DIY How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets inward ten Easy Steps

After getting over a hundred emails over the class of the past times twelvemonth from readers bespeak how to pigment cabinetry,
(I'm evidently non solitary inwards my old-house-situation!)
I decided to seat together a truly unproblematic tutorial to aid yous alongside ane of the most oftentimes asked questions I receive:

How on public practise I pigment my cabinets???

After getting over a hundred emails over the class of the past times twelvemonth from readers bespeak h DIY How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets inwards 10 Easy Steps

Painting your cabinetry volition have got yous some time, but it's a lot easier than yous mightiness think, as well as if I tin practise it, so tin you.
(This tutorial also plant for bath cabinetry, equally it's the exact same procedure I used inwards ii of our bathrooms, here as well as here.)

Before nosotros larn started, permit me only present yous only how nifty our novel pigment as well as hardware looks!

As yous may recollect from this post (where I painted the insides of my cabinets alongside chalkboard paint), I mentioned that I had only re-painted my cabinets. That was true. When nosotros get-go moved into this house, the kitchen cabinets had already been painted. It was the worst pigment chore ever. EVAH. There were heavy brushstrokes everywhere as well as the spraypainted hinges as well as hardware were rusty as well as gross. It was a mess.

It was non a expert event of spray pigment usage. And that's coming from a gal who is obsessed alongside spray paint.

It drove me nuts.

After icon all of the insides of my cabinets, I was only worn out. So, rather than pigment the exteriors the right way, I only slopped some to a greater extent than pigment upward over the erstwhile paint. I basically only made the horrible pigment chore from the previous owners worse.

So, what's a daughter to do?

I completely ignored the kitchen cabinets for the side past times side vi months spell I worked on other things inwards our picayune kitchen similar the dirty grout and the gross tile countertop. Then when I was feeling upward to it again, I decided I was going to pigment the cabinets the right way. I also decided that a nifty motivator would hold upward to vantage myself alongside build novel fancy hardware for the cabinets when I was done.

So, yous may hold upward asking...but, Virginia, my cabinets aren't painted. They're only wood. How does this aid me? Well, because subsequently icon countless pieces of erstwhile furniture, I tin hope yous that the procedure is real similar whether yous are icon over erstwhile pigment or erstwhile wood. And I volition motorcoach yous through the procedure of icon your cabinets, whether yous have got cabinets that are covered inwards pigment or only normal wood. Promise.

So, let's larn started.

I've narrowed my tutorial downward to 10 tardily steps.

Step #1: Assemble your supplies as well as gear upward a workstation.

You truly don't demand much to pigment your cabinets. I've seen tons of tutorials that verbalise well-nigh pigment thinners as well as pigment sprayers, as well as they're great. BUT, if you're only a normal someone similar me who doesn't ain expensive equipment, meanwhile trying to non interruption the bank, but yet wanting a nifty number spell doing it yourself, so yous tin have got a much simpler approach.

You'll demand the following:

Semi-gloss pigment (I used Glidden.)

Primer (This one has nifty adhesion.)

Angled paintbrush( The Wooster is my go-to brush. I've used it all over my house, as well as it saves me so much time.)

Mini foam roller (I use this one as well as LOVE it.)

Sandpaper (I similar these little multipacks.)

Drill

Wood filler (I use this one.)

Caulk (This is the ane I usually use...it's affordable as well as does the job.)

*All inwards a higher identify links have got yous to my Amazon affiliate store.

Also, gear upward a workspace. I did all of this right on my kitchen floor. I only set out my favorite blanket that I e'er sit down on spell I function (it's comfy as well as washable) as well as got to it. You'll in all probability wanna role a dropcloth, but I'm only a weirdo who enjoys her hiney cushioned spell she works.

Also, build certain all your materials (food, dishes, etc.) is out of the means so that yous don't larn dust inwards everything.

Feel complimentary to peruse your eyeballs over that. I realize it's a truthful please for the senses.

#2. Remove all of the cabinet doors & hardware.

Take all of the doors off the cabinet frame, have got the drawers out, as well as take away all of the hinges as well as hardware from the doors. That pic was snapped well-nigh halfway through the removal process.

Now, since I had already painted as well as labeled my doors alongside chalkboard pigment (seen below)...

