In this article, I’m going to provide you with the steps you should follow to complete the job of painting your kitchen cabinets, as well as give you other pertinent information such as how hard this task will be, how long it could take, the materials you’ll need, etc.
So, if you’re ready to learn more, then please keep reading…
Job Difficulty
Painting kitchen cabinets can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but it’s not necessarily difficult. If you have the right tools/materials and follow the correct process, you should do just fine.
Overall, painting kitchen cabinets can be a challenging project, but it can also be rewarding and give your kitchen a fresh, new look. With patience and attention to detail, you can achieve professional-looking results.
With no painting experience at all, I’d rate this job as a 5 out of 10 for difficulty, 10 being the most difficult. The toughest part of this job is the preparation and ensuring there are minimal or no paint streaks.
If you’ve painted before and feel somewhat comfortable around a paint can, I’d rate this job as a 2 to 3 out of 10. The hardest part will be just doing the work, not necessarily the skill level.
How Long does it Take to Paint Kitchen Cabinets?
The amount of time it takes to paint kitchen cabinets can vary, depending on several factors such as the size of the kitchen, the number of cabinets and the complexity of the project. Some cabinets will take much longer to do the prep work – things like sanding and cleaning.
In general, it can take anywhere from several hours to a few days to paint your kitchen cabinets. A weekend or long weekend is usually sufficient time for completing this task.
Here are some factors to consider when estimating how long this project will take:
- The size of the kitchen. The larger the kitchen, the more cabinets there’ll be to paint meaning the project will take longer than a smaller kitchen.
- The number of cabinets. Coinciding with abovementioned point – the more cabinets there are in your kitchen, the longer it will take to paint them.
- The condition of the cabinets. If your cabinets are in good shape and only require a light sanding and one coat of paint, the shorter the project will be – versus if the cabinets are in rough shape and need more prep work, sanding, and possibly patching, it’s going to take longer to complete.
- The type of paint used. Some paints dry faster than others. For this point, you can also consider how many coats you use. The more coats of paint the longer to finish.
- The number of people working on this painting project. The more people, the shorter the timeframe to complete.
Overall, it’s difficult to give an exact amount of time that it’ll take to paint kitchen cabinets, as it’ll vary depending on each specific situation. It’s a wise idea to plan for a longer time frame and be prepared to put in the necessary effort to complete the project properly.
Painting with Brushes, Rollers, or Paint Sprayers
For this section, please assume paint rollers and brushes are being used together as I’ll mostly just mention rollers.
Both paint rollers and paint sprayers can be effective for painting kitchen cabinets and the best option for you will depend upon your skill level, specific situation, and preferences. Here are some things to consider when deciding between the two:
- Paint rollers are generally easier to use and require less setup and cleanup. They’re also a good option for painting cabinets with intricate details or tight corners.
- Paint sprayers can provide a smoother and more even finish than rollers, and they can also cover larger areas more quickly. However, they can be messier to use and require more skill to operate. There’s much more prep work when spraying as well.
- If you’re painting your kitchen cabinets yourself, a roller may be the best option as it’s easier to use and control. If you’re hiring a professional, they may be able to provide a higher-quality finish with a paint sprayer.
- If you’re concerned about the environment, a paint roller is an eco-friendlier option as it produces less overspray than a sprayer.
- A paint sprayer will cost you significantly more money than a paint brush and roller.
Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It may be helpful to do some research and compare the pros and cons of each method before deciding which one to use.
My choice would be based on which option would give me the best finish. If you don’t have any experience with a sprayer, you’ll end up with drips all over the cabinets and maybe over spray on the walls and floors. When using a roller, you can easily keep going over a spot to ensure it looks just right.
Easy-to-Understand Steps for Painting Kitchen Cabinets
The following steps are provided with a brief description explaining just enough to help most people understand how to complete this project successfully. Here we go.
- Prep the kitchen. Preparing the kitchen means moving everything out of the kitchen and cabinets so they can be painted. If something is close by and can be moved easily, then do so. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen something that looks like it won’t get in the way but ends up doing so.
- Setup a work area – ventilation and fans. Once you have everything moved out of the cabinets and off the counters, it’s time to set up your workspace. Having a work bench to paint on or do other smaller jobs is beneficial.
- You can use a table or a couple of sawhorses with planks or plywood set on top. Set that up away from the cabinets. Setting up some fans if there aren’t enough windows to open will help whisk odours and dust away.
- Next thing you should do is lay some drop cloths on the floor and use painters’ tape on the walls that butt against the kitchen cabinets. Do this where backsplashes meet the cabinets as well. Use painters’ tape that’s as wide as you can find or put two pieces side by side. This will help to prevent a rogue roller from painting walls that you don’t want painted.
- Remove doors, drawers, shelves, and handles. Removing all the drawers and doors is next. Pull the drawers out and place them on the worktable or floor. Next, take the doors off by unscrewing the hinges.
- Make sure to place the doors and drawers in a location where they can be painted and left to dry until it’s time to reassemble.
