How do i paint laminate kitchen cabinets?

Lori
by Lori

What kind of paint do I use

  10 answers
  • Deanna Nassar Deanna Nassar on Oct 05, 2018

    When in doubt if it will stick; put one coat of flat and second coat of semi gloss latex.

  • Rebecca Taylor Rebecca Taylor on Oct 05, 2018

    Hello, here is another hometalker that painted here cabinets without sanding or stripping them.

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/paint-your-kitchen-cabinets-easily-3426041

  • Lisa Lisa on Oct 05, 2018

    I've painted laminate kitchen cabinets in trailers, 5th wheels and motor homes. Each time, I used a primer and then regular semi gloss paint. Easy to clean and lasted without getting scratched up. Some suggest that you sand the cabinets first, but at the time all I did was clean them really well.

    Here are some Hometalk ideas:

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/cabinets/yes-you-can-paint-laminate--20005205

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/cabinets/how-to-paint-laminate-4968867

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/home-tours/who-say-s-you-can-t-paint-laminate-cabinets-26644427

  • William William on Oct 05, 2018

    Make sure they are clean and dry. Remove the doors and hardware. Mark the doors and cabinets with tape where they go. Lightly sand the doors and cabinets to remove any gloss and roughen the surface for paint with 220 grit sandpaper or a green Scotch Brite pad.. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. Prime with a stain blocking primer like Zinsser 123, KILZ,or BIN and have it tinted to the color of the top coat. This will prevent dark or stained surfaces from showing through the top coat. Acrylic, or water base paints are low-fume and clean up easily with water. Alkyd, or oil-base, paints require good ventilation because the paint contains solvents that can irritate your lungs and make you feel sick. Alkyd options require mineral spirits for cleanup, but they provide a hard, durable paint finish. Whichever you use, buy the best-quality paint you can afford for a lasting kitchen cabinet finish. Seal with at least three coats with a water based polyurethane. Use a small foam roller and foam brush for a smooth finish.

  • William is spot on! I've seen several hometalk posts about "easy" kitchen cabinet paint jobs and 99% of them use chalk paint. While it is easier (no sanding) it is DEFINITELY not a good idea to do that in the kitchen. You can literally scrape it off with a fingernail. You certainly won't be able to scrub off the inevitable spaghetti sauce splatters. It also gets grease stains. If you want it to last, do it right

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Oct 06, 2018

    Take one of the cabinet doors to the paint department of the home improvement store and ask them to select paint/stains and other finishes and application tools that will work for your kitchen. They have the best selection, the most up-to-date materials and most important, the most informative sales staff to get you what you need for a professional job.


  • Barbara Stallard Barbara Stallard on Oct 06, 2018

    You can use a primer like Killz, especially good for places that could get greasy, use latex paint of your choice and poly over. I like high gloss but any poly is easy to clean. Put on two coats for extra strength. I put 3 coats of high gloss over super white on some wood word 20 years ago and they still look great. But also not in kitchen or bath. Lots of coats in this process but meant to last.

  • Lori Lori on Oct 06, 2018

    Thanks everyone for your inputs! I CAN DO IT!

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Oct 06, 2018

    Take one of the cabinet doors to the paint department of the home improvement store and ask them to select paint/stains and other finishes and application tools that will work for your kitchen. They have the best selection, the most up-to-date materials and most important, the most informative sales staff to get you what you need for a professional job.

  • Hi, it is true that some chalk paints may scratch off with a fingernail, however, all chalk paints are not created equal!


    It is super easy to paint your kitchen cabinets with Dixie Belle.


    Step one : Clean with White Lightning

    Step two : Paint one to two coats of Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral paint

    Step Three: Apply two coats of Dixie Belle Slick Stick.

    Step Four : Use Gator Hide for a water resistant finish.


    The reason I put step 3 (apply Slick Stick) because if you cabinets have a slippery surface, like thermofoil cabinet doors or laminate then you need something to make the paint stick to the cabinets....When you use our slick stick, the paint isn't coming off with a sledge hammer...lol


    I am attaching some kitchens that have been painted with Dixie Belle Paint so you can see the outcome.


    Also, we did have a series of LIVE videos on a step by step tutorial of how to paint your kitchen cabinets. If you would like to watch them....


    Day one : https://www.facebook.com/DixieBellePaint/videos/1609328872527961/

    Day two : https://www.facebook.com/DixieBellePaint/videos/1610860225708159/

    Day three: https://www.facebook.com/DixieBellePaint/videos/1612437375550444/

    Day four: https://www.facebook.com/DixieBellePaint/videos/1615506548576860/



    Teri - www.dixiebellepaint.com If you ever need help or have any questions you can feel free to call us at 813-909-1962 during business hours. We have a full staff here eager to help you!


    We have a Facebook page and group that is awesome and can give you loads of ideas and very talented people that can give you advice. Here are the links if you are interested.


    https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsWhoLikeDixieBellePaint/?ref=bookmarks


    https://www.facebook.com/DixieBellePaint/