Your cabinets are a vital feature of your kitchen’s visual appeal. Cabinets dominate the color scheme and can create a unique feel in any kitchen. When your kitchen cabinets deteriorate and lose their aesthetic appeal, you have several options. Painting cabinets is one of the easiest to do.
If they’re in rough shape, you could opt to tear out your current cabinets and install a brand-new set. While you’ll likely be pleased with updated cabinets, replacing your current ones is costly. Thus, painting cabinets is often the better option if yours are in a usable condition.
Painting your kitchen cabinets will take a couple of days and save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This is why many homeowners choose this option.
You can find the 7 steps to painting cabinets below.
Step 1: Evaluate Your Cabinets’ Condition
Before you clean your cabinets and prepare them for a paint job, you’ll need to assess whether a fresh coat of paint can save them.
If your kitchen has cheap cabinets that you’ve used for a while, they may be in no condition for a fresh coat of paint. When your shelves or other parts of your cabinets are falling apart, painting them won’t fix the issue, making replacing them the better option.
In other cases, the cabinets themselves are in an acceptable condition, but the existing paint is not. If this applies to your cabinet surfaces, you’ll need to remove your current paint with stripping products before you move forward.
If your cabinets and existing paint are in good condition, you can move on to step two.
Step 2: Choose the Right Type of Paint
Finding the perfect type and color of paint is crucial for creating an open feel and inviting atmosphere for your kitchen.
Your first decision is between latex and oil-based paints. While oil-based paints cure faster and produce a smoother and more durable finish, latex paints dry quickly and are often easier to work with.
You’ll then choose between brushing your cabinets or using spray paint. Spraying paint onto your cabinets will result in a smoother finish. However, it will likely cost more and is more complex and time-consuming than brushing. Unless you’re experienced with spray paint and deem the extra time and cost to be worth the smooth finish, we recommend brushing your cabinets.
Your final decision is what type of finish to apply. You can certainly go with a regular finish, completing the job after your paint dries, or you can add some extra flair. Using gloss or a faux finish can provide a different aesthetic dimension that impresses your guests.
Step 3: Prepare the Area
Once you’ve picked out your paint, it’s time to prepare your kitchen. Clear the area to protect yourself and the rest of your house. Do the following before you move on to painting cabinets:
Empty and clean the cabinets
Repair any damages to your cabinets
Dust, vacuum, and sand the cabinets so the paint sticks
Cover the floors, countertops, windows, doorways, and appliances using rosin paper and plastic sheeting
Mask any areas with tape that you do not want any paint to get on.
Step 4: Remove Cabinet Pieces
You should do cabinet painting in two spaces: the cabinet boxes in the kitchen (since they aren’t removable) and the cabinet pieces in an area like your garage where you have room can let the paint dry.
Remove the cabinet doors, shelves, and drawers from the hinges and bring them to your designated painting area. As you do so, mark each cabinet piece and the space it belongs to so you don’t forget where it fits.
Step 5: Prime Cabinets
Now it’s time to prime your cabinets. Once you’ve made sure you have proper ventilation and safety gear, begin with priming the back of the cabinet boxes. Move back to front, allowing sufficient time for each surface to dry.
Next, move on to the exterior frames of the cabinets. Use a roller for more extensive and more open areas and a brush for tighter edges and corners. Once you finish, go over the whole of the cabinets one more time with a dry roller or brush to remove any buildup.
Begin to prime the cabinet pieces. Remove any hardware, such as handles and screws, and set them aside. Also, remove the stickers as you go, but keep them next to their designated piece. When priming and painting, go with the grain of your wood cabinet pieces.
Step 6: Paint Your Cabinets
When painting your cabinets, do just as you did with the primer. Start at the back of the cabinet boxes and work your way forward. Then move on to the cabinet pieces, making sure to go with the grain. When everything is dry, apply a second fresh coat of paint in the same fashion as the first.
Be patient as you paint cabinets. Rushing to finish will only result in imperfections. Allow the paint enough time to dry according to its specific instructions.
Step 7: Reassemble Cabinets
Once the paint is dry, you’re ready to reassemble your cabinets. Attach all the handles back to the cabinet pieces, reinsert the shelves, and screw the doors and drawers into their hinges.
Your impressive and attractive new paint job is now complete, and you can enjoy the fresh look you just gave your kitchen.
Professional Painting Services in Baltimore, Maryland
Painting cabinets in Baltimore, Maryland, shouldn’t be a difficult task, just a long one requiring patience and attention to detail. It can be a rewarding experience that leaves you satisfied with how your cabinets and kitchen look. Hopefully, these 7 steps will have you painting like a seasoned professional in no time.
Aurora Painting, LLC has your back if you have questions about how to paint your kitchen, need recommendations for the perfect paint type and color, or want a professional to complete your cabinet paint job. We provide Maryland’s preferred professional painting services to make your life easier.
Have questions? Want an estimate? Fill out Aurora Painting LLC’s contact form today!
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