Yes, I did it again, painted gorgeous wood cabinets! I wrote an entire post defending WHY, I would paint “perfectly good wood cabinets”. I really didn’t have any doubts, but yet again I LOVE how they turned out. I’ve blogged my “DIY Cabinet Transformations Kit“, as well as my “Tips for Spray Painting Cabinets“. Today I’m sharing my tips for painting cabinets from a pro. After four successful painted kitchens (and a few bathrooms too), I’d hope that I’m a pro by now!
1- Cleaning- This is as almost as time consuming as painting the cabinets! I LOVE Melaleuca tough and tender *contains affiliate link* and I think that it does an awesome job of getting old grime off. If you don’t clean them well your paint will not stick and you will REALLY regret it.
2- Degloss- This takes the sheen off your cabinets and helps the paint adhere. Any deglosser will work, and I always give the cabinets a good scrub down with this first.
3- Tape Pulls- Because you have to remove your hardware before painting, I always create drawer pulls out of tape. This way you still have access to your necessary kitchen utensils during the painting process!
4- Tape Cabinet Insides/Appliances- Typically I don’t tape off anything that I paint, but this is one situation where it matters. By taping the insides of you cabinet boxes it will create a clean crisp line. It also will ensure that you keep your appliances nice and paint-free!
5- Primer- The only trick for primer is to keep it a nice and thin coat. By doing this the paint will adhere better. You can see here how the primer doesn’t even fully cover the entire cabinet. That’s exactly how it should be though.
6- Sprayer- This is an absolute MUST for painting cabinets. I only use it on the faces, but it makes all the difference in the world when it comes to a smooth perfect finish. I LOVE my Graco TrueCoat 360 and recommend it to everyone.
7- Dixie Cups- These are for raising your cabinets off the ground. Any hardware store sells plastic pyramids for this same purpose, but Dixie cups are definitely the cheaper alternative.
8- Brush/Roller Combo- Well you know I spray the faces, but when it comes to the bases I use a brush/roller combo. I like to use this foam roller and a fine brush like this. By using them together it eliminates paint lines and helps get a similar finish to the cabinet faces.
9- Sealer- After painting it’s important that you seal the cabinets. I use Minwax Polycrilic. I have sprayed the sealer in the past, but didn’t like how blotchy it turned out. I’d recommend rolling and brushing on the sealer. You can see here what a smooth perfect finish I got by using this method.
10- Don’t Stress- The first time I painted cabinets I was freaked out that I was going to mess something up and ruin my cabinets forever. Then after living with them for a while I learned to not stress. They will get nicked, they will get scratched, they will not look perfect forever. The good news is that with a little touch up paint they can look perfect again. Just keep some paint on hand and every once and a while hit any spots that need touching up.
If you’re thinking about painting your cabinets, these tricks should have you covered! Click here to see the finished kitchen pictures? 
Hi! I was wondering how many coats do you put on of the polycrilic. Thanks!
Hey! Usually two coats. A third probably wouldn’t hurt though!
What is your favorite paint for cabinets?
Honestly I’ve used quite a few different ones. When painting cabinets I just never choose the cheapest of any line of paint and always upgrade to something nicer than I do for walls. Sorry I don’t have a specific answer.
I was curious about this too. Would you recommend using a latex paint?
I’ve always used Latex for painting cabinets and have always been satisfied. To me oil is not worth the extra clean-up work. Thanks!
Hi,
Did finish of latex paint did you use?
For cabinets and trim I like to use semi-gloss.
Is your Island secured to the floor or would you be able to move it around? We are wanted to add an island in our kitchen, add a stone top but not secure it to the floor in case we want to move it when we have parties. I’m looking for someone who knows if we can add a stone top to a portable Island without it tipping or flexing and breaking the cabinets while moving.
We did secure it to the floor, but I’ve seen other islands that are definitely moveable. Here’s two island posts that I love that I wouldn’t think would need to be secured: http://thewhitebuffalostylingco.com/live-edge-kitchen-island/ and http://www.ninahendrick.com/diy-furniture-style-kitchen-island/
Hey! So you don’t recommend sanding? Or should I assume you did?
No I don’t sand, I just wipe them down with deglosser. Thanks!
Why not airbrush the whole cabinet instead of just the faces?
Because then I would have to tape off every inch of the kitchen before spraying, versus spraying in the garage. I don’t want to risk getting paint on the appliances, floors, and counters. If I wasn’t worried about any of this I would definitely spray in the kitchen though. Hope this helps!
What type of brushes and rollers did you use to apply the polycryclic?
I typically use a wooster short handled brush just because that’s what I always use. For a roller I like to use the 6″ foam rollers when I’m doing cabinets.
How many coats of paint do you apply to the cabinets and do you sand between coats?
Typically I spray one coat of primer, and two coats of paint. I don’t sand between coats. Thanks for stopping by!
How long did this project take?
Most cabinet painting projects take me about a week, with many breaks and wait time for drying.
Do you ever use paint with built in primer so you can skip the priming? Thank you.
I don’t for cabinets, just because I think primer makes a difference when it comes to wear and tear.
Hi there, this kitchen looks amazing! I like the spray on fronts, did you need to dilute the semi gloss paint for this?
Thanks!! I didn’t dilute the paint at all. I know some people do but my sprayer handled the paint well without diluting.
