How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Giving your existing kitchen cabinets a new coat of paint is an excellent way to refresh the look of your kitchen without burning a hole in your pocket.

It is something that you can DIY over the weekend and does not involve the hassle of remodeling your whole kitchen.

Before you begin, plan what colours you want to use. You may want the colours to complement the rest of your kitchen. Or else, it is a great time to try new and bold colours too. Just remember to get paint that is suitable for your cabinet material. You may also want to take the opportunity to change the handles and knobs too.

Once you have all the proper tools required, start by removing all the cabinet doors and their handles. A normal screwdriver works well but an electrical one saves time. You may also want to move all the cabinet doors to a well-ventilated area first as the paint and primer used later on may have strong odours.

For all the surfaces you intend to paint, wipe them down with an appropriate cleaner. It is important to remove all the grease and dirt that has built up. Allow to dry and then sand them lightly with sandpaper. Sanding the surfaces ensures the paint will stick well later on.

If you are changing knobs and handles, fill unwanted holes with wood putty before sanding.

After sanding, it is time to apply a primer. You can use a multi-surface primer or one that is specific to the material of your cabinet. You can use a paintbrush, or for a professional look, use a sprayer and work from the outer edges to the middle. Let the primer dry totally, for about an hour or more. When dried, sand the primed surfaces again so that they are smooth and grain-free.

Now comes the most interesting part - the actual painting itself. Prepare paintbrushes or roller brushes of different sizes, for those nifty corners around the cabinet boxes. To obtain a professional and smooth finish, you can get a paint sprayer for the cabinet doors.

Choose your paint according to the finish of your surfaces. For a more stain-resistant, durable and washable finish, you can consider using oil-based paint. Apply a thin coat to prevent drips and unevenness. Allow each coat to dry completely before adding the next. Two coats are usually enough but you can go for three coats for best results.

When the surfaces have totally cured in about a day or two, attach the hinges and handles and reinstall the cabinet doors to the cabinet boxes.

Painted surfaces can usually withstand daily usage and cleaning. To maintain their look, wipe regularly with mild detergent to remove grime and grease, and touch up the paint in areas which have worn off.

Article Tags: Cabinet Doors

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