How to Prepare Your Kitchen for Cabinet Painting Process

how to prep your kitchen cabinets for painting

Upgrading your kitchen doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It’s surprising how different your kitchen will look when you paint your kitchen cabinets a new and fresh color. However, it’s important to do the job well.

The last thing you want to be doing is looking at a bad paint job every time you make breakfast.

So, if you’re thinking about painting your cabinets, here are a few tips on getting prepared for the project

Protect Your Countertops

Before you do anything else, it’s important to cover your countertops. You can use rosin paper or brown paper to cover anything you won’t be working on, like countertops, backsplash, or floor. It doesn’t cost much and it will protect areas from splashes of paint or anything else while you work.

Remove Doors

Have you ever seen kitchen cabinets that have been painted without being removed? You’ll frequently see paint smudges on hinges or door handles and it doesn’t look great. It can be tempting to just leave the doors and handles on so the job is quicker but the result won’t be anywhere near as good.

Clean Your Cabinets

This is a great opportunity to help your cabinets look as good as they can. Clean off any grease or stains with warm soapy water and a clean rag. Make sure to clean each cabinet thoroughly so the paint can go on smoothly.

If your cabinets are damaged, now is the time to smooth out any dents by sanding down the wood or filling in small holes. Inspect your cabinets and replace any that need replacing.

Fast Drying Primer

If you want the paint on your cabinets to stand the test of time, it’s essential to do a primer coat first. Primer will give your cabinets a strong base coat and allow for the best finish to the final base. There are many different primers to choose from but a fast-drying primer will speed up the job if you’re strapped for time.

Clean the Area

Before painting your cabinets, clean your painting area. If you’ve been sanding your cabinets before painting or after a primer layer, the last thing you need is sand getting on your brush or roller. A quick vacuum of the area should clean up any sand or other debris to make a clean working area for you.

Choose the Right Paint

Choosing the right paint color can be difficult since it’s not just the color you’ll need to get right. Try some color samples before deciding on the right color for your kitchen space. It’s important to choose a paint that’s formulated for wood surfaces.

Gloss paint will show up imperfections easily, especially on wood. Try opting for a satin sheen instead to get the best quality.

Hire a Professional

Painting your kitchen cabinets can be tricky and time-consuming. If you want a top-quality job done, it’s better to leave it to the professionals. At RMC Painting Pros, we deliver nothing but excellence.