Easiest way to paint kitchen cabinets
You might have been thinking of ways to paint your old kitchen cabinets that will not require too much effort and time; the good news is you don’t need to destroy the heart of your home in the process of painting your kitchen cabinets.
All at a Glance
Easiest way to paint kitchen cabinets
In the past, painting cabinets might require you to get a good surface to paint on by sanding the cabinets, but now it is much easier to paint cabinets; you may not even need to bring out things from the cabinets until the final moments. No more pulling stuff out of the kitchen, everything stays in place, and you can go through your regular cooking routine even while working on the cabinets during the day.
The cost of new appliances, cabinets, and countertops is on the high side, and it is not surprising that renovating a kitchen might be one of the most expensive projects to undergo. Transforming a kitchen by refreshing the cabinets is entirely something you can afford, but it is basically beyond you just buying your desired paint.
If your cabinets are in good shape and in good working order, you can go ahead with painting them. Painting costs a lot less compared to buying new cabinets and installing them, and painting your old cabinets will give you as good as a unique appearance, so why waste the funds. It is important to know that if your cabinet is warped, chipped, or damaged, painting might not amend it or solve the problem.
Some materials needed
- Trisodium phosphate
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrushes
- Rollers
- Rags
- Primer
- Protective wears
What type of paint can I use for my cabinets?
People are beginning to give up on oil-based paints as latex paints have been improving steadily; they dry quickly and can be cleaned with just water. You cannot just use any old paint, latex paints are more users friendly, but it has been argued that oil-based coats still form harder, more durable film and give a smoother finished surface. Latex paints take a longer time to cure completely, and that makes them susceptible to damage.
The thing is, whether you are using oil-based paint or latex, you will still get a good finish, ensuring you get the one that offers more outstanding durability and adhesion. For cabinets, you can decide to ignore eggshell or matte paint finishes and opt for the semi-gloss or high gloss, or even satin; these options are hardy finishes that are very easy to clean. Don’t forget you want a durable surface that is easy to clean, so you don’t have to repaint after a few months.
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Steps to painting kitchen cabinets
- Clean the cabinets: this is the first thing to do; all you need is a good degreaser and a clean rag. Look for any heavy-duty but non-toxic cleaner that will remove any grease build-up that can get in the way of paint.
- Just spray on the cabinets and wipe off with a damp clean rag or paper towel. If there are tough spots, you may need to add more elbow grease. Make sure that the surface you want to paint is well cleaned, as this will make the paint stick.
If your wood is old, stained, or has dark knots, it will be a good idea to prime it first. Not all cabinets will require priming, but you may need to prime if your wood is in the category mentioned. Primers help with adhesion and block stain; it makes the wood look better and go farther.
- After that, you will paint the cabinet doors. Someone would ask who would paint a cabinet door while it is still hanging, well it has been proven possible, and you should do so as it saves you from time spent moving the doors around.
You should not paint vertically if you are using the traditional latex or oil paint due to the risk of drops, but you can make use of satin enamel as it holds its shape better while it is wet and has perfect drying time.
Perfect drying time is a big deal for this approach as you need a paint that dries slowly enough so that it has enough time to even itself and get rid of brush strokes. To speed up the drying time for doors, twist two screw hooks into holes drilled in an inconspicuous door edge, the lower edge for bottom cabinets, and the upper edge for the top cabinet.
- Paint the door’s outside face and let it dry for an hour while resting flat, then tilt the door up onto its hooks and put it into an existing hardware hole. Hold the tilted door up by the screw and paint the door’s backside.
- When you are done painting, pick the door by the screw and one hook and hang both hooks on a sturdy clothes hanger. Suspend the door from a shower curtain rod or clothes rod until dry.
- You need to be careful about applying your paint evenly and look out for all the corners where paint can build up. You can recoat as soon as it is dry so that you can do all coating in one day.
Spray painting cabinet is the most sought-after method in recent days; it gives a second to none finish, very fast and more efficient. The down of this method is that spray paint is more expensive and might also take a lot of time setting the equipment.
For a small cabinet, you can use fine brush painting and roller, it is not the most durable option, but it is cost-effective as it will save you a lot of money compared to the spray paint method.
- If your cabinet door has inlays, ensure to paint those first with a brush before painting the large flat areas with a roller or large brush, as this will help reach out to the nooks and crannies and still achieve a good clean paint job.
- After painting the cabinet doors, the next thing is to remove the entries. One very important thing to do before removing the doors is to label them, as this will help when trying to place them back.
- Once you have removed the doors, repeat the same priming painting process you have done for the doors but just on the frames this time. It won’t take you long to finish as the frames do not take a long space. Ensure to tape off the edges first to make it easier. While working on your frames and waiting for them to dry, you can work on the edges. Paint around the edges of the cabinet doors.
- You may need to leave plenty of time for the paints to dry as you wouldn’t want the frames and doors sticking to each other, so while waiting for this, you can use the time to pull out and paint the drawers. Once everything is dry, you can reattach the doors and fix back the drawers.
Final thoughts on Easiest way to paint kitchen cabinets
Painting old cabinets give you an attractive appearance and make you realize that you can end up recreating a beautiful picture without spending so much; however, they might not look smooth. If the cabinets have grooves, they will show through the paint, especially once it dries. Another thing is it is very important that you allow yourself to stay patient enough to ensure that the cabinet is fully dried before fixing them back.
It is very annoying to stay for days for the paint to cure, but if you don’t wait, you might accidentally smudge the paint. Normally, it takes up to 3 or 4 days and might even go on to a week before it completely cures.
Ensure that the cabinet is properly cleaned with a grease remover; otherwise, the paint won’t stick when you add the water-based paint on it. Sometimes out of too much excitement and eagerness to quickly paint our cabinets, we forget to label while removing them, remember what was once hung up will need to be returned the same way as it was; it is important to label.
This will help you remember where everything belongs to. Even if your cabinets are in good condition, do not skip sanding; sanding is important because it removes the protective coating on cabinets to expose the wood for the primer and paint to adhere to it properly; this will provide a stronger bond than if you are painting with sanding. It also smooths out rough areas, and annoying glues can come off quickly while sanding.
Lastly, there’s no right or wrong color when it comes to your kitchen, I mean, it is your decision to make, but it is important you get it right. Painting is easy, but it’s not something you will be eager to do again if you end up not liking the color you have used. Also, ensure that you choose the right paint, look for a smooth finish that is kitchen friendly.
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How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Professionally
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