Hi I’m Anne. I am 3 /4 done my kitchen cabinets and I must say with respect that I feel you are not giving people the best advice. Using latex paint is not the best and by using a hybrid paint there is no need for the polycrilic and the mess you talk about with the hybrid is cleaned with soap and water. Also sanding is the key to a strong smooth finish as well as proper curing time between coats and when finished. I do agree with a lot of what you said and if possible a sprayer is ideal however that is more of a mess and most people who are diy don’t have the room or the money to buy a sprayer!
I appreciate your input. I’ve honestly never used or considered a hybrid. I love that the cleanup would be easier than oil-based, which I hate. I feel like the deglosser has done a really great job of prepping cabinets though without the hassle of sanding! When I bought my sprayer I didn’t know if it would pay off, but after painting two sets of kitchen cabinets, doors and trim for an entire house, and a few other small projects it has totally paid off! I’ve also been able to loan it out for friend’s projects. Obviously there’s no right or wrong, but I do want to guide people well and I really have faith in these instructions!
I did my bathroom cabinets with roller and brush. I noticed they have a rough feel to them. I used deglosser first and then primer. The rkughness was at the primee step. Any suggestions? Maybe the tyoe of primee i used or the roller?
I’m guessing it would be the roller. I had that happen once on a wall. Maybe a foam roller would do better?
Hello. I’m in the process of painting and feel like I have to much of a gloss with the semi gloss. There are some areas to shiney and some dull. Is this because I’m using a paint brush? I tried the roller and don’t like it, and I don’t have a sprayer. I also have a semi gloss clear poly for the top. Should I just use satin finish then?
I’ve never had a paint give me an uneven finish like this. The paint brush could have to do with it, but I really am not sure. I usually prefer a roller. A matte poly would definitely help even out the finish and keep the gloss down. I would test it on a small portion first.
My kitchen cabinets are already painted right before we moved in almost a year ago. I’d like to do a two tone with white on the top and a blue on bottom. Do I just clean and degloss or would I need to strip the paint first? The inside of the cabinets are painted as well so this is gonna be a long process for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
If they’re already painted much of the work has been done! I’d just make sure they’re clean and then start painting! I’ve never painted the insides of cabinets, but I agree that part will be a ton of work. I hope that it holds up to dishes well. Just make sure you seal the insides too!
Hi I am getting ready to repaint my painted cupboards! I painted them 12 years ago and they have lasted awesome! They are even scrubbable. Just want to change color. After cleaning and deglossing I still have to prime before painting right? Thanks for your tips cant wait to start!
Sorry for the delay! So glad they’ve held up so well for so long! No you won’t have to prime! Priming just helps with the paint adhesion to the wood. Now that you have a solid base coat you can paint over it without priming! Enjoy!
I love the way the cabinets have turned out. I painted my wood cabinets about six years ago and i love them. I painted them red and put some glass inserts in some. I need to do them over the same coloror
do I need to prime them?
No the only reason for priming would be if you’re drastically changing colors and are having a hard time covering the bold red.
Do you brush on first then roll over that? I dont have a sprayer so will haave to use the foam roller and good wooster brush i do have.
Ive not painted cabinets before, starting for the first time this week
Thanks! I only brush the spots that the roller can’t reach, like the edges. I roll everything that the roller can reach. Then I spray everything that I can spray in the garage. Good luck with painting!
I read to do two coats of primer and I’m halfway done with those two coats in my kitchen. AM I ruining my cabinets?! Help lol
No not at all. Two coats of primer won’t hurt at all.
Hello, I was wondering the brand & color of the paint you used?
It’s been quite a while, and I’ve painted quite a few kitchens now, but I typically do white kitchens in the color Benjamin Moore “Simply White”. As for the paint I wish I could remember! I’m sorry but I think it was Dutch Boy Dura Clean Cabinet and Trim Paint
Do you have any tips on how to make sure the wood grain is covered?
I’ve never had an issue with woodgrain showing through, but I know it is a common problem. Other than using wood filler and sanding it down I’m not sure. Sorry to not be more knowledgeable about wood grain!
Hi, I like what you’ve done to the kitchen. What brand of primer did you use for this or all your projects? I’ve convinced my husband to make this a project to do (soon) and I wanted to get the right primer. I’ve done a lot of research, but just wanted more info.
I’ve always loved Kilz primer. Thanks so much! I think Kilz is the very best.
Awesome job and great results!! Thank you for sharing!
Great tips and beautiful results! Thank you for sharing!
We painted our oak cabinets to update the kitchen before we sold our home last year. We degreased, deglossed, sanded and primed before applying a high grade paint recommended for cabinets. Your tips were helpful, thank you, they turned out beautiful and added to the value of the home. The buyers were impressed and commented they were a big selling point, however, by the time we closed on the sale, and they took possession, the paint had cracked on all the doors all around the front panels. It was like the panels pulled away from the frames. Any suggestions? I am eager to redo my new kitchen but would like to avoid this
Oh no! I have no idea why this would happen! I’ve painted a lot of cabinets and have never had this happen. Did it experience extreme temperature changes? My friend Jenny from Evolution of Style has painted tons of cabinets and might have an answer? Here is her blog: https://www.evolutionofstyleblog.com/