Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets

Painting your cabinets is a perfect way to makeover a dated kitchen without splurging on a big renovation. It doesn’t cost much and, with the proper preparation, your paint job will look great and last a long time. We’ve used the tutorial outlined below to paint cabinets in 4 separate kitchens (not to mention cabinets in other rooms too) so we’re confident it’s a DIY project that will work for you. Follow along below!

Before and After Of Wood Kitchen Cabinets Painted White

The kitchen featured in this tutorial is from our second house which had solid oak cabinets throughout (along with wood paneling!). So while steps focus specifically on painting wood cabinets, the process is similar for any cabinet material. You can also refer to our tutorials about painting already-painted cabinets and painting Ikea cabinets.

Steps To Painting Cabinets

Here is a brief overview of how to paint your kitchen cabinets. The process takes time, patience, and a little bit of elbow grease – but nothing is especially complicated or tiring. At worst, it’s just a bit repetitive – especially if you a big kitchen.

  1. Remove cabinet doors and hardware
  2. Patch cracks and holes (optional)
  3. Lightly sand all surfaces
  4. Apply a liquid deglosser
  5. Prime one coat
  6. Paint two coats
  7. Rehang cabinet doors
  8. Reinstall cabinet hardware

This project can be completed by one person but may go faster with help. Proper surface preparation is the key to success here, so don’t rush steps 2-5.

John Painting Ikea Cabinet Doors With Small Foam Roller

The overall time lime depends on the size of your kitchen, but even painting a small kitchen will span several days due to drying and curing time between coats. You also want to make sure you have ample space to spread out your cabinet doors, like in a garage or spare room.

How To Paint Cabinets Video Overview

You can see these steps in motion by watching the detailed video below. To view an abbreviated version of this process, you can see a quick version of painting cabinets on YouTube.

Note: You can also watch the video above on YouTube.

Supplies Needed To Paint Cabinets

Paint Primer Roller Tray Paint Roller And Other Cabinet Painting Supplies

The materials you’ll need to paint your kitchen cabinets aren’t much different from other painting projects. So you may have many of these supplies already on hand.

You could use a paint sprayer for this project, but we don’t feel it’s necessary. If you already own a paint sprayer and are comfortable using it, go for it. It can save time. But we’ve never regretted painting by hand instead.

What paint should I use to paint my cabinets?

Water-based, latex paints formulated for cabinets or trim are best for painting kitchen cabinets. Oil-based paints used to be recommended, but are not necessary or practical for a DIYer. They are smelly, difficult to clean up, and can yellow over time. Also, water-based paints have come a long way and offer a similarly smooth and durable finish. Our favorite cabinet paints are Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel and Benjamin Moore Advance. If you prefer a different brand, consult the paint desk expert for the best formula for your job. Buy the highest quality paint your budget allows.

Step 1: Remove cabinet doors & hardware

Carefully unscrew all cabinet doors from the frames using an electric driver. Remove existing hinges, knobs, pulls, or other hardware. If you are reusing this hardware, be sure to collect it in a bag or box for later. You may also want to label each door with painter’s tape (I.e. “lower left stove cabinet”) to help avoid confusion during reassambly.

Cabinet Doors Spread Out On Kitchen Floor For Painting

You will also need to slide out any drawers from the frames. If possible, unscrew the drawer front from the box. You may also need to empty some drawers and cabinets. We don’t typically paint the inside of the cabinets, so most things can stay in place while you work. But take care to cover or temporarily move items while you sand, to keep them from getting dusty.

Step 2: Patch cracks and holes (optional)

You can skip this step if your cabinets are in good condition and you’re reusing the existing hardware placement. For our cabinets, however, we planned to swap the existing single-hole knobs for two-hole pulls. The existing hole was in the wrong place, so we used wood filler to patch all of the existing hardware holes before proceeding. We were also changes the hinges, so we patches the holes for those too on both the doors and frames.

Cabinet Hardware Hole Filled In With Wood Filler

To apply the wood filler, use a putty knife to push it into the hole and smooth it. Once dried, sand off the excess. You may need to do a second coat, since it may shrink slightly as it dries.

Step 3: Lightly sand all surfaces

Prepping your wood cabinets for paint is the MOST IMPORTANT step if you want a long-lasting, durable result. Skipping the next few steps puts your paint job at risk of scratching or rubbing off, especially in high-traffic areas. So while this part is probably the most labor-intensive, please don’t shortchange it! We also have more detail in a dedicated post about prepping cabinets for paint. Here is an overview:

Use an electric sander and medium-grit sandpaper (like 120) to lightly sand every surface you will be painting. This means doors, drawer fronts, faces of cabinets, sides of cabinets, etc. You do NOT need to remove all of the existing finish. The goal is NOT to get it back to raw wood (although that it is okay). The goal is simply to rough up the surface enough to help primer and paint bond to it. You may need to hand sand small corners and nooks.

