#How to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets in 6 Steps

Paint is an inexpensive way to give your kitchen a new look, says Hudnall. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Kelly D. of Los Angeles)

Could your old and outdated kitchen use a little TLC? Painting your cabinets can add color and dimension, turning your room into one where you really enjoy cooking and entertaining

This kitchen project is incredibly affordable, especially compared to the cost of replacing your cabinets. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to paint your kitchen cabinetry.

1. Assess the project and gather supplies

The number of cabinets you have will decide how much paint and primer you will need and how much time the job will take. Also, consider what kind of cabinets you have: wood, laminate or metal. This can affect whether the cabinets need to be sanded, and what product you will use to paint the surface.

If you want to switch out the hardware on your cabinets after painting, you’ll need to coordinate the paint color with knob style, color and size.

A general list of supplies would include paint, primer, paper to cover the counters and backsplash, painter’s tape, scrubbing sponge or cleaning cloth, degreaser, tack cloth, orbital sander, drill (or screwdriver) and paint applicator (a sprayer, roller or both).

Once you have all your supplies, it is time to start prepping.

2. Prepare for painting

• Remove all the cabinet doors, drawers and hardware. Number corresponding cabinet frames and doors/drawers to be sure you put them back in the appropriate place once you’re all done.

• Set up a paint spraying station outside or on your porch, away from valuables in your home.

If you decide to paint indoors, you could lay a canvas or plastic tarp on your floor and place sawhorses on top to lay the cabinet doors, being sure this paint area is away from furniture and fixtures. (We suggest painting outside, though.)

• Clean all cabinet surfaces and the doors thoroughly, removing any grime or dust buildup so that the paint can adhere well. This is the step where degreaser, a scrubbing sponge and tack cloth come in handy.

3. Sanding

If your cabinets are made of wood, once everything is cleaned, it is time to sand.

You must sand the area that you are going to paint. All doors must be sanded on both sides if you plan to paint both sides.  The front of the cabinet frames and the drawers must be sanded before repainting.

If there is already paint on the cabinet surface, just rough it up a tad so the new paint will adhere firmly. If there are shiny areas on the cabinets sand these well. If there are paint flakes in certain areas you’ll need to sand down to bare wood. The goal is to create a purely flat surface for the paint to adhere to, so keep this in mind as you go.

If you are only giving the cabinets a facelift, you may not want to sand inside the cabinets, inside the drawers or on the backside of the doors, if you do not plan to paint these areas.

4. Clean, and then prime

After sanding, vacuum up all the dust and paint chips, ridding the cabinets of any excess debris. Then you should apply an even coat of primer. This will ensure your cabinets resist stains and water, and it provides a good base for the paint. Just as when you begin painting, make sure one side of a door, for instance, dries before flipping it over and doing the other.

5. Painting

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get colorful.

For your cabinet doors you can use a paint sprayer outdoors. For the cabinetry frame you’ll have to use a paint roller or brush in the kitchen.

If you are only doing the front of your drawers, use a brush. But for painting the whole drawer, a paint sprayer works more quickly and efficiently.

• First, paint your cabinet doors, (only the first side). Paint your drawers.

If you are painting the inside of the cabinets, start by painting the interior. Work your way out to the face frames.

Then, if you are painting both sides, you can flip each dried door to paint the other side.

This method is an efficient way to use time, allowing the doors and drawers to dry while you switch to painting the cabinet frames. (You should wait about four hours between coats.)

• Put on the finishing touches.

6. Putting it all back

After all doors, drawers and frames are completely dry to the touch, you can begin reassembling your cabinetry. (This is where numbering the pieces pays off.)

Screw the hardware back on. If you are replacing your hardware, this is when you would install it.

Put the drawers back in place and screw the doors onto their respective frames.

Voila, a kitchen with a new look to enjoy for years to come.

20Logo%20%28New%20Green%29.jpg?itok=zHoF7KwU" /% As of  November 10, 2014, this service provider was highly rated on Angie's List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie's List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie's List.