How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

1. Emptying the Cabinets

The cabinets need to be emptied completely as sanding latter could make the inside of the cabinets very dusty. The cabinets should be labeled while removing the drawers and the hardware of the cabinets so that you know where they will go afterward.

2. Surface Cleaning

The surfaces of the cabinets should be cleaned with TSP cleaner. Inspect the surface for any damages and repair accordingly. Wood filler could be used for repairing holes and dent in the cabinets. A putty knife can make your job easier by pressing the stuff in and smoothing it out nicely. You should wait here for the stuff to dry completely before going forward.

3. Covering Countertops and Appliances

The countertop, appliances and all other stuff that you want to protect should be covered.

4. Applying Primer to the Kitchen Cabinets

This is a critical step in painting kitchen cabinets and involves the following steps:

1. Work inside out on the frames of the cabinets. For painting the inside of the cabinets, start from the back and work towards the front side. A brush should be used to do the job in tight spots, edges, and corners of the cabinets.
2. For the flat and large areas, you can use a mini roller. Please note that primer doesn’t need to look perfect as its only purpose is to provide your paint with an excellent base for longevity.
3. Use a dry roller this time and without reloading, roll it over the surface again to remove any buildup of primer. This process is known as ‘laying off’.
4. Paint the drawers and doors of the cabinets. Remove any tape labels that you applied earlier. A smooth even coat should be your target starting from the backside. Once it gets dried up then flip the door and paint the backside. For drawers, keep it simple by painting the front only. The primer should then be left to dry for a few hours typically.
5. Painting Kitchen Cabinets

The actual painting job starts here and the following steps need to be ensured:

1. Start painting from the frames, while using a top-quality brush for the smaller areas. A foam roller should be employed for larger areas to paint. The technique here remains the same as with primer application. Even strokes with the roller or brush are the key. Feather out the edges and do remember to lay off once the surface has been painted.
2. On the doors of the cabinets and the front pieces of the drawers, paint the backs. Let them dry and then paint on the front side as well. You need to follow the directions given on the paint by its manufacturer for drying time. Make sure not to rush and let the paint completely dry before moving on to the next step.
3. Once the above step is satisfied then it is time for applying the second coat of paint. This would be your final paint coat as well. The paint should again be left for drying up. You may put back your stuff in the cabinets once the paint has cured completely.
4. Put back your cabinet drawers and hardware removed initially. Make sure to clean-up the hardware as well before putting it back. Spray paint can be the best option here.

 Proper painting of the kitchen cabinets can be a lengthy job but certainly not a difficult one. All the steps required are detailed above for your convenience and you can easily ensure kitchen cabinets painting yourself by following this guide. All you need to do is to be in the possession of the right tools and materials.

Make sure you use high-quality paint from a top manufacturer and follow their instructions carefully. The most important part for a good painting of kitchen cabinets is to beware about the dry time it takes before moving on to the next step.

It is always better to wait for the paint to dry out completely before you start using it again. In order to avoid odors, you can select paints that are odorless or else you can use additional odor reduction sprays. Simply, you may just leave them open and keep the windows and doors open to let the dry fresh air in and get rid of paint odors if there is any. Make sure the dist and other particles do not come in when paint is wet.