I didn't demand to worry well-nigh labeling the doors so that I wouldn't larn them confused subsequently I took them off. H5N1 expert tip (for those of yous without a crazy chalkboard obsession) is to seat a picayune slice of masking record on the dorsum of your cabinets that reminds yous where they go.

#3. Sand Door & Frame.

This is an of import measurement inwards the cabinet icon process. It's also the measurement that makes this tutorial apply to most everyone, regardless of your electrical current cabinet situation. Whether yous have got layers of goopy erstwhile pigment on your cabinets or if yous only have got some form of polyurethane finish (the shiny stuff) over your forest surface, sanding is what yous role to take away it as well as prep the surface for paint. You could also role thinners as well as other harsh chemicals, but I truly loathe that materials as well as prefer to sand. I think it's a lot easier, as well as when yous role that materials yous still have to sand when you're done.

I role 2 types of sandpaper for this step. H5N1 high/medium grit (depending on how much gunk yous demand to remove, larn a high grit for lots of goop or a medium grit for medium goop) as well as a fine grit.

Start alongside the high/medium grit as well as only sand everything off. I used a junky electrical sander to larn the large surfaces as well as so only got inwards the picayune crevices as well as corners past times hand.

Once you've gotten most of the goop off, sand them alongside a finer grit sandpaper to larn rid of whatsoever splinters or truly petroleum spots.

NOTE: You shouldn't have got to completely take away your pigment or clear coat. The goal is to have got a fairly raw surface for your novel coat of pigment to adhere to.

All of this sanding volition build your pigment adhere meliorate as well as volition give it a dainty smoothen finish.

#4. Fill Any Holes or Dents alongside Wood Filler

I used Elmer's forest filler to fill upward inwards the holes where the erstwhile hardware was attached because I wanted my novel hardware higher up. You'll also desire to role forest filler on whatsoever dings, dents, as well as scratches.

Apply a pocket-size amount, bird it off (I'm basically a caveman as well as only used a butter knife), as well as permit it dry out for an hr or so.

Once the forest filler is completely dry, sand it downward bird to the surface alongside a fine grit sandpaper.

#5. If needed, drill necessary holes for your novel hardware.

Funny story....I was a full weakling as well as no affair how difficult I pushed, I couldn't larn the dang drill through the wood. Jesse truly drilled all of the holes for the novel hardware. I made him have got a pic of me pretending to hold upward the best driller on the planet, as well as because it's so ridiculous as well as makes me laugh....I'll disclose my shameful secret.

I called Jesse at work, moody as well as frustrated telling him how I only couldn't figure out the dang drill.

He came home, tried it, as well as did it inwards well-nigh 2 seconds. But, so began laughing as well as admitted that the drill fighting was pretty much worthless as well as equally ho-hum equally a watermelon.

And so to punish him for owning a worthless drill bit, I made him have got my picture.

Because boys loathe taking pictures.

If you're a normal someone alongside a normal drill bit, yous should be able to practise this on your own. But, if you're similar me as well as have got a worthless drill bit, only build your beefy-armed married adult man practise it as well as so have got a mistaken photograph as well as pretend yous did it. :)

Moving on!!

#6. Caulk.

Caulk is such a magical picayune substance. I used it all over the identify on these junky erstwhile cabinets. Before yous paint, caulk betwixt every gap or seam yous tin find. It volition give yous the absolute best terminate number because it makes everything await totally seamless as well as perfect.

#7. Prime.

Priming your cabinets is truly of import when it comes to the durability of your pigment job. Whether yous have got unpainted cabinets or already painted cabinets, this volition encompass upward whatsoever stains, build your novel pigment adhere similar superglue, as well as give yous a durable result. Prime everything...doors, drawers, as well as cabinet frame.

Make certain yous follow the exact same steps spell priming that I'm well-nigh to present yous below inwards measurement #8. Both your primer as well as your pigment should hold upward applied the same exact way. But, equally far equally the lodge goes...prime first, permit dry, so paint.

#8. Paint.

My favorite pigment for cabinetry is called Silky White. It's truly Behr Silky White, but I larn it mixed inwards Glidden because it's cheaper. In my experience, for $5 less per quart, at that spot is non a real noticeable difference.

And I similar saving dollars.

