How to Paint Cabinets [For a Professional Finish] -

Painting cabinets is a relatively easy DIY project in theory. You paint the front and you paint the back. But it does take reading up on experienced DIYers to make sure you get that professional finish we all want. The smallest bump (or kid toy slamming into the cabinets) can chip paint if we don’t prep correctly or understand the surface we are working on.

I love doing DIY but the most important thing when I do my projects is that I’m always able to get a professional finish. Sometimes my projects turn out great but one of the benefits of being a seasoned DIYer is that I have learned through trial and error. This is the third time I have painted cabinets so you certainly learn what works and what doesn’t after using the cabinets.

Paint Color: Behr Cabinet in Oceanic Climate, Semi-gloss

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What to Know When Getting Started Painting Cabinets

The most important thing is to know what you cabinet is made out of. Cabinets can be made out of wood or more common in modern day is laminate. Wood cabinets are very straight forward in the preparation. You sand the sealer and get down to the base of the cabinets to start fresh.

Laminate cabinets are trickier. Since you can’t sand them down to wood, you will need to add a layer of primer to really creating a way for the paint to bond to the paint to the cabinet. This is a really important step when dealing with laminate cabinets if you want a professional look.

Best Paint for Cabinets

All of the major brands have a cabinet line. I’m sure that they each have the benefits. I personally have used Behr and Valspar’s version of cabinet paint. I have heard wonderful things about Sherwin Williams cabinet paint as well.

I think that both Valspar and Behr cabinet paints worked great. I really love Behr paint and Home Depot is closer to me so I typically choose to purchase Behr. For this cabinet finish, I used Behr here.

So you’ve got the paint brand nailed down but finish? Most professionals will tell you to either finish satin and semi-gloss. For cabinets, I think you have to go semi-glass or even hi-gloss. The higher the gloss it is also easier to clean, which if you are doing kitchen cabinet where they can get dirty while cooking, a version of gloss is a must with cabinets.

How to Paint Cabinets

So I’ve laid out the important factors to consider when painting cabinets. Factory made cabinets are typically sprayed. Not all of us DIYers have a paint sprayer but you can still achieve a professional look with the right tools by rolling the paint on. Now we’ve got the details, it’s time to get started.

Preparation is Key

As mentioned previously, you really need to prepare you’re surface well. I purchased these stock cabinet for this space that a laminate. They came in a white finish but I really wanted a light blue color to play off the transitional coastal theme in my home.

I started by taking off the doors from the cabinet. Using a 120 grit sander I sanded all of the surfaces. I then painted them with Kilz primer. Kilz is a great primer and you really should not skip this step. It creates a bonding effect to get the paint to adhere well to the cabinet.

You Must Sand Between Each Coat

After letting the primer dry, I flipped the sides and repeated. You will want to sand after EACH coat. I did two coats of primer on each side. After sanding, use a tack cloth to collect the dust so you don’t have clumps on your cabinets.

Paint the Cabinets: Spray or Roll?

Once your primer is set on your cabinets. You are ready to paint! If you follow a lot of popular DIYers, a lot of them have a sprayer. Sprayers are great and that is how the factories complete your cabinets. But if you aren’t painting cabinets or furniture consistently, it might not be an investment that you want to make right away.

I don’t own a sprayer yet and I have rolled my cabinets each time. With the right preparation as mentioned above, you can get that professional look. I used these r ollers for semi-gloss finish and extra smooth surfaces. I would recommend get a top quality roller for your project.

I painted 3 coats on each side of my cabinets. I didn’t need a top coat on my cabinets since I used a cabinet paint.

How to Paint Cabinets [For a Professional Finish]

What to Know When Getting Started Painting Cabinets

Best Paint for Cabinets