Painting kitchen cabinets can give your kitchen a brand-new look, even if you’re just repainting the cabinets themselves. Although there are a number of methods available for painting kitchen cabinets, most people use a mixture of two or three basic coatings. There is no right or wrong method for painting your cabinets, as long as you find the style and color that suits you and your kitchen best. You should take your time when choosing paint and prepare all supplies that will be needed before painting. This will help ensure that you have no problems in the future and your painted kitchen cabinets will last much longer than if you did not prepare and purchase the supplies.
Start by removing any trim around the perimeter of the doors. Doing this will make it easier to determine how many coats of paint to purchase. Once you have removed the trim, it is time to prepare the surface you will be painting with primer. Primer is thin layers of paint that will help the paint adhere to the surface you are painting. You can prep the wood by sanding it lightly with an electric sander and then applying at least three coats of primer.
Painting kitchen cabinets may require more than one coat of paint. If you choose to add another coat of paint to your painted kitchen cabinets, it is important to allow each coat of paint to dry thoroughly so that you do not get a color clash. Wait approximately six hours between coats of paint in order to allow the paint to properly dry between coats.
Before beginning the actual painting process, it is important that you thoroughly clean your surfaces to get all dust particles out of the painting area. A power washer is very helpful in cleaning any areas that may be difficult to reach with standard household tools. The areas that may need scrubbing are located around the doors, bottom, and sides of cabinets. Once you have cleaned the painting areas, it is time to begin preparing the wood for painting. Begin by sanding the wood until it is at least one-half inch from the edge of the cabinet tops.
Once the sanded wood is smooth, it is ready for your kitchen cabinet painting. Paint the cabinets with the same application and shade as you used on the outside surfaces. When using a shade of the same color, it is easier to blend the cabinets together. If you are using two or more colors, use them sparingly to avoid streaking. Apply the first coat of paint in a straight line from the top to the bottom of the cabinets. This will help give the appearance of the cabinet sides being connected to the backs of the walls.
If your cabinets are unfinished, you will need to prepare them for the final coat of paint. To achieve the best result, cover the cabinets in painter’s tape. Start at the front of the cabinets and work your way down. Once the entire cabinet is covered in tape, allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next item. If the hardware store did not offer this option, you can place masking tape over the doors to keep the paint from dripping on the floor.
After the painted cabinets have dried, remove the masking tape and use a wood grinder to smooth out any edges that are not smooth. Use the same technique for the hardware as well; sand both surfaces until they are smooth. You may want to add a small amount of wood glue to the doors to keep them closed while you are sanding. It is important to smooth out the hinges to prevent a cabinet door from coming loose while you are working. Once all the hardware is smooth, use the same sandpaper that you used on the cabinets to sand the outside edges of the hinges.
Before your painted kitchen cabinets are installed, make sure that they are properly prepared for the long haul. The prep work is important because it helps the finish last longer and will also provide a more professional appearance. When you are ready to install, use the wood glue and sandpaper to ensure that the surface is smooth and flat. Then cover with masking tape and nail all the hardware down to ensure that the doors will close properly.