Overview

Kitchen cabinets can look worn long before they’re ready for replacement. For structurally sound cupboards, a new finish offers another way to update the kitchen. In this blog post, On The Side Painting’s painting contractor explains when painting is appropriate, what materials are used, and how the process works.

Introduction

Maybe you like your cabinets just fine, except for one thing: the finish. The doors still close properly, the layout works, and there’s no reason to tear everything out just because the colour belongs to another decade. In that case, kitchen cabinet painting may be all the change you’re after.

In this guide, On The Side Painting breaks down what actually goes into painting kitchen cabinets, so you can get a better sense of the work involved before deciding what’s right for your kitchen. Knowing what goes into the work can help you decide what’s right for your cabinetry, understand the choices you’ll have to make, and know what to expect once the painting begins.

Should You Paint Your Kitchen Cupboards?

You should paint your kitchen cupboards if you still like how they work, but are ready to see something different. When the cupboards are in good shape and suit the space, changing the colour can be enough to make them feel new to you again. There’s no need to replace something you’re otherwise happy with simply because the finish has had its day.

Of course, some cupboards need more than paint. If yours has significant damage or no longer functions well, it’s worth addressing those issues first.

When Do Your Cabinets Need Painting?

Your cabinets need painting when daily use starts leaving its mark on the finish. The first signs often appear around handles, door edges, and other areas that get touched most.

Pay attention to:

Colour that has noticeably faded
Paint that has started peeling or chipping
Scratches that have become more visible
Stains that remain after cleaning
Areas where the finish has worn away
Colour that no longer suits your kitchen

If you’ve simply stopped liking the colour, you don’t need to wait for the paint to start peeling before changing it.

What Supplies Are Needed To Repaint Kitchen Cabinets?

Repainting kitchen cabinets calls for a few more supplies than you might expect. Before you open the paint, make sure you have everything you need to clean the cabinets, get them ready for paint, and coat them evenly.

The main supplies include:

Degreaser for removing grease and residue
Sandpaper for preparing the existing finish
Wood filler for repairing dents or holes
Primer for creating a suitable base
Cabinet paint for the new finish
Brushes for corners and detailed areas
Rollers for larger, flat surfaces
Drop cloths for protecting surrounding areas
Painter’s tape for covering edges and hardware

You’ll also want basic tools to remove doors and hardware before painting begins.

What Is the Best Paint for Cabinets?

The best paint for cabinets should give you a smooth, hard-wearing finish that’s easy to keep clean. Waterborne alkyd enamel is a popular option because it levels well as it dries, creating a more uniform surface with fewer visible brush or roller marks.

Oil-based enamel is known for its hard, durable finish, while acrylic enamel offers faster drying times and good colour retention. For either option, choose a product intended for cabinets or trim.

The finish also shapes the final look. Satin has a softer appearance, while semi-gloss adds more shine and is especially easy to wipe clean. Once that’s decided, you can turn your attention to colour.

How Do You Choose a Kitchen Cabinet Colour?

Your kitchen cabinet colour has to live with everything else in the room, so give it some context before committing. Hold samples next to the countertop, backsplash, and flooring to see how the colours behave together. A white that looks crisp on its own, for example, can suddenly look yellow beside a cool-toned counter. Then see how your kitchen lighting affects the colour. Check your sample in the morning, later in the day, and with the lights on.

Choose a kitchen cabinet colour you still like once you’ve seen it in the room, not just on a paint card.

How Do You Prepare Your Cabinets for Painting?

Preparing your cabinets for painting is what gives the new finish a fair shot at lasting. Cabinet surfaces see years of cooking, cleaning, and daily handling, so paint shouldn’t go directly over whatever has accumulated underneath.

Before you start painting, work through these prep steps:

Remove: Doors, drawer fronts, and hardware
Label: Doors and hardware for easy reassembly
Clean: Grease, dirt, and residue
Repair: Dents, holes, and surface damage
Sand and prime: Smooth and prepare the surface for paint

Taking care of these details now gives you a cleaner surface to work with and helps prevent problems once the new paint is on.

Cleaning and Degreasing

Cleaning and degreasing kitchen cabinets gives the primer and paint a clean surface to bond to. Cooking grease can leave behind a thin film, even on cabinets that otherwise look spotless.

Taking the time to remove that buildup helps the new finish adhere properly and stay in good condition. Use a degreaser that’s suitable for your cabinets, giving a little extra attention to areas near the stove and handles where residue tends to collect. Once the cabinets are clean, wipe away any remaining product and let the surfaces dry completely.

Sanding

Sanding prepares cabinets for primer by taking the shine off the existing finish. Cabinet surfaces are often smooth or glossy, and lightly sanding them gives the primer a better surface to hold onto.

You’re not trying to remove all the old paint or finish. Fine-grit sandpaper is usually enough to dull the surface and smooth out small imperfections. Use a lighter touch around corners, edges, and decorative details so you don’t wear them down.

When the surface looks evenly dull, thoroughly remove the sanding dust. A clean, dust-free surface will help the primer go on more smoothly.

Priming

Priming gives cabinet paint a reliable base to stick to and helps the colour go on evenly. It’s especially useful over bare wood, filled areas, or an older finish that could otherwise show through the new paint.

The primer should match both the cabinet material and the paint you plan to use. Some primers also block stains and tannins, which are naturally occurring compounds in wood that can seep through paint and leave yellow or brown marks.

Apply the primer evenly and allow it to dry completely. Once dry, the cabinets should have a uniform surface that’s ready for paint.

How Do You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets?

Painting your kitchen cabinets generally takes two coats after the primer has dried. Some colours or products may require an additional coat to achieve an even finish. Painting the backs of the doors first also makes it easier to finish with the more visible front surfaces.

Don’t rely on touch alone to decide when it’s time for another coat. Cabinet paints have different recoat times, so check the manufacturer’s instructions and allow each coat the recommended drying time.

After the final coat, the paint still needs time to cure and harden. Follow the product’s curing guidelines before reinstalling the doors and returning the cabinets to everyday use.

Why Should You Hire a Painting Contractor?

Hiring a painting contractor takes some of the uncertainty out of cabinet painting. Cabinetry leaves little room for shortcuts. Uneven prep, the wrong coating, or a rushed application can show every time the kitchen lights come on.

A professional brings:

Experience preparing different cabinet surfaces
Knowledge of primers and paints suited to cabinetry
Proper equipment for creating an even finish
Techniques that help prevent drips and visible marks
An understanding of drying and curing requirements

DIY cabinet painting can be tempting, especially when the project looks straightforward. Once doors start coming off, though, it becomes a detailed job where mistakes can mean sanding back your work and starting again.

Why Should You Avoid DIY Cabinetry Painting?

DIY cabinetry painting requires more time and patience than the project's size suggests. Doors and drawer fronts need to be removed, kept organized, worked on in stages, and left alone long enough to dry and cure. For a kitchen with dozens of pieces, that process can take over quite a bit of space and time.

There’s also the disruption to consider. Your kitchen may be partly out of commission while the work is underway, and rushing to get it back together can compromise the finished result.

Transform Your Kitchen With Professional Cabinet Painting

A kitchen can feel tired even when there’s nothing wrong with it. Sometimes, the cabinets just need to lose a colour or finish that’s had its moment, making room for something new.

On The Side Painting knows just how much of a difference beautifully painted cabinets can make. Our painting contractors bring a practiced hand and an eye for detail to every project, giving your existing cabinets a finish that feels right at home in your updated kitchen.

Ready to give your cabinets a look you’ll love again? Call us at (250) 730-1340 to get started with professional kitchen cabinet painting.