Tips for Painting Kitchen Cabinets
5 Materials
$60
3 Days
Easy
Painting your cabinets is a really simple and affordable way to give your entire kitchen a new look. We recently painted ours with a two-toned look and it totally transformed the kitchen, so I thought I'd share a few quick tips for painting kitchen cabinets. If you like this post, you can find more easy & affordable DIY ideas on my blog, Love & Renovations.
Start by removing all of the doors and hardware from your cabinets and thoroughly sanding them. If the original finish is just wood and not paint, you don't need to get overzealous - just sand them enough to scuff up the finish and provide a good surface for adhesion.
I generally recommend using a paint sprayer ( this one is my favorite - affiliate link) for the doors and a foam roller and brush for the base of the cabinets. Use any high-quality paint that you'd like - many people have differing opinions on the best paint for cabinetry (you can see my blog post for my favorite option), but the reality is that any high-quality paint will likely work just fine.
Once you've painted the cabinets, don't forget to apply a topcoat for protection! I like a water-based polyurethane - apply 2-3 coats with a foam brush and allow ample time to dry in-between coats (follow the directions on the can for dry times).
One key to remember when you're painting cabinetry is that the dry-time is essential. I generally like to give at least 12 hours for one side of the doors to dry before flipping them over to paint the other side, and I wait at least 24-48 hours after I'm done painting and applying the finish before putting them back on the cabinetry. The key to a durable finish is PATIENCE and TIME! Paint can take up to a month to fully cure, so try to remember to be cautious with your cabinets for the first few weeks after painting. You don't have to shut your kitchen down for a full month, but you DO want to be mindful of the fact that they're freshly painted.
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