Spruce Up Your Kitchen Cabinets With This Painting Tutorial

8 Materials
$100
2 Days
Medium

I’m on a mission to upgrade my kitchen, but for now we can only afford paint. Painting kitchen cabinets seems like a daunting task to many. There is a lot of work involved, and in order to get it just right there are a few steps you need to take before you paint. I'm on my 5th painted cabinet project. In our previous house our painted kitchen increased its marketability in a busy real estate market, and our realtor agreed it added value to the bottom line. Painting your kitchen may seem like it’s a never-ending project, but this shouldn’t stop you from taking it on as the results will be absolutely stunning! Today I’ll show you how to properly paint your kitchen cabinets to last for years to come

Tools and Materials

Tools and Materials:

  • Paint brushes
  • Foam roller
  • Sanding sponge
  • Electric sander
  • Primer
  • Wood filler
  • Paint
Prep Your Cabinets
Prep Your Cabinets


Depending on the material your cabinets are made of, and the look you’re going for, this step may vary in how long it takes. In my previous kitchen I had oak cabinets. Our current kitchen (they gray) is a smooth grain.

Sand

My cabinets were made of oak and I wanted to not only remove the previous stain, but I also wanted to cover up the open grain of the wood. For open grain, I started by sanding with an electric sander. My goal was not to sand through the veneer, but rather to take the grain down a notch to make it easier to fill in the next step.


If you have smooth grain, I simply hand sand just to rough up the surface.

Prime
Prime


Once I had fully sanded, I primed my cabinet. I like to prime before I use wood filler to be able to better see what grain needs more wood filler than others. 

Add a Full Coat

Priming is a very important step because it also blocks tannins from seeping through and yellowing your paint. Even if a paint says "no prime needed" I think it is so important for kitchen cabinets.

Coated with Primer

As you can see the primer has emphasized where I need to add wood filler, making it easier to add it only where needed. Alternatively you could just add layers and layers of primer until the wood grain is fully filled.

Fill in with Wood Filler
Fill in with Wood Filler


Working with a clear wood filler, I spread a thin layer of wood filler where needed. If you feel like it’s needed, you can also add another layer of primer once the wood filler has dried. It’s also important to lightly sand once the wood filler has dried to create a completely smooth surface.

Paint
Paint


I love using Valspar paints for these projects. I get a really nice result and they have colors that I like. They can also be easily tinted to perfectly fit your project. 

Paint the Trim

I start painting by cutting into the trim first with thin layers. If you paint it on too thick it may end up peeling off, ruining all your hard work. So don't glob on the paint.

Continue Painting

I continued painting in even, light layers. painted two coats of this paint. Because it’s an enamel paint, I didn’t need a topcoat, which saved me a bunch of time. Also, if someone happens to bump into a cabinet and cause a chip or scratch, all you need to do is lightly touch it up. If you have a topcoat, it becomes more complicated with more steps.

Tip:

If you happen to be painting in a hot space, like a garage, your paint may get a bit gummy. I find it useful to keep water on hand to dip my brush into and keep the paint from doing this.

DIY Painted Kitchen Cabinets

Tip:

If you’re nervous about a project of this magnitude, go ahead and start with the inside of your cabinets. If you happen to make a mistake it’s no big deal as you’ll probably be the only one who ends up seeing it, and it allows you to perfect your technique before you move on to the cabinet doors.

Painted Grey Kitchen Cabinets

It took some time to fully paint all of the cabinets, but I think the finished product speaks for itself! What color would you update your kitchen cabinets with? Let me know in the comments below!

Resources for this project:
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Jeanette @SnazzyLittleThings.com
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 22 questions
  • Kelly J. Tinney Kelly J. Tinney on Jun 16, 2021

    Can you explain a bit more about using primer to show where wood filler is needed?

  • Krafty Kathy Krafty Kathy on Jun 16, 2022

    You mention dipping brush in water so is this a water based enamel? I know oil based is supposed to be stronger but I hate the hassle and fumes. I had wondered if waterbased paint could be as sturdy with proper prep.

  • Mery Mery on Jun 17, 2022

    I love the color, what color of valspar did you use in the cabinets

    thank you

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