Cabinet painting is a project that any homeowner can do, and it’s not difficult, as long as you follow some basic steps. It’s also a great way to change the look of your kitchen and add some much-needed storage space.
The first step in any painting project is to prep the area for paint. This means sanding any areas that are raw wood, removing old paint or other coatings from surfaces that won’t get painted, and cleaning the surface. For cabinets, it’s also a good idea to strip away all old stain and waxes from the wood, as this will help your new paint adhere more effectively.
Primer is essential to any project, but it’s especially important for cabinet painting because it creates a base coat for the paint you’ll be using. Most primers are designed to bond with the surface you’re applying it to and prevent bleedthrough of any existing stains or finishes. There are several types of primer available, so you’ll want to pick the one that’s right for your situation.
When you are ready to start your cabinet painting project, remove the hinges and hardware from all of the cabinets. Depending on the type of hinges and doors, you may need to make a key or use painters tape to mark where the hinge will go when you reinstall them.
Once you have all of the pieces of hardware and hinges removed, take a sanding block to lightly sand the surface of the cabinets, drawers and doors. This will give the primer something to adhere to, and it’ll make your project go smoother by removing any sanding dust that might have built up.
After the sanding is complete, thoroughly vacuum all of the sanded surfaces to remove any loose sanding dust and any debris that might have landed there. Then, wipe down the sanded surfaces with a tack cloth before moving on to your next step.
Select a primer that’s tinted to match the color of your final paint. This cabinet painting will make your cabinets appear lighter in the finished product and avoid dark or stained surfaces from showing through the paint.
Choose a quality latex paint that’s specifically made for high-use, high-touch areas like cabinets. While it may be more expensive than oil-based paints, it’s more durable and easier to clean than many of the other options. And it’s a low-VOC option (volatile organic compounds are harmful to the lungs) that won’t cause health problems as easily as the heavy VOCs of oil-based paints, even with color tinting.
Spray painting your cabinets is another option for a quick and easy update. These paints are popular with many homeowners, because they’re easier to apply and dry quickly. They’re also a more cost-effective option than brushing or rolling, but they need to be applied carefully to avoid cross-brushing, so you’ll need to be careful about how much you apply.
You’ll need to wait about a week for your new paint to cure before you reattach the hinges and hardware. After that, you can start replacing your knobs and pulls and attaching them to the new cabinet doors and frames.