1. PREPARE THE ROOM
Empty your kitchen cabinets, clear your counter tops, and move any appliances, tables and furniture out of the room or well away from the painting area. Cover your countertops and flooring with rosin paper or paint sheets, and mark off the wall around the cabinets with masking tape.
2. REMOVE THE CABINET DOORS, DRAWERS AND SHELVES
Cathryn Sanders, head of creative at Earthborn, says: ‘It seems tempting but don’t paint your kitchen cupboards whilst they on their hinges. Unscrew and lay them flat ensuring to remove any hardware too. This will make it easier to paint, avoid any drips forming and give you a nice clean finish.' Label each item with a numbered piece of masking tape, so you know which door or drawer matches which cabinet. If you are lacking space or struggling to remove your doors, however, you can still paint your cabinets. Cover the hinges with masking tape, and be careful when painting around them.
3. REMOVE ALL HARDWARE
Remove all screws and hardware from every item, and set aside. Take the time to label everything properly to make putting back together easier – you could use small ziplock bags to do this. This is also a good opportunity to give your hardware a good clean. Soak the hardware from each item in a bowl of warm water and dish soap, scrubbing with a sponge or brush where necessary. Then dry and store in labeled bags.
4. CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS
‘Most important of all is to ensure the cabinets are clean and free from grease before you start painting,’ says Annie Sloan. ‘You don’t want any oily stains coming through. Just use soapy water and a wire brush to give them a clean and ensure they’re fully dry before you start painting.’ Spray your cabinets with a degreaser and wipe down with a rag to remove any oil or grease that has built up over time. If a degreaser does not do the trick, try TSP – although you should make sure to follow the safety instructions carefully. Once your cabinets are clean, rinse them thoroughly with water and leave to dry completely.
5. REMOVING OLD PAINT
Little Greene recommends: ‘When painting kitchen cabinets that are already painted, you should remove all loose and flaking paintwork. ‘Rub the existing surface down thoroughly, using a medium grade sandpaper to provide a key for the new finish. Make good any repairs or surface imperfections, sand and apply a primer to the exposed surface.' If you choose to paint over old paint, you should be wary of paint combinations. If your cabinets are oil painted and you use latex paint on top, for example, the paint is likely to peel off and need repainting. Alternatively, cover the cabinet with an oil-based primer (see below) and apply latex paint on top.
6. SAND THE KITCHEN CABINETS
Lightly sand the surface of your cabinets, and use a damp cloth to remove any dust and debris that is created. Take this time to assess your cabinets and look for any cracks and crevices – fill with wood filler, and allow to dry.
7. PRIME THE KITCHEN CABINETS
Kathryn Lloyd recommends: ‘Take time to prepare the cabinets prior to painting. Sanding the surface will make sure the products adhere better, and a primer will prevent knots, flakes, and blemishes showing through.’
8. PRIME ALL DOORS, DRAWERS AND SHELVES
Repeat step 7 for all doors, drawers and shelves while you wait for the cabinet shells to dry. You should do this on a covered table and, if possible, in a different room that is well ventilated. Avoid drips as much as possible, and wipe them up as you go to avoid lap marks around the edges.
9. SAND THE CABINETS AND DRAWERS, DOORS AND SHELVES
Once the primer is completely dry, lightly sand all flat surfaces with grit paper between 180-220 until smooth. Profiled surfaces should be sanded with a medium-grit sanding sponge.
10. START PAINTING
It is finally time to paint! Start with your cabinet boxes. Pour your paint into a paint tray, then use a brush to cut in the edges of your cabinet. Use a roller for the larger areas. Paint two to three thin coats to build up durability; one thick coat of paint is much more susceptible to chipping than multiple thin coats. Leave to dry completely between coats. Check the paint instructions on the tin for how long you should wait for the paint to dry completely. To prevent your brushes from hardening, put them in a plastic bag while you wait for the paint to dry between coats. While you wait for the cabinet boxes to dry, paint all drawers, doors and shelves – again, painting in thin coats to build up durability. You should also lightly sand the cabinets between coats of paint to keep them smooth. Make sure to remove all dust that is created. If you use a matte paint, you should apply varnish once your final layer of paint is dry to create a wipeable surface.
11. PUTTING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER
Once the final layer of paint is dry, it is time to start piecing your cabinets back together. At this step, it is crucial that your paint is completely dry. Generally, you should wait 48 hours after your final layer of paint before reattaching your cabinet doors and hardware. If you are happy that the paint is completely dry, reattach all doors and drawer fronts, referring to the labels you made at the beginning to match the correct pieces to their shells. Reattach all draw pulls and cupboard handles, or take this opportunity to replace your hardware with new pieces to go with your fresh lick of paint.