Is painting my cabinets a feasible solution for brightening up my dark kitchen and giving it a makeover, or is it a bad idea?
Asked by Victor Hernandez 
5 months ago
Last Updated: June 11, 2024
Do you think it’s a good idea to paint my cabinets? They’re so dark and I’m thinking of giving our kitchen a little facelift. Just curious if it’s possible.
I’d like to see more pictures of the entire room.
That’s actually a pretty good idea! Maybe start by removing them, and then painting. 👍
Suggests sanding and washing with tsp before painting.
They actually already have paint on them
I’m thinking about painting them a different color.
It may take some time, but it is achievable. Just make sure to do it right to avoid any issues.
I’ve painted cabinets multiple times. If you use quality paint, you can likely skip the primer since they are already painted. Remove all hardware, use a chemical deglosser instead of sanding for an easier option. I personally prefer satin sheen over semi-gloss as it doesn’t highlight imperfections as much. Allow the paint to cure for a day or two before reattaching hardware.
Said not priming or sanding before painting is not a good idea
Give it a shot! You’ll definitely enjoy it!
Use degreaser/deglosser and a green scrub pad to clean. After that, paint over.
Try using liquid sandpaper from the home improvement store first – it’s great for cleaning and degreasing, and will help the new paint stick better.
You could try stripping, sanding, priming, painting, and adding an acrylic topcoat for waterproofing. Your kitchen will feel brand new.
You can totally paint them. The current look needs to be stripped off due to the excessive orange peel. I paint cabinets professionally and with the correct products and steps, they will turn out great and be long-lasting. Make sure to clean, sand, prime, sand again, apply topcoat, sand again, and topcoat once more. It’s a lot of work, but that’s how the pros do it. Cutting corners by skipping sanding or primer will lead to adhesion problems later on.
To clean the cabinets, use Krud Kutter or TSP. If your cabinets are veneer or laminate, avoid sanding them too much (or sand lightly and carefully). Personally, I didn’t sand mine. Apply Zinser BIN primer and a high-quality cabinet paint (I used Behr water-based paint for cabinets). My cabinets looked amazing and have remained pristine for years.
When working with the Kitchen Cabinet Painting Experts group, start by degreasing with Krud Kutter. It’s important to sand down any texture to create a smooth surface. Follow up with a wipe down using denatured alcohol, apply two coats of primer, sand until perfectly smooth, and then finish with two coats of urethane or polyurethane paint. This group has all the necessary information.
Expresses gratitude!
You can definitely do it, but I recommend applying a coat of primer before attempting to lighten them up. The color is really dark, so I suggest using two coats of primer just to be safe. Go to Sherman Williams for your paint and make sure to inform them of your project. Take a picture of your cabinets as well.
There’s a lot of prep work involved before painting. If the cabinets have a gloss finish, you must sand it off or scuff it up since nothing adheres well to gloss. Remove all hardware like handles and hinges. Additionally, water-based paint won’t adhere properly to oil-based paint, so make sure you know what type of paint is on your cabinets before priming or painting. Otherwise, the new paint will easily scratch off. It’s important to research painting previously painted cabinets to ensure proper bonding of the new paint. In my opinion, these are critical steps. I may not be a professional, but I enjoy DIY projects.
Clean the cabinets with TSP, lightly scuff or degloss them, and then apply a self-leveling paint designed for cabinets such as Ben Moore Advance or Command.
Listen to those advising you to sand down the cabinets. Start by cleaning them thoroughly, then clean them again. I recommend sanding off the glossy finish. These flat wood panels are easy to sand.
Have you thought about putting Formica on them and rounding the edges? It would make them easier to clean and it’s not too difficult to do.
No problem at all! It will definitely give the kitchen a nice refresh. It was probably painted with oil initially, so you’ll want to use the same type of paint. Just do a light sanding, apply primer, and then start painting. Take your time because oil paint is a bit different than latex. You could also check out some tips on YouTube for reducing brush marks.
Absolutely! Just make sure to prep it correctly and it will turn out fantastic.
Try Krud Kutter first. Then start sanding with 180 grit. You will need to do a good amount of sanding. After that, apply a high stain blocking primer like cover stain or similar. Apply two or three coats, sanding in between with 220 and 320 grit. Finish with two or three coats of color.
Yes with this paint. No need to prime and it can be used on just about any surface. Check out the page to see transformations in the kitchen.
Heirloom Traditions Group offers All-In-One Paint