It is really hard to imagine a bigger bang for the buck in kitchen remodeling than painting the cabinets. Whether you do the work yourself or hire a professional to handle the job, the transformation a coat of paint can bring to your kitchen can be as dramatic as it is affordable. Throw in some new cabinet hardware and you might fool even yourself into thinking you’ve spent many thousands of dollars on a whole new kitchen.
For quickest results, paint only those surfaces that are visible when the doors and drawers are closed. That would typically involve doors, face frames, drawer fronts and cabinet sides.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 2-3 days
Here's How:
- Choose the paint. For best results, choose a 100 percent acrylic latex paint in a semigloss sheen. Latex paint dries fast and can be cleaned up with water, and the semigloss surface will clean up better once the paint dries.
- Remove doors and drawers. Remove the doors from the cabinets and the drawers or drawer fronts. Remove all hinges, knobs, pulls and handles.
- Clean the surfaces. Thoroughly clean the surfaces you plan to paint with trisodium phosphate (TSP) or TSP substitute, which can be found in paint section of home stores. Follow directions on the label. Surfaces that have been near the range should be cleaned especially well. Old grease and new paint do not mix well. Be sure to rinse and dry all surfaces before you begin painting.
- Fill dents and holes. Using a putty knife, fill all holes and dents or gouges in the wood with paintable wood filler. Fill screw and handle holes if you plan to replace the hardware.
- Sand the surfaces. Sanding helps smooth the surface, of course, but just as importantly it creates a surface that makes paint adhere better. Use 100 or 120 grit sandpaper to lightly sand all surfaces that will be painted. Vacuum the dust, then wipe it with a tack cloth.
- Apply primer. Set doors and drawer fronts on small pieces of wood. Apply primer to one side, and then flip the painted pieces over after they have dried and prime again. Once the primer has thoroughly dried, sand with 180 or 220 grit sandpaper. Vacuum and wipe clean with a tack cloth.
- Apply the topcoat. Apply one coat of paint. When dry, sand lightly with 280 grit sandpaper, vacuum, wipe with a tack cloth and apply a second coat.
- Apply a clear coat (optional). For added toughness and glossiness, apply a coat of high-gloss clear varnish or polyurethane.
- Replace doors and drawers. Reinstall the painted doors and drawers with new hardware.