How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets: Home Painting Guide

It is imperative that you clean the cabinets thoroughly to remove the years of dirt and grime before painting. If you don’t take this step the primer and paint will not be able to adhere properly.

Then, label each cabinet properly. Remove any hardware and label that accordingly as well. Now is a great time to take your cabinets to the garage or workshop. Then, stick tape into the hinge holes to keep unwanted paint out.

Many people want to learn how to paint cabinets without sanding. It is possible, with certain paints and finishes. Otherwise, it is wise to scuff up the surface before priming. You can use this as a time to sand any damaged areas. Generally, a 320-grit sandpaper will work well for this.

Then, follow these steps:

Use a gloss or semi-gloss latex enamel paint for your cabinets. Its hard, shiny finish resists stains and fingerprints.

Once the cabinets are dried and everything looks good, you are ready to reinstall the hardware. Hopefully, you followed the instruction to label everything carefully which makes this task much easier.

All that’s left is to hang the cabinets and enjoy your hard work.

It is a common question to wonder what kind of paint to use on kitchen cabinets. This is one of the biggest struggles that a homeowner faces.

You can use a variety of paints as long as they are compatible with your sprayer.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that you don’t want to use a matte finish paint on kitchen cabinets. 

It is also best to stay away from an eggshell finish. It is important to create a surface that’s durable and wipeable. By doing this, you’ll avoid painting the cabinets again for at least a few years.

While it is perfectly acceptable to use white paint for the kitchen cabinets, you don’t need to stop there. With a wide array of kitchen cabinet paint colors available, you can choose most any shade that suits your taste. 

When you are looking at tackling DIY kitchen cabinets, you might feel a little intimidated by your lack of experience. There is no need to be worried.

Every task that needs to be completed to paint the cabinets can be performed by a beginner.

The key will be taking your time and doing each step properly. A lot of the result will depend on the preparation of the cabinets as well as your spraying techniques.

If you aren’t a professional paint sprayer, simply take some time and practice with the gun on a spare piece of cardboard or wood first.

This will help you get the hang of the movement and you can make setting adjustments to get the flow right. When you consider the cost associated with purchasing new cabinets or having a professional paint them, it is clear to see the savings you will enjoy by doing it yourself.

It is not recommended to paint any surface without first sanding and priming. Sanding will remove old paint, varnish, and finishes, as well as remove and burrs, scratches, or wear marks that can show up in the finished product.

Primer is essential to make the paints adhere to the surface. Without primer, your paint won’t last as long and will be susceptible to chipping, peeling and flaking.

While this is an opinion, based on the painter doing the job, in general, spray painting kitchen cabinets is easier than brush or roller painting.

A sprayer will apply an even layer of paint while allowing the paint to get into corners, decorative lines, and on the sides or hard to reach areas. Sprayers will also help you prevent paint runs, thick paint areas, or missed spots that brushes and rollers can’t offer.

Laminate cabinets can be painted, though it isn’t ideal. Laminate is notorious for refusing paints, and you will need to invest in specialty paints for the project. First, you will need to start with a laminate primer.

This is a primer specifically designed to adhere to laminate. Once the primer fully cures, then you can paint with your chosen color. You will want to use oil-based or latex-based paints for this project.

You can spray chalk paint on kitchen cabinets. You will need to sand the varnish away and remove anything else on the wood before the chalk paint application.

Once you have the surface ready, a thin layer of primer can be used to help the chalk paint adhere to the wood surface. After the primer has cured, you can apply your chalk paint in thin layers until the surface is coated evenly. Several coats may be required for a solid, finished look.