John Sanding Wood Kitchen Cabinet

This process will be dusty, so try to do it outside or in a well-ventilated space (we did most of ours in our sunroom, above). When it comes time to sand the frames in place, cover items in your kitchen as needed to keep sanding dust from getting everywhere. After you’re done sanding, wipe your cabinets clean using a tack cloth.

Step 4: Apply a Liquid Deglosser

Liquid deglosser (sometimes called “liquid sandpaper”) helps etch the surface of your cabinets & frames, helping ensure a strong bond with the paint. Krud Kutter Gloss Off is our preferred deglosser. The one pictured below is difficult to find.

Some people use a liquid deglosser in place of sanding, but for wood cabinets we recommend doing both to be safe. It also helps remove any built-up grease or oil residue you may have missed while sanding, especially in nooks and crannies. You may also have heard of using a chemical called TSP (trisodium phosphate) instead. However, TSP is more of a cleaner than a deglosser, so we don’t recommend it.

Liquid Deglosser On Wood Cabinets Before Painting

You can apply it with a rag or paper towel or put it in a spray bottle. It doesn’t need to be rinsed or wiped off. Just give it a few minutes to soak in. We sometimes do two applications to be safe.

Step 5: Prime One Coat

The last prep step before painting is priming! Primer is a critical element to good coverage and a long-lasting finish. Do not skip it! We like a Zinsser all-surface primer. It can be used off-the-shelf if you are painting your cabinets white or another light color. For darker or more saturated paints, consider having your primer tinted to match.

Cabinet Door Fronts Coated With Primer

As you can see above, you’re not going for perfect coverage. Primer will be splotchy as it dries. This is okay. The main goal is to get a thin, smooth, and even coat. To do this, we recommend (1) using an angled paintbrush to get into edges or corners, then (2) using a small foam roller to remove brush strokes and coat the large, flat surfaces. Go slow and watch for drips along edges!

Cabinet Doors Get Painted In Sunroom On Paint Risers

We suggest propping your doors off the ground with painter stands to make priming and painting easier. And if you’re painting both sides of your doors (which we think you should!) we’ve developed a specific order that helps minimize marks or dings on your freshly painted doors. It requires a bit of patience as you wait for one side to fully dry before flipping it over to do the other.

Cabinet Boxes In Kitchen Primed With Primer

Don’t forget to do your cabinet frames and boxes too! You may want to use painter’s tape and drop cloths to protect walls, floors, appliances, and countertops.

Step 5: Paint Two Coats

Once your primer coat has fully dried and cured (see the manufacturer’s instructions on the can for specific times), you may repeat this process with your chosen paint. We used the color Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover. Again, use a combination of a brush and foam rollers to get a smooth finish. The paint may look slightly textured from the foam roller, but it will even out as it dries. Just remember: your main goal is thin & even coats without drips!

Handing Painting Cabinet Box With Foam Roller

As a rule of thumb, we do two coats of paint for any painting project. But it’s especially important with painting cabinets. More thin layers is stronger and less prone to scratches than one thick layer. Just be sure to allow enough dry time between coats before touching or recoating.

White Painted Kitchen Cabinet Doors Laid Out

This part should be super satisfying. You’re finally seeing your hard work pay off and your vision come to life!

Step 7: Rehang cabinet doors

Once everything has fully dried, you can reassemble your kitchen. Screw hinges back on. Slide drawers back in place. You can even put things back in your cabinets.

John reattaching cabinet door in painted kitchen

Things might get banged around in this process, so we often like to give our paint an extra day to cure before beginning. You’d hate to scuff up or scratch off the fresh paint right away!

Step 8: Reinstall cabinet hardware

At the same time, you can all reattached your cabinet knobs or pulls. However, this will be a bit more involve if you – like us – filled all of the old holes and need to make new ones.

Marking Holes For Cabinet Hardware With Template

We have an entire post – with video! – dedicated to how to install cabinet hardware that will help you do this with precision and speed. But as you can see above, we highly recommend purchasing a hardware template for this step.

How long does it take to paint kitchen cabinets?

Kitchen Crown Molding Top Before

Painting these kitchen cabinets took us 15 days to complete. A lot of that time, however, was waiting for things to dry and cure. They were not 15 days of straight work! So while this isn’t a project you should expect to knock out in a weekend, it’s also not something you need to take 2 weeks off of work to complete. It can easily be done on nights and weekends, like we did. We even had a toddler at the time!

How much does painting cabinets cost?

Painting kitchen cabinets yourself is very affordable, especially compared to the alternative of hiring it out OR replacing your cabinets entirely. We completed this project in 2012 for just $300 and half was for new hinges and pulls. So if you are reusing your hardware, you can expect to spend even less. Here is a rough estimate of what you might spend to paint kitchen cabinets.

  • Sandpaper: $10
  • Liquid deglosser: $10
  • Primer, 1 gallon: $30
  • Paint, 1 gallon: $80 – $120
  • Paint supplies (roller, brush, trays, etc): $40 – $60
  • TOTAL COST: $170 – $230

If you don’t already own an electric sander or drill, those may cost you about $50 each. You can complete those tasks by hand to keep your budget down, but it will significantly increase your time and effort.

Other Cabinet Painting FAQs

Before And After Of Painted Kitchen Cabinets White To Pink

Here are some other frequently asked questions about painting kitchen cabinets:

Do I need to apply a sealer or topcoat?

No, you do not need to apply a sealer, varnish, or polyurethane to your painted cabinets. Paints, especially those formulated for cabinets or trim, don’t require a protective topcoat. In fact, applying one could cause your color to yellow.

What finish paint should I use on cabinets?

We recommend using a satin or semi-gloss paint for a hard, wipeable finish on cabinets. Gloss or high-gloss paint can offer a sleek, modern look with high shine, but should be applied professionally with a paint sprayer to avoid brush or roller strokes. Matte, flat, or eggshell finishes will be harder to wipe clean.

What color should I paint my cabinets?

There is no limit to the colors you can paint kitchen cabinets! We love classic white cabinets, but colorful cabinets have also been trending lately – like our current cabinets (Artsy Pink by Sherwin-Williams) or our friends’ painted cabinets below (Halcyon Green by Sherwin-Williams).

Bee Yellow Back Door Against Halcyon Green Blue Kitchen Cabinets

We always recommend testing any color before proceeding. Colors often appear brighter or more saturated than they seem on a small swatch. Whites also can appear stark or cold, so we recommend something with subtle yellow or gray. Any of these expert’s favorite white paints work well on cabinets.

More Kitchen Cabinet Projects

Adding Crown Molding To Kitchen Cabinets

Looking for other budget-friendly ways to update your kitchen? Here are some other projects you might be interested in:

Update: Our painted cabinets are still holding up great. Check out a little update post here.

*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Comments

  1. Nicole says

    It looks AMAZING! I’m so excited for you guys! I can’t believe it’s the same room, and the fact that you’ve done so much with such a small budget is jaw-dropping.

    For some reason I’m super excited to see the new dishwasher installed… your old bisque colored one reminds me of our bisque colored oven, which drives me crazy!! Oh well, perhaps someday we will replace it!

    Reply

  5. Candi Rodgers says

    Wow! What a delightful, bright kitchen!!!! I can’t wait to see the penny tile go all the way to the ceiling. Have you thought about building up the top part of your cabinets to go all the way to the ceiling like you had in your first house?? I hate that awkward space above my cabinets and if I had a choice I’d get rid of it! Happy DIY-ing!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We actually like the space since there are beams that go across the room so the cabinet would have to crash into a beam (and have it “growing” out of it) if we took them to the ceiling. I think somehow since there are only a few tall cabinets that the space isn’t too bad – in person it’s nice because it doesn’t feel like a room with three skyscrapers, ya know?

      xo,
      s

  7. Jess says

    The new cabinets look wonderful, and I’m finally starting to visualize what your completed kitchen is really going to look like. Everything is going to look really nice once the new floors are in place. I’m really glad you chose a dark option!

    Reply

  8. Jennifer says

    This is random but when I saw your slide out cutting board it made me think of something I saw on pinterest and had to share. I can’t tell if the slide out cutting board is just storage or if you actually slide it out and use it there. If the latter is the case, this could be a cool idea for you if you put a sliding trash can/compost underneath: http://pinterest.com/pin/38351034296338491/
    Jennifer

    Reply

  9. Corie says

    I love it, you guys! I can envision the back-splash and floors (but only a little – I want to be surprised a little too! ;)) and it’s… just… swoooon. Very pretty.

    I LOVE the pantry the most. It looks amazing.

    Bravo!

    Reply

  12. Lindsay says

    The kitchen is looking AMAZING!! You’ve done such a great job on everything so far, and I am soooo excited to see the rest of it come together!

