Before launching head-first into this project, though, remember that this project is more than a quick, one-day job. Every item in your kitchen cabinets must be removed and safely stored. Doors and drawers need to be removed. Every surface that you intend to paint first requires thorough cleaning. Choose one of two directions when painting kitchen cabinets: using materials assembled individually or working with all-in-one surfacing kits made especially for cabinets.
Painting Cabinets From Scratch
Buying supplies separately for painting cabinets offers the greatest flexibility and range of color choices. Supplies, including primer, paint, and tools, are relatively inexpensive and are easy to obtain. These include:
100-percent acrylic or oil-based paints TSP (tri-sodium phosphate), a low-cost cleaning solution Bucket and clean sponges Sandpaper Tack cloth Primer Putty and putty knife Roller frame Roller covers Electric oscillating sander High-quality paintbrushes High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayer (optional)
Painting Cabinets Using a Kit
Cabinet painting kits include much, but not all, of the materials you need. Cabinet painting kits tend to be expensive, often more costly than the sum of their parts. One prominent brand, Cabinet Transformations from Rustoleum, offers a multi-stage process that lets you paint not only wood cabinets but melamine and laminate cabinets, as well. Cabinet painting kits help you to revitalize your cabinets through a four-step process: Here are 10 kitchens with exquisitely painted cabinetry to inspire your project. Lifestyle blogger Tammy Ellington concurs: “It’s so unforgiving. It shows every flaw in the wood along with brush strokes and mishaps, but it’s also beautiful when done well.” Tammy’s secret to pulling off this project successfully is milk paint. It lays down perfectly and shows almost no brush marks. Tammy used General Finishes’ Milk Paint in Lamp Black color. Black Milk Paint Cabinets from At Home With the Ellingtons Tasha Agruso of the popular blog Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body decided to try painting without sanding and priming. Rather than just brushing on paint and hoping for the best, Tasha entered the project with near-scientific precision, and it worked. After some thought, she concluded that it is possible to paint your cabinets without sanding and priming, but it takes focus and care. Tasha reports that the cabinet paint finish is still going strong even years after it was first applied. Painted Kitchen Cabinets from Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body Painted Lampblack Cabinets from Dear Lille Studio Bright, White Cabinets With Chalkboards from Live Love DIY Top Quality Cabinet Paint Project from In My Own Style Painted Kitchen Cabinets from The Turquoise Home Dark Painted Kitchen Cabinets from Aesthetic Outburst Bright, Light Kitchen Cabinets from Confessions of a Serial DIYer Gorgeous Gray Painted Kitchen Cabinets from The Little Dekonings Two-Toned Kitchen Cabinets from Place of My Taste
