5 Simple Steps To Repaint Your Kitchen Cabinets

People looking to do a quick, budget-friendly kitchen remodeling often wonder if they can repaint their kitchen cabinets.

Can You Repaint Kitchen Cabinets?

Yes, you can repaint kitchen cabinets. The process is simple and doesn’t require any special skills.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about repainting your kitchen cabinets. Let’s dive in.

5 Simple Steps To Repaint Kitchen Cabinets

Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have beautiful-looking cabinets in no time!

1. Set Up The Working Area

The first thing you need to do is set up a work area.

You need a table and a drop cloth to make the painting process more manageable.

You also need a drop cloth to cover the floor and countertops so that they don’t stain.

Although you won’t be doing a lot of painting inside the kitchen, you’ll be using sandpaper that can leave residue and layers of debris.

2. Choose The Right Paint For Your Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets come in different shapes and sizes.

More importantly, they’re made of various materials, ranging from wood to thermofoil to laminate.

Each material requires different paints and primers.

For example, when repainting a laminate cabinet, you need to add a special bonding primer first.

Therefore, when it comes to choosing the right paint, it’s essential that you buy high-quality paint to get the best results.

Some special cabinet paints are also available. They’re the perfect choice for painting your cabinet.

A close runner-up would be acrylic latex-based paint.

Experts prefer it over vinyl paint because it’s more durable and easier to clean.

3. Decide On The Amount Of Paint You Need

The general rule is that one gallon of paint covers 350 square feet of wall.

So you need to measure the dimensions of the cabinets to determine the amount of paint you need.

You can also use a paint calculator to help you out.

Simply enter the dimensions of the cabinets, and it’ll tell you how much paint you need to buy.

4. Prepare Your Kitchen Cabinets For Repainting

Before starting, wear safety gear to protect your eyes and hands, especially when sanding.

In addition, pick out an outfit you wouldn’t mind getting stained with paint splotches.

Remove Old Paint

If the old paint on your cabinet is in good condition, you can start painting right away.

However, if the paint is in bad condition, you have to remove the old layer before applying a new one.

The good news is that many products make peeling old paint quick and simple, like paint strippers.

Next, after applying a paint stripping product, use a plastic scraper to peel the old layer away.

Then, use sandpaper to remove any remaining paint residue.

Prepare Your Kitchen Cabinets

The first thing you’ll want to do is to remove all cabinet doors and drawers.

Labeling your doors and drawers before removing them might be a good idea.

This will also make the reinstalling process much smoother.

You can place your hardware in a bag and label those as well.

The next step is to empty your cabinets.

It’ll make the painting process more accessible, and your food items won’t get damaged or stained by the paint.

It might be tempting to paint the cabinets in the kitchen without removing them.

Unfortunately, this will likely cause a big mess and make your painting look uneven and patchy.

So it’s better to take them to the work area you’ve prepared earlier.

Clean The Cabinets, Doors, And Drawers

The most crucial step before painting your kitchen cabinets is to clean everything.

You can use a TSP cleaner or any heavy-duty cleaner suitable for your cabinet.

With the help of the cleaner and a soft brush, remove built-up grease and grime on the cabinets, doors, and drawers.

We recommend you wear safety gloves while applying strong cleaners, as they can be harsh.

Also, open any windows and doors to ensure proper airflow.

Repair Any Damage

This is the perfect opportunity to fix any damaged areas in your cabinet.

You can fill dents and holes using a wood filler.

However, you need to avoid filling the hardware holes if you’re planning to use the same hardware.

Prepare The Area

First, you need to cover the floor and the countertops before starting painting.

Next, apply painter’s tape to your wall parallel to your cabinet edges to avoid painting the wall by mistake.

Do Sanding

It might be a good idea to wear a facemask starting from this step.

Next, using medium-grit sandpaper, make sure there’s no residue paint anywhere around your cabinet.

After sanding your kitchen cabinet, vacuum any leftover debris and dust.

Then, wipe off all the surfaces and floors with a wet cloth.

5. Repaint Your Kitchen Cabinet

Repainting your kitchen is a simple process. The following steps will guide you through the process.

Apply The Primer

Before adding a layer of paint, you need to apply a primer first.

Primers help the paint adhere to the surface of the cabinets for a long-lasting, professional-looking painting job.

Using a brush and a suitable primer, add a layer of primer to your cabinet.

The easiest way is to start from inside the cabinets and work your way out.

You need to apply primer to the doors or drawers too.

You can use a small or large roller if you’re applying primer to a big cabinet.

Moreover, you need to let the primer dry before proceeding to the next step.

Paint The Kitchen Cabinets

This is the part you’ve been waiting for!

Using a roller or a brush, start applying the first layer of paint to your cabinet, doors, and drawers.

Give the paint a couple of hours to dry fully before adding a second layer.

You can check the instructions on the paint to determine the average drying time.

After your first coat is completely dry, apply the second layer of paint and let it dry.

Reassemble Your Kitchen Cabinets

Now that the process is over, it’s time to put everything back together and enjoy your newly painted kitchen.

Again, make sure the second coat is completely dry before reassembling your cabinets.

Important Tips

If you don’t have much experience with painting, here are some handy tips to help you get started.

Prep The Cabinets

If you paint without prepping, your cabinets will look drab and dull over time.

So before you begin painting, examine all the cabinets closely to pinpoint any flaws.

Most probably, they’ll require sanding, then filling any uneven areas or cracks.

After you’re done, vacuum the cabinets or wipe them with a wet cloth. Then, leave them to dry for a day before painting.

Prime And Finish

While painting might seem like a basic one-step process, it’s slightly more complicated than that.

You can’t just slap a layer of paint on your cabinets and call it a day.

Using a primer is a crucial step.

Primers help your paint stick better to the surface of the cabinets and give paint colors more shine and sheen.

Without that layer of primer, the paint won’t last very long. It’ll peel off anytime something bumps into it.

Thus, primers help keep the cabinets and their paint job last longer.

Plus, primers help protect the material of the cabinets, making them easier to clean.