Wondering how do I paint kitchen cupboard doors and cabinets like a DIY expert?
The kitchen is the heart of the house for many families, couples and individuals. However, as an area of the home that deals with a high level of activity, the kitchen often faces a great deal of wear and tear on a daily basis. If you’re looking to transform the look of your kitchen and create a room that’s uniquely yours, consult our expert advice on painting kitchen cupboard doors and cabinets today.
Whether you’re wondering which tools are best for how to paint kitchen cupboard doors and cabinets or looking to brush up on your paintwork skills, we’ve covered all the information needed to produce phenomenal results when painting kitchen cabinets.
Before painting kitchen cupboard doors or cabinets in the home, it’s vital to properly prepare the area ahead of completing your paintwork. Usually, this is the stage where we clear all furniture for the room and lay a Seriously Good Dust Sheet, however for this particular DIY task, we need to take a different approach. First, open all the cupboards you would like to paint. Using a screwdriver, remove the cupboard doors from their cabinets then all cupboard handles or knobs.
Find an open space such as a floor in your home, large table or outside space if the weather is nice! Lay a Seriously Good Dust Sheet to catch all dust and prevent any spilt paint from ruining your floor. For extra security, tape the dust sheet in place using some Essentials Masking Tape. If you are creating your masterpiece outdoors, use a tarpaulin to suitably protect the cupboard doors.
When it comes to how to paint kitchen cabinets there are typically two types of cupboard door; classic wooden doors and plastic/acrylic/laminated doors. To prepare plastic doors, you will need to take some Ultimate Fine Aluminium Oxide Paper and lightly sand the door down in circular motions. Sanding provides a key; which in industry terms means a surface perfect for the primer to stick to, so it’s essential to include this step as part of your project.
If you have wooden cupboard doors on the other hand, sanding often creates a lot of dust. Even if you are outdoors, we recommend wearing a Seriously Good Dust Mask to protect yourself.
Next, take some Ultimate Medium Aluminium Oxide Paper from a pack of Ultimate Aluminium Oxide Assorted Paper and a Seriously Good Cork Block to begin sanding the doors down. Once the varnish layer has been removed, the original wood should be revealed underneath. Switch to the Ultimate Fine Aluminium Oxide Paper in the pack to enhance the look of the wood with a smooth finish.
In this step, you need to ensure that your primer has a smooth, lump-free consistency before applying it to your cabinets. Shake your tin of all-purpose primer well before opening. Next, use the Ultimate Woodwork Gloss Angled 0.75-inch Paint Brush to paint around any detail areas. The best technique is starting away from the corner and gradually working your way in. Larger, flat areas can be painted with an Ultimate Gloss 4-inch Roller or an Ultimate Flat Gloss Brush for a fast, even coverage.
Once all surfaces have been primed, it’s time to clean the brushes and rollers in some White spirit to ensure they’re ready for use for your top coat. It’s always a good idea to wear some Seriously Good Nitrile Gloves for this step to prevent potential damage to your skin. Work the white spirit into the roller and brushes until they look pristine and completely paint-free, then wipe away the paint with a paper towel. Once cleaning is complete, pour the white spirit into a sealed jar, like a jam jar or mason jar, and take it to your local tip for disposal.
Shake and open a tin of all-purpose primer. Use a Fitch Brush to paint in the detail areas. The best technique is to start away from the corner, work into a corner and finish out of the corner. Flat areas can be painted with a Taskmaster Mini Roller Set.
When all the surfaces have been primed, clean the brushes and rollers in some White spirit. It’s a good idea to wear some Seriously Good Nitrile Gloves for this bit. Work the white spirit into the roller and into the brushes. Then wipe away the paint with a paper towel. Once you have finished pour the white spirit into a sealed jar, like a jam jar, and take it to your local tip for disposal.
An optional step when painting kitchen cupboard doors and cabinets is to help you achieve a professional-looking finish is to give your primer coat one final light sanding using some Ultimate Fine Sand Paper. This will remove any brush marks left behind by the primer and create an enviably smooth surface. When you have finished this step, clean away any dust or debris using a Seriously Good Microfibre Cloth.
It’s now time to pick up your freshly cleaned brushes and get ready to apply gloss, eggshell or satin paint. Applying in the same way as step four, paint detail areas using the Ultimate Woodwork Gloss Angled 0.75-inch Paint Brush and larger, flat areas with the Ultimate Gloss 4-inch Roller or an Ultimate Flat Gloss Brush. When you have almost finished, load the triangular brush or flat brush with a small amount of paint and using very light pressure, paint a final top coat of the gloss. With a bit of practice, this will give you a very fine glass-like finish you’ll love!
When the paint has sufficiently dried, it’s time to re-attach the doorknobs and then securely fix the door back on the kitchen cabinets. That’s it – your kitchen has a brand-new updated look that will make you feel incredible each time you enter the room!
For more expert guides on how to revamp your home like a professional, head to our How To, Tip Exchange and Let’s Plan sections today.
