so after letting the first layer dry in totality, assess whether you think one layer alone is sufficient.
Putting Everything Back Together
Finally, after the paint is completely dry, you can use your labels, reattach the cabinet doors, and slide the drawers and shelves back into place.
And there you have it. You’ve successfully completed a cabinet painting project. Now you can enjoy your work every time that you cook.
Marc Poulos began his real estate and financial services career, but he soon realized that his true passion was beautifying homes. He started working with various small craftsman shops before serving an apprenticeship with the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Chicago. His commitment to excellence won him Top Apprentice from Washburne trade school in Chicago – the country’s premier school of its kind.
