Painting Kitchen Cabinets like a Professional: 10 Tips You Need to Know

Give your kitchen a makeover for a fresher, newer look.

The kitchen is the heart of your home. A place where you prepare healthy meals, chat with friends and family, and where you also get to spend some quality time for yourself.

But if your kitchen looks outdated or just plain drab, it can be hard to feel at home in this room that should be so full of life. Fortunately, there's plenty of ways to give a new look to an old kitchen without spending thousands of dollars on expensive renovations.

One way? Painting the cabinets!

When done well—and preferably with a fresh coat of paint—a refreshed look for these often-overlooked pieces will give your whole space a facelift. We've put together 10 things nobody tells you about painting cabinets that will help guide you through this process and take the stress out of this easy DIY project.

1. Wood is best.

Not all cabinet doors are made from the same material. Oftentimes, cabinets have a mixture of wood and particleboard doors. If you're going to paint them, opt for solid wood over particleboard whenever possible. You'll have a fresh coat of paint transforming your cabinets and help protect the wood from damage from everyday use to boot.

2. You might want to label each cabinet panel.

If you've ever painted furniture before, you're familiar with the process of masking off a piece before painting it. The same rules apply to cabinets: Before you get started, label each cabinet door or panel so that after they're painted, you know which doors go back where.

3. One coat might not be enough.

Today's paint technology makes it hard to mess up your cabinets with a poor-quality paint job. But even if the modern paints on the market today are of good quality, it's still a good idea to give each door at least two coats of paint for best results.

4. Taking them down is a pain in the neck.

If possible, leave your cabinets in place and paint them where they stand. Painting over the existing ones is a huge pain and very difficult to achieve with consistent results. But if you don't want to leave your cabinets in place, remove them completely from their frames and sand those areas thoroughly before priming and painting those sections again.

5. You need a lot of primer.

Primer is the first step in achieving professional-looking results with your cabinets. Depending on the condition of your existing paint, you may end up using more or less primer. One gallon should be enough for at least two coats on most kitchen cabinets, but if you're planning to do extensive work—like repairing cabinet hardware or removing layers of old paint—you might need more.

Ask your local paint store for advice on how much primer you'll need before you purchase it, and only buy what's necessary so you don't have a ton leftover.

6. Use a roller first, then switch to a brush for thicker coatings.

The primer is thin, so you'll need to apply it with a roller. For the best results, make sure to apply the primer on the same direction as the wood grain. For thicker coats or areas that could use repeated applications, switch to a brush. This helps achieve an even finish without drips and other imperfections.

7. Barely-there paint is okay.

Don't worry if you can still see some of the wood grain through your primer and paint coats. A barely-there sheen will help protect your new cabinets while also maintaining a rustic look.

8. Wipe away excess paint with a damp rag.

Paint drips are one of the most common painting mistakes, so once you've finished coating your cabinets in primer or paint, use a damp rag to remove any drops that missed their mark along the way. This simple act will keep your cabinets looking professional and protect your new paint job.

9. Hardware is key.

If you're looking to spruce up your cabinets, replace their hardware with something new and fresh. Now would also be a good time to change the cabinet knobs if they're worn or outdated. You can install cup pulls by removing the existing drawer face and installing them on top of it, which will be much easier than trying to remove the existing hardware.

10. Try not to overthink it.

The cabinets are just wood with paint on them, so don’t stress about little imperfections that might happen along the way. What matters most is that you're happy with how they look in your home and that they don't require heavy maintenance to keep them looking great.

If you need a hand or some guidance with your project, don’t hesitate and call us today! We will be more than happy to assist you with your kitchen cabinet painting plans!