Are all kitchen cabinets paintable?

Angela Eppert
by Angela Eppert
  8 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 30, 2018

    what are the cabinets made of

  • Shoshana Shoshana on May 30, 2018

    Most kitchen cabinets are. Laminate, wood, with the right prep and paint it's totally possible!

  • 2dogal 2dogal on May 30, 2018

    Yes. You need to match the type of paint to the cabinets ie: metal cabinets require paint for metal. Rememeber, preparation (cleaning the cabinets, sanding if needed, priming, etc.) is 90% of the work and must be done to have it last.

    • See 1 previous
    • 2dogal 2dogal on Jun 15, 2018

      Yes - I should have clarified that. William is correct.

  • They sure are! It's all about the prep.

  • Wendy Wendy on May 30, 2018

    You got this! Cant wait to see what you do!

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 30, 2018

    you really need to find out if they are laminate or not.https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/paint/how-to-paint/how-to-paint-laminate-kitchen-cabinets.....they will not exactly match since the bottoms are wood

  • William William on Jun 14, 2018

    Yes all cabinets are paintable no matter what they are made of. I have painted metal, wood, laminate, Thermofoil. Proper prep is the key. Once they are primed any paint will work. From my blog.


    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 120- to 220-grit sandpaper. 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.