What is the best way to paint formica cupboards?

Hi Linda,

You can use latex paint on cupboards. Start by removing the cupboard doors and hardware - be sure to mark them so they're easy to put back. Clean them with a very good degreaser or TSP. Let that dry then use a sandpaper block with a medium grit to buff up the surface of the cupboards so that the paint will stick. Try to go in one direction, up and down is okay but not sideways too. Once you have the them sanded, clean them thoroughly with a tack cloth to remove all dust.

Now you can start painting. Start with a primer. You can use a foam roller to help get smooth results after using a brush for the detail. When the primer is dry, sand it again with a high number sandpaper, then again clean with tack cloth.

Next you can start your color paint and you'll need to repeat the sanding/tack cloth process between each coat of paint. When you're happy with the paint let it dry, then sand/tack cloth again, unless you don't want to seal it. Sealing helps it last longer, but is not required. If you don't want to seal, skip that last sand/tack cloth step.

There are several sealer finishes you can use. One would be Marine varnish - used on boats. Another would be an polycrylic sealer. For a great surface you'll want to do 2-3 coats. Remember to lightly sand with a high number sandpaper and use a tack cloth between coats. You can use 0000 steel wool instead of sandpaper if you want. Just remember the tack cloth. Be sure to let each coat dry before adding another coat.

At this point, you'll want to let your cabinet sealer finish curing. Look on the label to see how long that will take. Don't use the cabinets until the time is up. If you follow the steps, you should end up with a beautiful cabinets. Wishing you the best.