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Prepare The Area & Sand The Doors. Before you get started, it's important that you.

Painting your kitchen cabinets is an easy way to transform your kitchen and if you do it yourself, it will cost you less than $200 bucks.

In this article, I’m going to discuss:

Different painting methods and which one to use for the best results
How to paint your kitchen cabinets step by step
Supplies you’ll need
The best paint to use on kitchen cabinets

This project is more difficult than painting a room and it will take more time. But, most handy homeowners can paint their cabinets and end up with a quality finish – assuming you aren’t going to skip steps or rush the project.

First, let’s talk about…

3 Common Painting Methods for Cabinets

There are several different methods you can use to apply the paint, and each will result in a different quality of finish.

#1 – Paintbrush Only – This takes the longest and will yield a poor finish so it’s not recommended. If you go this route, you’ll end up with brush strokes covering the cabinets. What you want is a nice smooth, consistent finish.

#2 – Paint Sprayer – This is not only the fastest way to paint your cabinets, but it will also give you the best finish. Since you are spraying the paint on, there are no brush strokes. And, if you are using a quality paint, you will end up with a smooth finish. Of course, there are downsides to this method. It requires more prep and you’ll need to mask off all surrounding surfaces and setup a spray booth to paint the doors and drawer fronts. Plus, you’ll need to clean the sprayer when you’re done. This method requires the most skill.

#3 – Roller/Brush – You can also use a paint roller in combination with the brush to get a pretty good finish. The brush would be used to get into tight corners and the roller would be used to produce a somewhat smooth finish on the larger surfaces. The finish won’t be as smooth as it would if you used a sprayer, but it will be much better than just using a paintbrush.

Ideally, you would use a paint sprayer to paint everything. But, when you are living in the house (or your customer is living in the house) you might consider using a roller/brush on the cabinet boxes and using a paint sprayer on the cabinet doors. The cabinets will be filled with stuff, and you’ll need to mask everything off really well. And, since you will be doing multiple coats (1 coat of primer, 2 coats of paint), you won’t be able to use your kitchen for at least a day if you attempt to spray the boxes. For me, this extra work wasn’t worth it, and the roller/paint brush combo still gives a quality finish.

Watch the video above for more detail on this process.

Prepping The Cabinets For Paint

Step 1: Remove the Doors and Drawers – Take a screwdriver or a drill and remove all of the hinges and any other hardware attached to the cabinets. The doors and drawers will be painted in another area, like the garage.

Step 2: Clean all cabinet surfaces – Wipe the cabinets down well to clean off any dirt, grime, or grease. Then, go back over everything and use a degreaser. This step is important unless you don’t mind your paint peeling off.

Step 3: Sand all cabinet surfaces – I typically use 180 grit sandpaper, but this doesn’t really matter much since the surface will be painted. Anything between 120 and 220 will work just fine. This is the most time consuming part, but an orbital sander it will make the job go much quicker. Also, you don’t need to sand off the entire existing finish, just sand enough to rough up the surface so the paint will have something to adhere to. Make sure you get the edges well since these surfaces will see the most use.

Step 4: Clean the cabinets again – First, vacuum the area to get the majority of the dust you produced while sanding. Then wipe the cabinets down with a damp cloth.

Step 5: Mask off surrounding surfaces – Grab your masking tape and tape off walls, floors, countertops, and shelves inside of cabinets. Basically, tape any surface you don’t want to paint.

Step 6: Setup a drying station – You’ll need some racks to set the doors and drawers on while they dry. Watch the video above to see what I mean.

Painting the Cabinets

Step 1: Prime the cabinets – Apply a coat of high quality primer to all surfaces of the cabinets. The primer will help the paint stick to the surface better, giving you a longer lasting finish and it will reduce the amount of paint you need. Since primer is much cheaper than paint, this will save you some cash. Let the primer dry according to the label on the primer you are using.

