How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

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Para leer esto en español visite Sherwin Williams Latino aquí.

So the time has come to share with you the first phase of my kitchen transformation and I couldn’t be more excited. If you recall, I shared what it looked like a few days ago and it was just.not.pretty.

As you know, I have partnered with Sherwin Williams (Latino) to bring you this project and to share exactly how I did it, step by step. So if you too have a dreary kitchen and would love nothing more than to have your own elegant space, but don’t have the resources for an entire remodel, no worries! You can transform it  with the help of Sherwin Williams so in this tutorial I am going to show you how to paint kitchen cabinets.

Time it Took: An Entire Week

Difficulty of Project: Advanced

SUPPLIES (Most obtained at Sherwin Williams):

• Simple Green Ready-To-Use Surface Prep Cleaner
• FrogTape Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
• 3M Pro Grade Sanding Sponge(s) Fine and Extra Fine Grit
• Premium XL Polyester Tight Spots Brush
• Purdy Ultra Finish Jumbo Mini Roller (2pk)
• Purdy Jumbo Mini Roller Frame
• Purdy Contractor Brush Comb and Roller Cleaner
• American Line Pro Mini Roller Tray
• HANDy Paint Pail
• HANDy Paint Pail Liners
• Extreme Bond Primer
• ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd Semi-Gloss coating paint in PURE WHITE SW 7005
• FoamPRO Fits-All Paint Can Spout
• Dropcloth
• Sponges (cleaning)
• Gloves (cleaning)
• Drill
• Wood filler
• Rubber self-adhesive dots

You can read more about my kitchen and see more before pictures in this post, but here is what I was working with.

 

STEP 1:

Remove all doors from cabinets and remove all hinges from doors with a drill.

 

 

STEP 2:

Tape off areas you don’t wish to get paint on like, floors, walls, and even tile if you have a backsplash.

 

 

STEP 3:

Move all appliances out from between cabinets.

 

STEP 4:

If you plan on replacing your hardware with new ones that require a different set of holes, this is the time to add wood filler to the hardware holes currently in your cabinets. Let the filler dry, sand the area, and remove sawdust.

 

STEP 5:

Clean the doors and cabinets thoroughly with a good cleaner degreaser and a sponge to remove all grease and oils that normally buildup on kitchen cabinetry over time.

 

 

Tip: We used Simple Green Ready-to-Use Surface Prep Cleaner since it is non-toxic, doesn’t require diluting, and is tough on grease, also found at your local Sherwin Williams. 

STEP 6:

After preparing the surface, apply a test area of Extreme Bond primer, allow to dry properly and test for adhesion. Because of the exceptional adhesion of this product, sanding may not be necessary for most clean, paintable surfaces.

WARNING! Removal of old paint by sanding, scraping or other means may generate dust or fumes that contain lead. Exposure to lead dust or fumes may cause brain damage or other adverse health effects, especially in children or pregnant women. Controlling exposure to lead or other hazardous substances requires the use of proper protective equipment, such as a properly fitted respirator (NIOSH approved) and proper containment and cleanup. For more information, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (in US) or contact your local health authority.

STEP 7:

Once you have established good bonding/adhesion, you can prime the entire surface.

STEP 8:

Roll on your paint. Use a small roller on the flat areas and an angled brush on edges, corners, crown molding and any other hard to reach areas.

 

Tip: Make sure to paint all exteriors and any front facing areas that will show even when the cabinet doors are closed. Refer to image below:

 

 

We applied ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd Semi-Gloss in PURE WHITE SW 7005 which has an excellent flow and leveling characteristics for a smooth and durable finish on cabinets, doors, and trim.

STEP 9:

If necessary, sand any areas to remove brush strokes or any drips that you might have missed.

STEP 10: Once all the paint is dry, I added Polycrylic Protective Finish to seal the paint. I used a clear gloss finish and applied 2 coats. Let them cure at least 24 hours.

STEP 11:

Add hinges back on doors and mount them back onto the cabinets.

STEP 12:

If you will be adding new hardware, use a template to decide on the best location for the new holes and drill the holes. Then, add the hardware.

 

 

STEP 13:

To protect your doors’ finishes from constant opening and closing, add clear self-adhesive rubber dots to their corners.

 

 

STEP 14:

Enjoy your new kitchen!

You guys, I could not be happier with how this turned out! I absolutely love how light and bright it looks and how clean and new everything feels. The white makes it look super chic and the new hardware just takes it up to a new level (if you follow me on IG you can see a close up of those pulls – gorgeous!).

Plus, I was able to get the hubby to install our “new” microwave that we have had in the garage for about 3 years now… (shhh, don’t say I told you though!).

Here’s a look at the before and after images right next to each other:

Here’s the island:

There are a few more things that I plan on doing and I have already started prepping for them. I’m sure you have already noticed that we replaced our outlets and  that our backsplash looks a tad bit different. I will be sharing more details very soon!

I hope this post was useful and that you can walk away knowing exactly how to paint kitchen cabinets in case you feel inspired to bring life to yours as well!

But first, I would love to hear what you have to say about the makeover! Leave your comments below!

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