How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets: An easy step-by-step upgrade

ByIsabel July 28, 2023

You may experience what happened to us a few years ago when we kept reading and searching for how to paint kitchen cabinets ourselves, without sanding, in an easy, quick, and successful way. However, the different blogs, opinions, and decoration websites we read contradicted each other.

The variations in the processes of painting cabinets that can be found on the internet, including the need for sanding and the use of primer, all depend on the type of paint chosen for the kitchen cupboards.

Applying chalk paint is not the same as using water-based enamel. The choice between the two will depend on the desired result, regardless of whether the cabinets are made of wood, plywood, or thermoform.

In just one weekend, your kitchen will look completely different, renewed, brighter, and more modern, without experiencing the common setbacks of a kitchen remodeling and their high cost.

Table of contents

Materials for painting cabinets:

The materials for an easy painting kitchen cabinets are the same as for any other old furniture, with the difference that, when renovating or restoring kitchen furniture, the paint should be washable and water-resistant.

Particularly, our recommendation is All-in-one Paint for kitchens and bathrooms. It does not require primer, top coat, or sanding. It dries quickly, comes in a wide range of colors, is washable, and highly durable.

Paint for kitchen cabinets and furniture
Foam roller (non-porous) and paint tray
Small brush for touch-ups
Masking tape and paper for protection
Acetone solvent
Degreasing cleaner for the kitchen
Fine-grit sandpaper (600)
Screwdriver
Microfiber cloth

The final result of repainting kitchen cabinets is satin, with a very natural velvety sheen finish, giving them the appearance of new pieces of furniture.

Regarding colors to repaint kitchen cabinets in 2024, we recommend the following: white, gray, greige, dark pearlescent blue, ultramarine blue, teal green, sage, mint, and pale pink.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets: Step by Step

The difficulty of the entire process to paint kitchen cabinets is easy, even if you have no experience in painting, crafts, or DIY projects. If you follow the step-by-step instructions and respect the drying times, the result will be spectacular.

Some of the steps may seem quite basic and logical, like how to prep cabinets for painting, but it is necessary to carry out each one of them. It won’t take much more time, and it will guarantee that you achieve the desired outcome.

Remove knobs and handles

Whether you want to replace them with new ones or not, it is advisable to unscrew and remove the kitchen knobs and handles to ensure the paint reaches all corners. With this way of prepping cabinets for paint, you will prevent the kitchen cabinet paint from cracking and peeling over time where it meets the knobs.

As for the hinges, it’s up to you whether you want to take down the cabinet doors or not. You can paint them while they are still hanging, which is easier and quicker. However, for a better result, you can unscrew the hinges, paint them, and then reattach them once they are dry.

Regarding the kitchen drawers, we do recommend fully removing them from the furniture before painting.

Clean cabinets before painting

Even if the kitchen appears clean, it is essential to thoroughly clean. Clean the cabinets, drawers, cupboards, shelves, doors… both inside and outside.

But, how to clean cabinets before painting? Easy, you have it at home, with degrease cleaner spray (like KH-7 or Easy-Off) and hot water. Rinse thoroughly to ensure no residue remains, and let it dry completely.

Sanding kitchen cabinets

Don’t worry, we know we told you that you don’t have to sand cabinets before painting, and it’s true. Sanding is just a surface preparation step to open the pores and improve paint adhesion, since we won’t be using primer.

You won’t even need to apply much force while sanding the kitchen cabinets; it should be as gentle as wiping with a cloth. When the surface of the furniture looks matte without the characteristic shine of varnish, it will be ready for the next step.

However, if you intend to paint old kitchen cabinets that are damaged, the sanding should be more thorough. Additionally, you’ll need to repair any damaged parts using wood filler or putty, such as those from Gorilla.

Remove dust and clean with acetone.

After sanding, remove the resulting dust with a microfiber cloth. Then, it is advisable to clean the furniture with industrial acetone to improve paint adhesion.

Acetone helps open the pores and removes grease and other impurities. It requires no rinsing and is ready to painting once it is dry.

Protect the areas you don’t want to paint

Protect with paper and masking tape (or plastic) those areas you don’t want to paint or that are exposed to unwanted splashes: edges of the furniture, countertop, glass, floors, appliances, doors, handles, lights, outlets, oven, faucet, sink…

If you have tiles in the kitchen, you don’t need to protect them; if they get stained with paint, you can remove it with acetone and a cloth. However, if your walls are simply painted, protect them.

Painting cabinets, doors and drawers

To paint the cabinets doors and different parts of the kitchen furniture, you will need to use both the roller and the brush, along with the paint tray.

Use the roller on the flat and larger surfaces, and the brush for cutting in and reaching hard-to-access areas.

The correct way to paint a kitchen is as follows:

Load the paint roller generously and spread it evenly on the wood until there are no excess drips.
With the roller without additional paint, go over the surface in the opposite direction. This prevents leaving marks or grooves.
Allow the first coat of paint to dry completely for at least 12 hours (or as recommended by the manufacturer).
During the drying process, some areas with spots may appear, but avoid retouching them. The corners tend to dry faster than the central parts, creating this effect. The kitchen paint is drying properly.
Apply a second coat after the drying time has passed. Almost any paint will require two coats, especially if the base color of the furniture is dark, but the result after the repaint will be spectacular!

It may seem cumbersome, but in reality, the painting time is quite short, only a few hours. The longest part of the whole process is the drying time, but it is strictly necessary to ensure a good result.

Places knobs, handles, and assembles the doors

Once 12 hours have passed since applying the second coat (or the time recommended by the manufacturer of the kitchen cabinets paint you are using), you can now install the handles and reattach any doors you had taken down.

Enamel paint is durable, but can be prone to scratches and wear. If you want to prolong its lifespan, you can apply a varnish.

During the first 15 days, it is advisable to clean the painted kitchen cabinets with a damp cloth and water with soap, avoiding aggressive detergents, ammonia, and degreasers, as the paint is still in its “curing” period.

After two weeks, it will have reached its maximum resistance, and you can clean it as usual.

As a final note, we want to remind you that this process if just for paint like those from the All-in-One brand, not for Chalk Paint, which would require primer and does not provide good resistance in kitchens and bathrooms (moist areas); its use is mainly for decorative purposes.

Now, it’s time for a DIY kitchen remodel and makeover! Are you daring enough to paint the kitchen cabinets white, or would you prefer to go for some vibrant colors? The choice is yours, and it’s an exciting opportunity to transform your kitchen into a space that truly reflects your style and personality!

If you have any doubts, we always recommend checking the recommendations, labels, and websites of the manufacturers, ask in the near home improvements store or to a professional kitchen cabinet painter.