Step 2: First coat of paint – Once the primer is dry, it’s time to start painting! Apply an even coat of paint using whichever method you decide to use (ideally a paint sprayer). Don’t put it on too thick or you might have drips or other blemishes in the paint. I’ll usually start by painting the cabinet doors and drawers first, and while they are drying in the garage, I’ll work on painting the cabinet boxes. Let the paint dry according to the application instructions on the paint can before applying a second coat.

Step 3: Second coat of paint – You might be asking, do I really need a second coat? YES! I don’t care how good the paint is that you are using, what they say on the latest paint commercial, or how well you apply the first coat. A second coat is always required if you want a quality finish. Two thin coats will always have a better finish and better coverage than one thick coat. So stop wasting time trying to cut corners and just plan on doing a second coat.

Step 4: Attach the hardware – Before attaching hardware, let the cabinets dry for at least 24 hrs so the paint has a chance to harden (ideally even longer). Put the doors and drawers back on, install any handles or hardware you want on the doors, and you’re all set!

Step 5: Enjoy your new kitchen!

Supplies You’ll Need To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets

Click any of the links below to be taken directly to the product. (These are affiliate links and I get a small commission if you click and buy through the link. This doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps support this blog.)

Optional Power Tools – These will help speed up the project, but are not necessary.

Paint sprayer
- 313 spray tip
Orbital Sander
Power Drill
Vacuum

Tools

Paint brush
Smooth finish paint roller (x2)
180 Grit sandpaper
Sanding Sponges
Paint Respirator
Putty knife
Caulking gun

Supplies

Paint (I used Benjamin Moore Aura Semi-Gloss Paint, Color: Swiss Coffee)
Primer (I used Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Primer)
Degreaser
Wood filler
Caulking
Masking Tape
Painters Plastic (If using as sprayer)
Disposable gloves
rags for cleanup

What’s The Best Paint For Kitchen Cabinets?

This is a question that I struggled with and did a lot of research on. And, as with everything, there are tradeoffs.

After my research and experience, I highly recommend the Benjamin Moore Aura Semi-Gloss paint. It’s not cheap (I think I paid like $50/gallon) but you don’t need much paint. I only used a single gallon for all of my cabinets. This is a great paint because it’s durable, it gives a smooth finish, and is easy to work with. It’s water based so it’s easy to clean and is friendly to the environment and your health.

Of course, there are plenty of other high quality paints out there, but I definitely recommend going high end. You won’t want to repaint your cabinets 2 years down the road because you used a cheap paint.

Now, a lot of professional painters out there will use Solvent-Based paints. That’s because of their superior durability and finish. (They dry harder and smoother.) But, they have a lot of downsides that aren’t worth dealing with. #1 – your house will smell like chemicals for days or even weeks, to the point you wouldn’t even want to stay there. #2 – These paints are a bitch to clean up. You need to clean everything with mineral spirits or paint thinner. #3 – It’s difficult to patch solvent-based paint. Unlike water based paint, you can’t just easily paint over chips or scratches in the future. #4 – You need to properly dispose of the paint thinner or mineral spirits you used to clean up. You can’t just throw this stuff away.

So, bottom line, use a high quality semi-gloss water-based paint and you’ll end with up with a professional result, a healthier environment, and less headaches when it comes to cleaning up.

I painted the cabinets in the video about 2 years ago and they still look great, as I’m sure they will for years to come.

Hopefully that helps you get those cabinets painted! It’s a lot of work, but it will make such a huge difference. Good luck.

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DOWNLOAD NOWKatie DunnSeptember 27, 2017

I really like your tip about using the Benjamin Moore paint when painting cabinets, because I’ve been looking for the right type of paint myself. However, what color did you use on your cabinets? I’m hoping to find a really nice gray color for me to use.

↩∞Andy ShepardJanuary 25, 2018

Thanks for this tip. I always wanted to change the color of my cabinet, but, I’m afraid to damage it so I always end up calling a professional painter. I will definitely follow these steps.

