Update: We have a much newer cabinet-painting post with more photos, details, and even a video for you here.
If you can paint a wall—or even if you haven’t done much painting before—you can refresh your kitchen by painting the cabinets. Painting kitchen cabinets is a high-impact, budget-friendly way to update your space. Follow the straightforward steps below and you’ll get professional-looking results without the stress. We painted our 50-year-old knotty pine cabinets soon after moving in to tide us over until a full remodel, and the transformation was dramatic.
A few hours of prep and paint turned a dark, dated kitchen into a bright, clean space:
Here’s how to get those results.
Step 1: Decide on color and hardware. Bring home paint swatches and choose your palette before you begin. If you plan to replace hardware, purchase it now. Older cabinets often have different hole spacing than modern hardware, so verify that your new knobs and pulls will fit or be prepared to fill and redrill holes. Before any prep work, clean all surfaces with warm, soapy water to remove grease and grime—this improves adhesion and gives you a clean surface to inspect.
Step 2: Remove doors, drawers, and hardware. Take off all knobs, pulls, and hinges—even if you’ll reuse them. Keep screws and small parts in labeled bags so nothing gets lost. Remove cabinet doors and drawer fronts and lay them out on a large drop cloth in a well-ventilated workspace. Painting doors and drawer fronts flat is easier and results in fewer drips and brush marks.
Step 3: Fill unwanted holes. If your new hardware requires different hole placement, use a quality wood filler to plug existing holes. You don’t need a perfect color match since you’ll be painting, but choose a filler that sands smoothly and adheres well. Apply filler, let it dry, and sand flush with the surface.
Step 4: Sand where necessary. Sanding depends on the finish of your cabinets. Matte, uncoated wood often needs little or no sanding; high-gloss or heavily varnished surfaces benefit from light sanding to dull the sheen and promote adhesion. Use a fine-grit sandpaper and remove dust with a tack cloth. If your home is older, test for lead paint before sanding—lead test kits are inexpensive and protect your health.
Step 5: Prime thoroughly. For kitchen cabinets, a strong oil-based primer is usually the safest choice to block stains and promote a durable bond. Apply one even coat with a quality roller, then use a brush for grooves and tight spots. Wool or polyester rollers give a smoother finish than cheap foam rollers. The primer’s job is to create a stable base; the paint will provide the final color and coverage.
Step 6: Paint with the right products. Choose a high-quality latex paint with a semi-gloss or satin finish for durability and easy cleaning. Apply two thin, even coats rather than one thick coat to avoid drips and achieve a smooth finish. Use a good roller for large flat areas and an angled brush for detail work. If painting both sides of a door, paint one side first, let it cure, then flip and paint the other side to avoid sticking or impression marks.
Tip: We didn’t paint the insides of our doors. If you do both sides, paint the interior side first, allow full drying, then paint the exterior so any minor imperfections end up on the less-visible surface.
Step 7: Allow adequate curing time. Patience is essential. While paint may feel dry to the touch within hours, full cure can take several days. Experts recommend waiting at least three days before rehanging doors and handling hardware, and five days if possible, especially in humid conditions. This reduces the risk of smudges and damage during reinstallation.
Step 8: Rehang and reassemble carefully. Reattach hinges, hang doors, and install new hardware. Measure carefully and double-check placements before drilling new holes. Taking your time here prevents mistakes that require patching and repainting. Precise, slow work ensures a clean, professional look.
Special note for non-solid wood cabinets. Laminate or veneered cabinet faces may require different primers and paint systems. Bring a sample door or drawer to a paint professional at your local store and ask for specific product recommendations. Proper surface prep—scuffing or deglossing, followed by a compatible primer—will improve the longevity of the finish.
This project can transform a kitchen in a weekend or over a few weeknights. It’s one of the highest-value, low-cost improvements you can make. After all the work, enjoy the results—and celebrate your refreshed kitchen.
Here are a few client before-and-after examples we completed to show how much impact painted cabinets can have:
Kim’s inherited blue cabinets before:
Her two-tone update after a quick paint makeover:
Carla’s kitchen before:
And after, with glossy white cabinets and coordinated accents:
A little planning, the right products, and patience will give you a fresh kitchen that looks far more expensive than the investment required. Happy painting!
Need a furniture painting tutorial? We also cover that topic in a separate guide.