- You could leave the hinges on the cabinets or doors and tape over them to protect from paint or do it the safer way and take them right off and put them off to the side. Take all handles and pulls off now as well.
- If you have any shelf liner and are painting the inside of the cabinets, now’s the time to take that out. If the liner is stuck down and hard to remove, you could leave it and install new liners over the old ones, once the cabinets are painted.
- Clean the cabinets, doors, drawers, and shelves. Cleaning the cabinets before you sand them makes the sanding job go much easier. It removes grease and grime, so the sandpaper doesn’t get clogged up.
- It also helps the paint adhere even if you sand. Most people won’t sand thoroughly enough so cleaning is another important step to ensure your finished paint job is a success.
- To clean, you can use a regular cleaner such as Mr. Clean or mix water and vinegar together. Wipe any grease or grime away and dry off.
- Sand, caulk, and fill holes. Next up is time to fill any holes or dents with a caulking or wood filler if your cabinets are wood. If they aren’t, then just use caulking or a spackle.
- Once you have finished caulking and filling holes, go ahead and use a fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand all surface areas.
- Use at minimum a 150-grit sandpaper. The higher the number, the finer the sanding will be. If you use a lower numbered grit paper, the cabinets will be too deeply scratched up and it’ll look terrible when painted.
- After sanding, using a cheesecloth or damp rag (not too wet) and wipe down everywhere you sanded.
- Prime. You can get paint that comes with a primer in it already or you can prime separately. If you purchase a higher end paint that comes with the primer, I’d say just go ahead and do that. The cost will be more for the paint but well worth it in the long run.
- If you’re using paint with primer, go ahead and skip to the next step.
- When you prime, assuming you’re doing that, make sure not to leave deep streak marks.
- For a paint roller, I recommend using a 4.8 – 6.4mm (3/16 – ¼”) nap thickness. This is how thick the material is on the roller sleeve. Because of the smooth surface area, you want a roller sleeve that won’t hold too much paint. So, a thinner nap (thickness) is what you need.
- After your primer is dry, I’d recommend using your high grit sandpaper and very lightly wiping over the primed areas. This’ll help smooth out any streak marks which in turn helps your finished product look that much better.
- Paint. Now it’s time to start applying the finish coats. You could get away with just one coat if your paint is of higher quality and has a primer in it. I’d count on painting two finish coats though and if it looks okay after just one coat, then bonus!
- Make sure to follow the drying time recommended on the paint can before applying a 2nd coat. Allowing the first coat to dry completely will ensure the next coat adheres properly.
- Reassemble. Once your paint is dry, you can start removing painter’s tape. Then you can start putting hinges, doors, and drawers back together. After the cabinets are put back together, you can clean up the painters drop cloths and work areas.
These are the general steps for painting kitchen cabinets, but you may need to adjust the process based on the specific condition and type of your cabinets, as well as the type of paint you are using.
It’s a good idea to take the time to plan out your project before getting started to ensure that you have the correct tools and materials and that you follow the proper steps.
Should You Bother Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Painting kitchen cabinets isn’t always necessary. I find that some home updates aren’t necessary, yet we somehow feel compelled to do them anyways.
I’m not trying to talk you out of painting your cabinets. I feel it’s important however to know you’re spending your valuable time and money in a beneficial way.
Here are several reasons you might want to consider painting kitchen cabinets.
- Updating and modernizing your kitchen. Painting kitchen cabinets can give your kitchen a fresh new look and make it feel more modern and in-style with current trends.
- To improve the cabinets functionality. If you paint them and change hinges and handles, you can make them look better and function better – making opening and closing doors and drawers much easier.
- Protecting the cabinets. Over time, wear-and-tear happens to everything in our homes. Coating them with a fresh coat of paint can help to protect them and increase their longevity.
- Save money. If you were thinking of replacing the cabinets with new ones, then painting is about 90% cheaper and much less work. Unless you plan on staying in the home for 10 or more years, I wouldn’t entertain that expense.
- A quick sale. If you’re going to sell your home and want to do something in your kitchen to improve the chances of your house selling faster, then you’re on the right track. It’s no secret that updated kitchens and bathrooms help sell homes faster.
Material List for Painting Kitchen Cabinets
Up next are the materials you will need to get the job done. You’ll probably use most of them, if not all. I’m linking some to Amazon to help you order them easier.
- Degreaser spray
- Paint sprayer
- Paint rollers
- Paint brushes
- Sandpaper
- Latex primer
- Trim and cabinet paint (water based)
- Screwdrivers
- Drill
- Painters drop cloths
- Rags
- Sanding block
- Tack cloth
- Paint trays
- Painter’s tape
- Dust mask
Final Thought
To conclude, painting kitchen cabinets is not a hard job, even for inexperienced painters. It’s one of those jobs where it looks like it’s going to be hard but never really is. Just follow the steps and recommendations in this article and you shouldn’t have any trouble getting the job done.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
