Give Kitchen Cabinets a New Look with a Fresh Coat of Paint

If your kitchen is in serious need of a makeover, but your cabinets are in decent shape, you can paint them instead of spending lots of money to replace them. It’s not that hard, and it’s something a novice DIYer can accomplish over a long weekend. Learn how to give kitchen cabinets a new look with a fresh coat of paint in this DIY Network video:

Before you start, clean off all the built-up grime and grease from the cabinets. Start with a degreaser and scrub vigorously.

1. Label each door and drawer with a number so it’s easy to know where they go back.

2. Remove doors and drawers. This will allow you to paint them on a flat surface. Remove all of the old hardware and spackle and fill the holes.

3. Sand the cabinets. An orbital sander makes quick work of sanding. You don’t need to get down to the bare wood; just sand enough to take the gloss off the surface. Use a sanding block to get into any tight spots. Wipe the dust off with a microfiber towel, then vacuum everything. Any dust left on the door will go into the paint and look terrible. Use a tack cloth to wipe it all down one last time.

4. Apply bonding primer to create a super hard work surface. Use a velour roller to apply a very thin coat to the doors and cabinet faces. This type of roller won’t leave any bubbles on the surface. Work in small sections. This primer dries very fast, so only pour out small amounts from the gallon and apply it quickly. After the first coat has dried completely, apply a second thin coat. Let dry for 24 hours.

5. Apply a high quality cabinet paint. This type of paint dries harder and lasts longer than regular wall paint. Use the same technique of thin even coats. It’s good to practice on the back of the doors and paint those first prior to flipping and painting the front. This helps work out the kinks with the painting technique so the front of the cabinets will be perfect (Tip: Raising the doors with painter’s tripods makes it easier to paint the sides and flip sooner). For full coverage, three coats is best. Dry for a good three to four hours at least in between each coat and longer if possible. Allow a good 24 hours after the final coat before touching anything.

6. Add new hardware. Modern pulls and hinges really make the color look awesome.

7. Put all of the doors and drawers back into the kitchen.