I was able to practise all of my cabinetry alongside 2 quarts of paint. If you've primed your cabinets, your pigment should encompass pretty easily. I solely needed 2 coats of pigment on everything.

Now, this is an of import business office of measurement #8.

How you apply your pigment is super of import inwards determining how your finished number volition look. You desire it to await professional, as well as without whatsoever brushstrokes. Most pros role a pigment sprayer to accomplish this. But, if you're similar me as well as don't ain fancy equipment, yous tin scope a brushstroke-free goal without one.

You'll demand 2 things, an angled paintbrush (The ane I recommended inwards the provide listing is a lifesaver on this project) and a mini foam roller.

Working inwards pocket-size sections, brush on your pigment alongside the angled paintbrush.

And spell the pigment is yet super wet, become dorsum over all your paint, pressing lightly alongside your mini foam roller. It's similar magic.

I detect these picayune guys at Home Depot for less than $2. I role them on everything...cabinetry, trim, furniture. Love 'em.

Just recollect to function inwards pocket-size sections, going over your brushstrokes equally yous become alongside the foam roller.

It volition provide yous alongside a flawless finish.

#9. Sand the concluding coat of pigment as well as goal alongside Polycrylic.**

**I've had a few questions well-nigh this step, so permit me clarify. I used a satin goal pigment on my cabinets because of what misfortunate status the forest was in. Satin pigment has less sheen than semi-gloss (what yous would usually use) as well as hence shows less imperfections. Sanding a satin goal only smooths it out as well as creates a dainty finish. If yous role a semi-gloss (which would function best if your cabinets are inwards expert shape), yous shouldn't sand the concluding coat.***

Once you've painted your ii coats as well as allowed them to dry out overnight, role a truly fine grit sandpaper to give everything a truly calorie-free concluding sanding. Get the finest grit yous tin find...the sandpaper packet should tell something similar 'final finish' on it. After you've sanded the concluding coat of paint, if yous desire your goal to in conclusion a long time, I recommend coating alongside a satin polycrylic.

#10. Attach Doors & Hardware

This is the concluding step, as well as my absolute favorite out of all the steps. It's fourth dimension to seat the doors dorsum on the frame as well as attach the novel hardware!

After spending a expert few days on finally icon the cabinets the right way, putting build novel hardware on them was similar the pot of gilt at the terminate of a truly labor-intensive-rainbow.

Or something.

Ever since nosotros moved into this solid three years ago, I've been hoping to upgrade our kitchen alongside dainty high-end hardware. It's similar jewelry for cabinets....and frankly, I am a truthful jewelry luvah. I looked all over the identify trying to detect affordable, high-quality options as well as at that spot were real few.

And so I came across D. Lawless hardware.

Not solely did they have got all of the high-end hardware styles that I larn all googly-eyed over, but their prices were absolutely amazing. I was so blessed to contact them as well as have got them offering to furnish our kitchen alongside novel hardware, but fifty-fifty if they hadn't, I honestly think I would have got shopped at that spot anyways.

For all of our drawers, I chose a classic satin nickel cup pull.

and for all of the cabinets, I chose a classic Stainless Steel Bar Pull. Can yous believe D. Lawless Hardware sells these for well-nigh $2 each? (Use code 'livelove' to relieve 10% on your hardware buy at D. Lawless Hardware.) I've been obsessed alongside these super long bar pulls forever, as well as seeing them inwards my ain kitchen totally makes me practise a picayune hammer dance.

To supersede our awful, goopy, cringe-worthy spray pigment hinges, I chose the Satin Nickel hinges.

Never inwards my wildest dream would I have got idea that I would ever hold upward so happy over a picayune hinge.

But when yous encounter the crazy departure it made, perchance you'll empathise my hinge-glow.

Also, this is a perfect before/after pic for yous to encounter how drastic the departure is betwixt the awful paint as well as my novel good paint.

Painting things the right means makes a massive difference.

I hateful seriously.

Now, it's fourth dimension to depository fiscal establishment jibe out the departure all of this difficult function made inwards the kitchen.

Basically, icon your kitchen cabinets isn't truly that hard. It takes some fourth dimension as well as effort, but the procedure is truly rather simple.

And it's so worth it.

And when you're done, you'll totally experience similar this: