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. Catherine M. says

    Beautiful!! Did you guys buy a new tea kettle to match the new white decor? Or were you able to DIY the blue into white?

    Congrats!

    Reply

  2. Harmony says

    The change here is incredible! It truly doesn’t look like the same house. I am blown away, I know the change would be massive, but the before and after pictures give me chills. May I say I am in awe of your vision and hope you enjoy it once its all said and done. Just… wow.

    Reply

  3. Leilani says

    It looks incredible! It has been so exciting to watch the progress and I can’t wait to see when the flooring goes in and the tile backsplash- c’mon work faster!! Kidding :). You are very inspirational!

    Reply

  4. Erin says

    I was checking often to see this post! Looks so good you guys :) My husband and I have been slowly upgrading our house and kitchen bit by bit and I think because we’re between having kids that I want to tackle painting our cabinets this summer before we TTC again. I cannot tell you how helpful your step by step directions and product recs are going to help us. We may be able to come down to Portland for your home show visit too, so if we see you we’ll say hi! (and probably ask you a few questions on this very subject)

    Reply

  5. Kelly McK says

    OMG John and Sherry this is INCREDIBLE!! Thank you so much for taking the time to let us into your lives for this process- what an incredible transformation!! Love it, love it, love it.

    PS All your tips and tricks are so helpful, and easy to follow!

    Reply

  9. Kathy says

    It’s amazing how bright it is–and you haven’t even put any new lighting in yet! You may have mentioned it before, but what style of lighting are you leaning towards?

    Reply

  10. Sarah says

    I apologize if someone has already asked this, but where is the outlet for the vent over your stove? Does it terminate on an outer wall or in the attic? Thanks!

    Reply

  11. statia says

    You’re hysterical. The faux practice painting, while highly amusing, is probably the smartest tip. And also, I can’t even tell you my love for Benjamin Moore. I love that paint almost as much as my children. Though, I will say, that the Advance doesn’t really do all that well on laminate. Or I missed a step somewhere.

    Reply

  14. Kristie says

    So I clicked on the source link for your drawer and door hardware. Is it wrong that I just want to sing “My knobs. My knobs. My lovely kitchen knobs” to the tune of Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps”?

    Seriously though- your work is sheer awesomeness! xoxo

    Reply

  16. Zoe says

    looks great! well done.

    Just wondering if you are going to change the flurescent lights? Every time I see the long shot of the kitchen my eye is drawn to those lights and I am really wondering if you have a nice new (or re-styled) plan for lighting comming up?

    Reply

  18. Sandra says

    How did you keep which door goes with which cab straight? Sorry if you already answered this question, I didn’t backread comments.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      This fortunately wasn’t a challenge for us because all of our cabinets were so uniquely shaped that there was no mistaking what went where. But we did lay them out in the sunroom in a certain order to make it easier on us!

      -John

  19. becah says

    love love love the cabinets! i’m about to embark on a similar (okay, the same) project and a quick jaunt over to amazon left me stymied about the wood filler. i think they’ve re-named it? or does home depot carry an elmer’s line that’s special? any clues if the carpenter’s filler is the same stuff (you know, since carpenters are professionals and all…)?

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=elmer+wood+filler&x=0&y=0

    anyway, amazing and inspiring! can’t wait to brighten up my kitchen!!

    Reply

  21. Kacey says

    You all had me at hello. Your work is fantastic and I am constantly in awe of what you’re doing in your home. There’s no way that I would’ve looked at your original kitchen and seen the amazing possibilities that y’all did. Keep the inspiration/motivation coming!

    Reply

  22. Melissa says

    Congrats you guys! Looks amazing and must feel great to have that huge part of the project behind you! At least you’ve done a lot of the prep for the other parts so it won’t be that bad. My hubs built our stove hood and we love it but the angles made it a bit challenging! Good luck!

    Reply

  24. Marcie says

    Hi Sherry and John,
    First of all, congratulations on the amazing transformation! White cabinets are the bomb, right? I do have a question for you about your paint selection. I’m planning to paint kitchen cabinets too, and the salespeople at the local Benjamin Moore store tried to steer me toward their Satin Impervo line – they said that it has many of the qualities of oil paint (like self-leveling), but is a regular water-based enamel. So it’s highly recommended for cabinets. Did you consider that paint too? If so, what made you choose the Advance instead? Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, we heard great things about Impervo and you probably can’t go wrong with either! We just met two actual pro cabinet painters and they both said they used Advance so we went for it!

      xo,
      s

  25. Steph Stimson says

    Feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment FOREVER! lol And I don’t even live there! Looks awesome, love the slight off white/grey color with those “gawjus” white countertops. Cannot wait to see the rest of the reno’s appear on my screen!!!!

    Reply

  28. Casey Cope says

    I’ve been reading posts for several months but just recently started skimming comments (knowing I can get extra info there and I’m nosy). I just want to say it’s a testament to your character that you repeat yourself with patience, truly enjoy seeing work of other readers linked on their blogs, follow up on research from unsolicited advice, and respond kindly to criticism. I think there’s many reasons you have loyal following (creative ideas, clean code, consistent post times, etc), but I think a chief reason is you’re people we want to cheer for: sweet, likeable, and gracious. So simply put, thanks for being you.