    I must admit I am sad about no more BabyCenter posts, and I don’t even have a baby! But, I definitely understand the need for balance, and I’m sure it will be great for you guys.

    So, today’s the big deadline, right? Everything shaping okay with the book?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Ahhhhhh! We’re still doing last minute formatting things and adding image notes! But it will be in by the end of the day (come rain,snow, sleet, or hail! – haha).

      xo,
      s

  13. K Johnson says

    I used the cabinet painting tutorial from your first house when painting my cabinets white (and walls green!) at the end of 2010. It worked great, but I will definitely use the new and improved instructions next time! Also, I think I know why you love that picture of the fridge area so much– that section of the kitchen is completely finished, complete with vignette! Everything looks AMAZING and I can’t wait to see the finished room!

    Reply

  15. Suzanne@WhyCuzICan says

    Sherry, John, Clara and Burger,

    LOVE LOVE LOVE how the paint job turned out. I can just picture in my mind the twinkle in Sherry’s eyes when she asks Clara if she would like to take a book with her and read by the fridge in the kitchen with Momma!

    So great! You guys are a bright spot to my day!
    Smiles, from this fan in NW Illinois,
    Suzanne

    Reply

  16. Rhiana says

    Your kitchen looks beautiful! I would sit on the floor and stare at it too! You may have mentioned this before but are you putting the floating shelves next to the fridge?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’re planning to hang a big piece of art or mirror there- just to make the space feel more living-ish and less kitcen-y. Since we’ll have all the open shelves over the stove we hope it’ll be a nice balance!

      xo,
      s

  17. Letitia says

    Everything just looks so amazing!!

    Do the previous owners ever stop by the blog? Comment on the work you do? Have any idea that all of this is going on??

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We know they used to read the blog every morning (they emailed us a few times in the first few months that we lived here) and assume that they still follow along although they don’t email very often (they’re very sweet about us wanting to feel like it’s our house and not theirs). We keep thinking that it would be fun to have them over in a while to see all the changes in person! They’re such sweet folks!

      xo,
      s

  18. Courtney says

    It’s really starting to come together. Super exciting!

    Any plans to attach some moldings to the upper cabinets for a more custom look?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We held some up and it looked a little silly – maybe just because there are very few tall things in the room (so they looked like we were emphasizing them) or because we have clean chunky counters and the cabinets seem to work better without it? We can always change our minds down the line and add some though…

      xo,
      s

  19. Laura says

    Well I don’t know about in person, but I looked and looked and can’t for the life of me find a seam in that photo anywhere! Your kitchen looks amazing! I can’t believe how much you’ve accomplished in 2 weeks….doing the happy dance with you!

    Reply

  20. Mel Heth says

    It looks gorgeous! That last picture made me want to hang out in there and read books with you by the fridge too. Something about it made me think of Carrie Bradshaw’s dream closet in the SATC movie. :P

    Reply

  21. jbhat says

    Why it’s just lovely! Way to go, you guys.

    I have to tell you that a couple of the cabinet shots had me going, oh no! They missed a spot! But they were just a couple of wee smudges on my monitor. : ) (Which I am mystified by…I never even touch my monitor! How does it get all smudgy?)

    jbhat

    Reply

  22. jess says

    wowza! as always, you two did a terrific job! i have to say, the hardware and peninsula are by far my fave. thanks for the inspiration…now we need to find the motivation! :)

    Reply

  23. Sarah K. says

    looks so wonderful!!! thank you for all of the details, especially the tip to start with the backs, so the fronts stay nice and pristine. also, thank you for the cabinet hardware tutorial!! i can’t wait to get started on painting ours. you guys are such an inspiration. :)

    Reply

  24. Katie says

    What a HUGE milestone for the kitchen transformation! Congrats you guys! When do we get to see some cork flooring?….. says the nosey anxious reader… ;-)

    Reply

  25. Laura says

    Looks AMAZING! I don’t know if this has been asked before, but how often do you wipe down your cabinets? I love the look of white cabinets, but I definitely don’t see myself wiping down the cabinets every week to keep away that nasty grime that can show up around the handles. I’d love to know your thoughts on this! We are looking to redo our kitchen in the spring, and it’s quite small with only one window so I wanted to go light to keep it from looking like a dungeon.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I usually only wipe them down if something spills or I see a drip or something! We had them in our last kitchen and I didn’t feel like they were high maintenance. I have really only ever known white cabinets. Haha. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  27. Emily says

    I think that the side of the pantry leading into the living room is begging for a bulletin board or chalkboard or magnet board… or maybe a little Clara drawing station to keep her entertained while John is cooking?