↩∞ChandlerMarch 8, 2018

Do you sand the cabinets after each coat of primer and paint or does the sprayer not require the sanding?

↩∞Andy ShepardMarch 27, 2018

How have the cabinets held up to daily use? Any warping or flaws in the finish yet? Especially around the sink or stove or oven? I have been considering a white IKEA kitchen for a few years, but am worried that in five years, the kitchen will look abused (not that this is a substantiated fear, but still). I’d love to hear about the durability.

↩∞Dan PerryMarch 28, 2018

Hey Andy,

The paint has chipped in very common use areas because we use our kitchen a LOT. We cook three meals a day in there and we have a kid. However, the beauty is that since we used a water based paint, I can easily touch up these spots in a matter of minutes.

-Dan

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↩∞Greg H

July 21, 2018

Can you spray poly of some type (polycrylic) over the paint to increase the durability?

↩∞Dan PerryJuly 23, 2018

If you’re going to do that, you should probably just use a harder paint – which won’t be water-based. I’d recommend talking to paint pros and benjamin moore or Kelly Moore.

-Dan

↩∞ChassidyNovember 19, 2019

If you don’t have chipping and have low gloss (almost eggshell) paint on your cabinets do you need to prime? Also, great advice on BM paint! Love their paints not just pigment and chemical smell is a huge problem and BM lines often don’t smell at all once dried. After 1 bad paint experience BM all we use.

↩∞Joan RogersJuly 26, 2020

I am contemplating spray painting kitchen cabinets flat black. I watched your video. Any other tips for me? I should use Benjamin Moore aura flat black enamel? Thanks.

↩∞Dan PerryJuly 27, 2020

I actually prefer Sherwin Williams Emerald paint for cabinets. It goes on much smoother. Even if you apply it with a brush it will still have a flat, smooth finish.

↩∞Richard BAugust 29, 2020

Did your paint preference change?
You recommend Benjamin Moore Aura in the article, but say that you prefer Sherwin Williams Emerald paints for cabinets.
Was that specific to painting a flat finish or a black color as Joan Roger’s had asked?
Or is Sherwin Williams your latest preference for any paint? Sky go chromecast iphone.

↩∞Dan PerryAugust 31, 2020

Sherwin Williams Emerald is my latest preference for cabinet paint. As far as wall paint goes, I honestly don’t think it matters much as long as you choose the right color.

↩∞JamieMarch 25, 2021

This may be a stupid question but I looked up the Emerald paint and I see it’s a paint and primer in one. Can I add a color to it like a very light grey and then not use a primer?

↩∞Dan PerryMarch 25, 2021

Even with a paint and primer in one you will get a better result by using a primer first. You could do that, but it would be sub-optimal.

↩∞SteveDecember 30, 2020

I have used Sherwin Williams Emerald on the interior walls of my home and really like it, but my experience has been that it is a thicker paint. Do you thin the Emerald paint before spraying it on cabinets? If so, how much thinning do you do?

↩∞Dan PerryJanuary 13, 2021

One the reasons I like Emerald is that I don’t have to spray it on. I can roll it on to get a smooth finish. So, to answer your question, I don’t spray it. I roll it.

↩∞CherMarch 30, 2021

I am confused now, do you now recommend just using the Emerald and brush and roller as the paints have gotten better, so no spraying?

↩∞Dan PerryApril 5, 2021

I do if you are painting a small cabinet. But spraying is much faster for larger projects.

↩∞Shari MeadApril 2, 2021

Can you show me a picture of something you have painted in SW that you fill on? I’d like to see how smooth it looks

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Want to run a highly profitable handyman business?This short PDF will explain why some THRIVE and others struggle.Download NowAbout Dan PerryHey, I'm Dan Perry, handyman business owner and entrepreneur. I quit my job in 2011 and started a handyman business. I created this site to help others understand business and marketing so they can turn their home repair skills into profitable businesses as well. Be sure to sign up for my e-mail newsletter for exclusive VIP content.Start Your Business TodayPopular Content

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