    Reply

  30. Caitlin says

    I’m trying to decide between staining and painting my kitchen cabinets. I like the look of wood grain, but the light oak color doesn’t seem to mesh with the color scheme in my kitchen. On one hand painting would probably be easier (I’m thinking a light gray would be perfect), but I think I would prefer to have the cabinets stained gray.

    Reply

  33. Stacey says

    Looking at those before and after pics dare I say this is your most dramatic transformation to date? Well done – your kitchen is magnificent! And thank you for the breakdown – I will be revisiting these posts when I tackle the gross pine vanity in my bathroom. I have before and after pics of my laundry makeover (inspired by ‘Spin City’) and was wondering which would be the best way to get them to you? Facebook?

    Reply

  34. Joe Adelaide says

    Just Fab you all must be so proud and pleased, cant wait to see the floors in and all the little warm delicate touches that are so much fun to add at the end.

    Reply

  35. Kaytie @ GardenKitchenHome says

    Hooooray! Congrats, guys!

    A couple thoughts:

    1.) If this DIY blog thing doesn’t work out for you, you might have a career in cartoon faces. Loved the old cabinet hardware once there were faces to go with the googley eyes.

    2.) Beautiful work!!!

    3.) The cabinets look seamless from here in Philly.

    4.) BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!

    Reply

  37. Johanna says

    I really had to tilt my laptop screen to be able to see the join mark on the cabinet.
    Definitely bookmarking this (and the future completed kitchen blog post) to show my sister-in-law. The house she is looking at buying has two dungeon rooms exactly like your kitchen.

    Can’t wait to pull out the inside-out jammies and paint :D

    Reply

  40. jen says

    Way too lovely, Sherry! The cabinets and the walls are just sooooo amazing! I’m planning to redecorate our living room when I resigned form work, so wish me luck! :)

    Reply

  41. Julie says

    THANK YOU! This is precisely my 1st project for the new year and I’ve been collecting tutorials/ ideas. Now I am scrapping all of those and am simply going to follow yours (right down to the color!).

    Reply

  42. Fran Short says

    Looks great —-can’t wait for the penny tile. I love the light color floor —-hard to picture dark (just my 2 cents)

    Reply

  43. Allison says

    I have to tell you that I absolutely love your blog!! You have inspired me to do some much needed work on my own house. I was slacking and making excuses because I’m pregnant and already have a 3 year old, just never thought I had time.

    My husband and I have already started on our hideous basement.!!

    Reply

  44. Katie says

    Thanks for the followup on the Rustoleum Transformations kits question. I also thought those kits seemed a little too good to be true with skipping sanding, etc. I think your “method” sounds pretty thorough and should hold up for years. It looks spectacular guys! And low VOC is a great plus with little kids around.

    Reply

  45. Magdalene says

    Inspirational. Love your transformation of the kitchen. Now, I have all the right information to start our cabinets.
    Congrats!! Bless you.

    Reply

  46. Anna says

    Alleluia! The cabinets look fabulous! well done you two. Finishing the cabinets and a book manuscript in one week is a huge achievement! That champagne better be chillin’ ;)

    Reply

  47. tjack says

    So I’ve been looking through your kitchen archives and saw y’alls old kitchen. Your old kitchen was so cute.

    Then I started noticing the similarities between your old and new kitchens.

    Steel appliances, white cabinets, open shelving, light countertops, dark floors…the color scheme is basically the same.

    Actually the backsplash and stool chairs have to be the most different things in the space. I am really excited to see the backsplash go in.

    So my question is, are you trying to recreate your old kitchen? Or maybe you weren’t even aware that so many things were so similar. Either way they both look good.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We definitely know we’re a lot of the same finishes because they’re what we like, and it felt silly to do something different just for different’s sake. Also, stainless appliances + white cabinets + light counters + dark floors are such a classic combination it just kinda fit. But we are excited for lots of the new things like layout (never had a peninsula before!), backsplash, open shelves (or last kitchen just had one glass fronted cabinet, but no true open shelves), and new materials (Corian counters and cork floors). So we’re definitely not trying to recreate our old kitchen, just borrow the things we loved most from it.

      -John

  48. Emma E says

    I love the video. I want to paint my cabinets, this was the perfect help! Thanks. Your kitchen is looking better and better.

    Reply

  49. Leanne says

    you guys need to invest in a spray gun and air compressor. I did this a couple of years ago. (my home was my grandparents, had that orangey-stain wood cabinets) and (With help from my dad) we primed and painted the cabinet doors. This process makes it flawless! Like painting a car. Just spray, dry and flip…. repeat. I had about 25+ cabinets to do, so this was a lifesaver! (i will admit the compressor is a little scarey to me, but i haven’t learned too much about it. I’m sure it isnt rocket science :))

    Reply

  50. Laura says

    I love the new look!!! White kitchen lover here. You guys have incredible vision because there’s no way I would have bought that house with it’s dark depressing wood paneled kitchen.

    Reply

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