    Reply

  29. Jessica says

    Wow! Must admit I thought the insides staying oak would be odd but I really like it now that I see it!! I so wish I was like your neighbor or something so I could pop over and stare at your kitchen in person haha

    Reply

  32. Lindsay says

    p.s. i am the most stoked for the new floor, backsplash, and floating shelves – my favourite! but let’s be honest, i’m excited for all of it.

    Reply

  33. Danielle says

    Thank you sooooo much for that video!! I painted our cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom last year using your tutorial from several years ago. They turned out ok, but by watching your video I can see little things I did wrong that are hard to put into words on any tutorial, mainly going slow painting on the primer and “rolling” out the brush strokes in those grooves. I still have one bathroom vanity to go, so I will be using this!! The other thing about our kitchen cabinets is that after a year, around areas of high use (like where doors and cabinets close), much of the paint has worn off. Not sure if there is a trick for that not to happen. LOVE your new kitchen!!!!!

    Reply

  34. Kelley says

    So purty! Nice job – I know you are so glad to have that painting process behind you. Makes those many days of prep totally worth it. It’s so bright and cheery in there compared to what you started with.

    Reply

  35. Erinn C says

    Incredible! You make it sound so easy but I know that it was a lot of work – kudos on the hard work. We painted our kitchen cabinets and didn’t even have to retrofit the doors like you did and I thought I was going to lose my mind. Great job – it looks awesome!

    Reply

  37. Cindy says

    They are looking beautiful! We’ve painted all our kitchen cabinets white before. Fortunately for us, it was before we moved into the house, which made it more convenient. I am so pumped to see your kitchen after the flooring is installed! xo

    Reply

  39. Joeva says

    It’s been fun watching your kitchen and Beneath My Heart’s kitchen transform during the Holiday season. She also painted dark cabinets white like ya’ll did.

    I was wondering if there are plans for the white cabinet ends by the fridge and bar? I want to paint my oak cabinets but don’t know what I’d do with those large blank white ends? I’ve thought bead board, large picture, message center or even chalkboard paint???? Can’t wait to see what you will do!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, we have big plans for that area but we’re waiting for it to come together a bit more to decide if we want something dark or light or textured (ex: cork) so we’ll have to see where we end up!

      xo,
      s

  40. Erin says

    WOW! Everything looks so clean and professionally done. You guys are such an inspiration! I can’t wait to see the finished product.

    Reply

  41. Karen F says

    I just can’t get over the fact that 1) you had the vision to see what the room could be transformed into, and 2) you guys took this on and did all this work yourselves. It looks truly amazing. So what’s next? The tile and shelves?

    Reply

  42. Sophia says

    Hey, awesome job–so bright and cheerful. I was wondering–what do you think about using this process with maple cabinets that have some veneer? Should that be a problem? Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Veneer works just like wood (it holds on nicely to primer and paint) so just be sure not to sand it too deeply (since it’s just a thin layer of wood) and you’ll be all set!

      xo,
      s

  43. lauren says

    This is so perfect as far as timing goes. We are looking to refinish our cabinets, and change out our pulls as well…you should see the ones we have now. UCK. Where did you get those bar stools?? Love them.

    Reply

  44. Megan Desroches says

    Gorgeous! It looks amazing; can’t wait to see the backsplash and floors. We have just moved into a house with dark oak cabinets and are looking at paint samples and hopefully starting on it in the next couple of weeks. Your kitchen has been great inspiration!

    Reply

  45. Christie says

    Fabulous! You deserve to be pleased with your work!

    Thanks for the timeline … shows how much work you put in for a successful result. That really will encourage me to keep on with the work (and the waiting for paint to dry) when I take on this project in the near future.

    Reply

  46. Alex says

    The kitchen looks SO beautiful. I would love walking into that bright room everyday! I can’t wait until I’m out of apartments and able to revamp my own space. Congratulations!

    Alex

    Reply

  47. dixiegoody says

    I very much enjoyed this! I am about to attempt a complete paint overhaul at my house by myself (well, with the help of my teens). I am so intimidated. Thanks for the details!

    Reply

  48. Matt says

    Why didn’t you drill the holes for hardware before painting? I did that on a desk I made. It also meant that I could lightly mark in pencil if I needed certain hole spacing that a template couldn’t provide.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’ve just always heard about folks doing it this way (and did it this way when we painted our cabinets last time too). Maybe we worried about paint gumming up our holes beforehand? Not sure!

      xo,
      s

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