Remove the doors and hardware from your cabinets. Number and label both the doors and the hardware as you remove them or you’ll regret it later. We also found it helpful to put the hardware for each door in a plastic bag and then store that bag inside the cabinet. This made it easy to reinstall the hardware.
Step 2: Clean the Existing Cabinets
You want to use something like a trisodium phosphate (TSP) degreaser. You may have to go over the doors a few times to remove all the grime. Don’t skip this step! It’s necessary to get a good finish in the end.
Step 3: Fill Scrapes or Dings
Fill any scrapes or dings with wood putty. This will give you a smooth finish and make old cabinets look new again.
Step 4: Sand the Cabinets
You want to sand just enough to rough up the surface so that the new finish will adhere better. You don’t need to sand the cabinets completely down unless there are areas that are flaking or chipping. We used 100-grit sandpaper — that should do the trick.
Step 5: Vacuum the Cabinet Surfaces
Vacuuming will remove any dirt or dust from sanding.
Step 6: Prime the Cabinets
You’ll want to use a good stain-blocking primer, such as Zinsser’s B-I-N or a Kilz product. This ensures a smooth painting process.
Step 7: Quick Sanding, If Needed
This step will remove any brushstrokes left behind after the priming. Use a 220-grit sandpaper and wipe off any resulting dust.
Step 8: Paint Your First Coat
The key is to use a light coat so that you don’t layer on too much paint. You can roll or brush paint on the cabinets, but if you can, spray-paint for a better finish.
Step 9: Sand with 220-Grit Paper
Don’t forget to wipe off and vacuum dust after each sanding.
Step 10: Paint Your Second Coat
Sand again. Remember to wipe or vacuum away dust.
Step 11: Apply a Clear Coat or Acrylic Finish
If desired, apply a clear coat or acrylic finish. This provides extra protection to the surfaces.
Step 12: Reinstall Doors and Hardware
Because you labeled the doors and organized the hardware, this process should be straightforward.
