Spray painting gives your cabinets a professional-looking finish
Want to upgrade the look of your kitchen without taking on an extensive and expensive project? Learning how to spray paint kitchen cabinets might do the trick. You can transform the color and texture of your kitchen cabinetry by following this step-by-step guide to spray painting your cabinets for long-lasting results.
When sanding your cabinets, use medium- to coarse-grit sandpaper (#40 to #80 grit) to remove paint, finishes, and flaws in the wood. Use fire-grit sandpaper (#100 to #200 grit) to prepare cabinets for painting or staining.
For an ultra-smooth finish on your kitchen cabinets, you’ll want to use a paint sprayer. Paint sprayers draw paint directly from a paint can, which can help you avoid buying multiple smaller cans of spray paint that only cover 20 square feet. Use a HVLP (high volume, low pressure) paint sprayer for more control to paint an even coat. Purchase or rent a paint sprayer from your local home improvement store to complete this DIY project.
Remove all items from drawers and cabinets. Fill a bucket with warm water and dish detergent, and use a rag or cloth to clean cabinet doors, drawers and frames. Make sure to remove all grease and oil from the cabinets otherwise paint won’t adhere to them.
Remove cabinet drawers and doors from the hinges. Label each door and drawer near the hinge to easily match up the doors and drawers correctly later. Remove hardware and place all doors and drawers in another area for painting, such as the garage.
Tape off and cover everything that connects to the cabinets, such as the walls, ceiling, and flooring. Cover the countertops and appliances with sheet plastic and place a drop cloth on the ground to protect the floors.
If your cabinets have dings or deep scratches, fill in the areas using a putty knife and a spackling compound or wood putty before moving onto the painting steps.
Next, lightly sand the cabinet surface with 320-grit sandpaper. You don’t need to sand off the finish, just enough so the paint has enough grit to hold onto. Wipe off the dust with a damp cloth and then again with a dry cloth. Place tape on cabinet hinges and hinge holes so paint doesn’t fill them up.
Prepare and fill the paint sprayer with primer. You’ll need to thin some latex primers and paints before using them in a sprayer, so check the manufacturer’s directions on your specific primer.
Turn on a fan near your spray area to help diffuse the fumes and wear a respirator and safety goggles. If needed, prop up cabinet doors on plastic cups to easily spray at all angles. Start with cabinet doors and drawers and spray evenly over the surfaces, covering all corners and crevices. Then, spray the primer over the cabinet frame. Let dry, about 12 to 24 hours. Remove primer from the paint sprayer and clean the tool so it’s ready for paint.
Primer often dries rough, so it’s important to give the cabinets a quick sand before painting. Sand the doors, drawers, and frame with 320-grit sandpaper, taking care to sand in the direction of the grain. Then, wipe the surface clean with a cloth.
As you did to prime, turn on a fan to diffuse the fumes and wear a respirator and safety goggles. Spray paint on the cabinet doors and drawers. Spray lightly and evenly to avoid drips and splatter.
Next, spray the cabinet frame. Vertical surfaces are more likely to drip, so keep the coat light. Allow the paint to dry overnight.
Let the first coat of paint fully dry. Then, go over the cabinets with a second coat of paint with the paint sprayer. Leave to dry for at least 24 hours.
Once cabinets are completely dry to the touch, reattach the doors and drawers to the cabinet frames. Scrape out any paint that may have seeped into the hinge holes. To upgrade your cabinets even more, consider swapping out old cabinet hardware for new handles and pulls.
Spray painting kitchen cabinets yourself is a multi-day project, but can save you a significant amount of money. The average cost of hiring a professional to paint cabinets is about $900, which is more than double the cost of doing this project yourself. However, hiring a professional cabinet painter will ensure high-quality and long-lasting results. If you’d prefer to avoid the stress and leave the painting up to the pros, contact a cabinet painter near you to tackle the job.
Many DIYers like to spray paint cabinets because it provides a more even-looking finish than painting with a brush. However, getting comfortable with a spray painter takes time and without practice, you may not spray the surfaces evenly. Take some time to practice painting with a HVLP sprayer on cardboard or scrap wood before diving into your project.
If you want to spray paint your cabinets without sanding, you have a few options to rough up the kitchen cabinet surface before priming. First, you can try using mineral spirits and a rough sponge on the cabinet surface to give it some grit for the primer. The second option is to use liquid sandpaper on the cabinet surface so it deglosses the finish and will be ready for primer.
Spray painting cabinets gives the cabinets a more professional, even-looking finish. It can also speed up the painting process versus painting with a brush. If you’re looking to complete a smaller project, painting with a brush may be a more cost-effective option since you won’t need to purchase or rent a paint sprayer.
